Hey guys....Since Tendulkar went past lara's record recently, I would like you to pick your best three batsmen of modern era....my pick are as follows...
TESTS:
1.Brian Lara
2Kumar .Sangakkara
3.Mohammad Yousuf
ODIS:
1.Sanath Jayasuriya
2.Adam Gilchrist
3.Ricky Ponting

Your views???

I still believe Warne wasn't the cricketer he was for nothing. I don't know about u no queiro, but as far as I am concerned I know he is more than 10,000 times knowledgeable than people like me who only see cricket and have never played cricket at that level. So, the judgement of Warne is only I respect and I can only go with the experts who can claim to be half good a cricketer Warne was.

The views that I respect are from players like Botham,Viv Richards, Imran Khan,Atherton a big no no coz man u were good but not always that correct and u were forced to eat a humble pie everytime u criticized the great man, and above all I have to blindly accept the verdict made by Don Bradman in early 90s when he was watching Sachin bat and called his wife saying this guy reminds of my days. I am not talking about the Sachin of post 2003, but the Sachin of 1989- 1999. A whole decade where he literally carried the entire weight of his team, just as the way Lara did in his later years, specially after 1996 world cup, when Richie Richardson retired.

Inzamaam will be in the top 20 best batsmen in anyones list, why Warne doesn't include him is debatable...may be he never saw Inzy as big a threat Lara or Sachin or others were. The pakistan batsman who has best records against Aussies was Saeed Anwar, Inzy for some reason didn't do as well as he could have...even though he was a terrific player of genuine fast bowling.

Now, considering the quality of fast bowling, and bowling as a whole, when people had to face chin music of Jeff Thompson, ferocious and almost murderous bowling of Marshall, Holding, and Roberts...in general these Youhanas, and others wouldn't have scored easy runs if they played in 70s, 80s 0r in early 90s (with Wasim, Waqar, Ambrose, Walsh, Donald..all super quicks and very lethal in early days), my top 5 batsmen based on skill, temperament and achievements..in order of supremacy are :(last 50 years, say since 1960s)

1. Viv Richards

2. Sunil Gavaskar

3.Brian Lara

4.Sachin Tendulkar

5.tough to name

my pics for best modern era batsmen are (not necessary in the order that i have prescribed):

Tests:

1. B. Lara (W.I)

2. S. Tendulkar (Ind.)

3. Sir V. Richards (W.I)

others: R. Ponting, M. Hayden, S. Gavaskar, A. Gilchrist, S. Waugh

ODIS:

1. S. Jayasuria (S.L)

2. S. Tendulkar (Ind.)

3. A. Gilchrist

others: R. Ponting, Sir V. Richards, S. Ganguly, S. Anwar

Current players on recent (let's say for the past 3 years or so) form:

For Tests:

1. R. Ponting

2. M. Hayden

3. S. Tendukar

others: M. Hussey, V. Sewahg, K. Sangakara, G. Smith

For ODI:

1. M. Hayden

2. R. Ponting

3. Kevin Peterson

others: C. Gayle, S. Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, S. Jayasuria

Just my opinion. Coming out with such a list is a daunting and a subjective issue. For example, Warne thinks Tendulkar is better than Lara; McGrath thinks otherwise. I am sure many believe Ponting should be considered as one of the best of all time too.

 

There have been very few cricketers who have captured the imagination of sports watchers over the years. These are the players even oppositions applaud, and even the countries they play against love to see them succeed against them. They can be counted in fingures.

pre 1950s- one and only Don Bradman

1950s-1980s- Viv Richards

1980s- none

1990s- Lara, Sachin, Warne

2000-cricket played at its lowest standard with no genuine fast bowlers around, countries like Ban and Zim playing test cricket, Pak one time a formidable team been sunk into levels unimaginable, Aus no more the potent force since Warne and McGrath retired........

I believe crickets golden age is over and after Warne, and Lara Sachin is the last of the dynasours. The day he quits, cricket won't be a part of my life for sure.

Lets cherish a great sportsperson irrespective of his nationality, someone who besides being a superb cricketer, carried the hopes of billions of his fans day in and day out, stayed dignified and the best compliment is...in the days of matchfixing in late 90s, book makers won't fix a match while he played.They had to wait till he got out.

test: lara, ponting , hayden

odi: ghilchrist, jayasurya, hayden

wish all the respect to your thread, why is players like rahul dravid, andy flower, daniel vettori, stephen fleming, nathan astle, being ignored. i dont have any idea. michael bevan was one of the best in odi in terms of average. if i am not wrong. taking records lance klusener had a awesome outing in 1999 world cup. how about shaun pollock who has the best economy rate compared to murali or mcgrath or akram. why does shoaib akhtar does not fit in top 50. i hardly found chris cairns name once. grant flower, neil johnson, murray goodwin, hansie cronje, jonty rhodes, heath streak were all good. they just did not have too much of opportunity. how about the emerging yuvraj singh. how could you say sachin and other indians plays for records. i hardly follow cricket now but the players mentioned above are all good players. have your views on it.