Shane Warne has picked Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in his greatest batsman XI since Sir Donald Bradman. One of the most significant debates of all time in cricket has been that who the greatest batsman of all time is. Cricket has had many batting greats all through these years from Viv Richards to Virat Kohli, every generation has had a different batting great and opened up the debate.
Australian Shane Warne is celebrating his record 700th Test Wicket on Day One of the Fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia, December 26, 2006. Australia leads the best of 5 series 3-0. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Unarguably the greatest leg-spinner of all time Shane Warne has picked up his XI greatest batsman since the era of Sir Don Bradman who is regarded as the greatest batsman of all time as he averaged 99.94. Warne started his XXI by picking up two West Indians Sir Vivian Richards and Brian Lara at one and two. The two Caribbean’s were then the followed by the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar who decimated the spinner in the 1998 Sharjah Cup. The leggie later admitted that the Indian batsman gave him nightmares.
27 Feb 1996: Sachin Tendulkar of India plays a shot off the bowling of Shane Warne of Australia during the Cricket World Cup match between Australia and India in Bombay, India. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport
He gave the next three positions to his fellow country mates Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting and Allan Border. He then picked up South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis who has a formidable batting record. Warne has picked up just one English batsman on his list by picking up legendary opener Graham Gooch. Gooch is sandwiched between two Proteas as Warne picked AB De Villiers at the number nine position.
Indian batsman Virat Kohli (R) celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) as Australia’s captain Steve Smith (L) looks on during the third day of the third cricket Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 28, 2014. AFP PHOTO/William WEST –IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE– (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)
In the modern era, the biggest debate has been between Australian skipper Steven Smith and Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Smith’s double ton last week against England just increased the gap between the two batsmen just a little in the Test format. Warne feels Smith is the ‘Best Test Batsman’ whereas Kohli is the best ‘All Format Batsman’. He has picked Smith at the 10th spot and Kohli at the 11th spot.
Steven Smith has gained career-best rating after his historic 239 in the Perth Test against England. Getty Images
Warne said:
“I don’t assess greatness by stats, but rather by the way someone played the game, the way they influenced results and the impact they had on all of us. That’s how we remember our heroes. To me a great batsman has to have made a hundred in three key countries: in England, against the Duke ball on seaming and swinging pitches; in Australia, on our fast-paced, bouncy tracks; and of course, in the dust bowls of India, on pitches that spin and spit. To me, Steve Smith is the best Test batsman in the world. Virat Kohli is the best across all three formats of the game, but across five days, Steve Smith is the man. The hole in Kohli’s CV on the Test match stage is in England and the pressure is on the fiery but very likeable Indian to carry over some double-ton magic from home soil to that country when his team tours next year.”
“Look at him on pure numbers and since Bradman, Smith’s the best. If Smith keeps this form up over 100 Test matches, he will leave the game as an absolute legend and one of the all-time greats. You’d have to think there will be a dip in performance at some stage, but considering his average since he notched his first century, at the Oval in August 2013 – it’s a touch under 72 – maybe not.”
