Picking the top 10 opening batsmen in test cricket history is an arduous task for the fact that the game has seen many quality players ever since the 19th century. An opening batsman’s job is not easy as he must face the music of the opposition’s fast bowlers first up.
The role demands tremendous concentration levels and can be a sterner test especially after a tough day or two on the field in their bowling innings. Solid technique and mental strength are two aspects that play a key role in an opening batsman laying a great foundation for his team.
It would only be fair to mention few names such as Sir Len Hutton, Graham Gooch, Gordon Greenidge, Michael Atherton, Andrew Strauss, Chris Gayle, Gary Kirsten, Bill Lawry, Justin Langer, Michael Slater and Marcus Trescothick amongst others for they too are highly regarded as opening batters in the longest format.
Here is the Top 10 list:
– by Nikhil Vadapalli
1. Sunil Gavaskar:
Any modern-day captain too would not think twice to have a legend like Gavaskar opening the batting in a test match; he was indeed a perfect player to set the batting innings up. He is the first ever in test cricket’s history to reach the 10,000-run mark. His record against a fearsome West Indies attack was such that he has a Reggae song dedicated to him.
His test average of 51 to go with 34 centuries signifies only a portion of his contribution to his team and World Cricket. He will always be remembered for the attention he paid to little things of his game and the levels of concentration and patience that he possessed. Most bowlers of his time surely had a tough time trying to breach his impregnable technique.
Many of his juniors brought laurels to the country by taking inspiration from the way he negated tough conditions and circumstances.
2. Alastair Cook:
The former English skipper fits into this list as a strong candidate. His appetite for scoring runs and ability to bat for long periods has certainly done wonders for England.
He might not look the most stylish amongst the left-handers or openers, but he has carved his own style that works effectively for him and his team. He has scored runs across the globe and the 2010-11 tour of Australia and 2012 tour of India are series’ in which he was arguably the difference between the two sides.
He has recently breached the 12,000-run mark and would be eyeing to put in match-winning performances against India this Summer.
His composure despite seeing many up’s and down’s in his career has been a standout quality that budding cricketers can take note of.
3. Graeme Smith:
Not all players have all the shots in their repertoire. But, it boils down to how effective they can be with what they bring to the table. In Smith’s case, he was not the most fluent on the off side, but he would invariably find the mid-wicket fence irrespective of the line.
Bestowed with the responsibility of leading the South African side at 22, he responded brilliantly with back-to-back double centuries in England.9000 test runs at an average of 48 and 27 tons is a commendable record and his highest score of 277 was once the highest individual test score for a South African.
The Proteas have scripted memorable victories at home and maintained an enviable away record under his captaincy. He earned the respect of his colleagues and opponents for his competitive and tenacious approach.
4. Matthew Hayden
The tall and strong southpaw caused fear in the minds of the opposition camp from the word go. He possessed good defense to go with an array of attacking strokes. He formed a formidable opening partnership with Justin Langer and the duo scripted memorable victories by giving their team rollicking starts.
Hayden scored 30 centuries-interestingly he has more hundreds than the fifties.His highest score of 380 against Zimbabwe was once the highest individual score.
Indians too had a torrid time against this dominant batsman as he took the spinners to the cleaners on most occasions by effectively employing the sweep shot.
He was named the test player of the year in 2002 and was inducted into Australia’s hall of fame in January 2017.
5. Virender Sehwag:
Here’s a man who knew only one way of approaching cricket -Sehwag’s way. He had his own technique-primarily on the back of a wonderful hand-eye coordination. Leaving a bad ball unpunished is a sin in Sehwag’s book. He toyed with the spinners and fast bowlers were rarely allowed to settle.
Although he launched himself as a middle-order batsman with a hundred in South Africa, he will go down as one of the greatest ever test opening batsmen thanks to his exploits ever since he donned the opening role.
Bowlers and opposition captains often went clueless and ran out of ideas-such was his domination when on song Most of his centuries were daddy hundreds; he certainly knew how to make it big. He almost had a third triple century under his belt!
He had answers even to the backup plans of opponents and had it in him to turn the game on its head in a matter of one session. An average of around 50 and a magical strike rate of 82 meant Indian bowlers had more time to pick 20 wickets.
6. Geoffrey Boycott:
Geoffrey Boycott and words like strong will and patience go hand in hand. It is a commendable thing for a batsman to trade grace and flair for more solid defense and importance to his wicket.
His career-best score of 246* against India came in the year 1967 at Headingley, Leeds. A healthy average of 48 and 22 centuries are statistical highlights that signify his credentials as a test opener.
He was a vital cog in the English batting line-up and a century on his comeback in 1977 is a testament to his never-give-up attitude.
Post his retirement, he turned to commentary and is known as someone who is not afraid to voice his opinions.
7. Mark Taylor:
Mark Taylor is one of the most respected voices in cricket and has been actively covering Australia’s matches.
This Aussie left-handed opening batsman took over the reins from another all-time great in Allan Border. He was excellent in the slip cordon and received accolades for the way he led the team to victories home and away against every team except for a series win in India.
Captain and opening batsman combo can be a tough ask but Taylor did a great job. Highlights of his away performances include his career highest of 334* versus Pakistan in Peshawar and a mammoth 839 runs in his first tour of England.
8. Wally Hammond:
Wally Hammond was a strongly built man with full of strokes to unleash against the bowlers. He was one of the greatest ever to have embraced the game and was perhaps England’s answer to Sir Donald Bradman.
He featured in a total of 85 tests and his cover drive was something else as described by many cricketing experts.
Apart from 22 test tons, he notched up a total of 167 centuries and picked up 732 wickets in his illustrious first-class career.
9. Herbert Sutcliffe:
He was a tough batsman to bowl for the bowlers as he had both gears, games rather-slow and fast. He was an extremely adaptable player and had a strong game sense. To go with a whopping 151 First-class centuries, he had an envious test average of 60.
He had stitched several crucial partnerships with Sir Jack Hobbs and the highlight perhaps has to be their 283-run opening stand in 1925 against the Aussies.
10. Sir Jack Hobbs:
If not for the 1st world war, his numbers and impact on the game would have been way higher. However, 61,760 runs and 199 centuries in First-class cricket are feats that are surely going to remain untouched for many years to come.
He averaged 57 in test cricket and scored 15 centuries. He was well renowned for his ability to find ways of scoring runs even on bad pitches.
He was very highly respected on and off the field by his teammates and opponents. In 1953, he became the first professional cricketer ever to be knighted.
– by Nikhil Vadapalli