favorite cricketer anywhere?

Who is your favorite cricketer of all time? Any country?

It is hard to choose, but I do really enjoy watching Australia's David Warner play. I think it's something about him being left handed because that always makes me look cross eyed at the TV and think, "but how does he do it?"  ::yawn::

Now, my girlfriend prefers Kevin Pietersen. Apparently he is hot stuff.

Your favorite?

The one and only, the original Master Blaster, The Innovator, The Gentleman who represented his Country and Region with dignity, quiet confidence and great aplomb Lord Rohan Kanhai otherwise known as The Babu....

You ask any true English Cricket fan of a certain age who was the best cricketer and Rohan comes up.......

The man had all the shots, he created shots and brilliant for Warwicks as well....

Rohan is absolutely worthy of being the top favorite. I guess that I like to cheer for someone that not everyone else thinks of. I am the same with anything - don't always jump on the bandwagon and go for the most popular player, most popular movie, most popular pizza topping. ha ha! But you're right, he is brilliant.

[quote author=DragonWarLord link=topic=105350.msg703763#msg703763 date=1468948141]
Rohan is absolutely worthy of being the top favorite. I guess that I like to cheer for someone that not everyone else thinks of. I am the same with anything - don't always jump on the bandwagon and go for the most popular player, most popular movie, most popular pizza topping. ha ha! But you're right, he is brilliant.
[/quote]

Well Kanhai epitomises what you look for because he is rarely, if ever, mentioned as West Indian great.

Had he been English he would be lauded with praise and office to this day.

Great man.

You make a fair point there. It's interesting how different players are perceived around the world. Do you think that more English people are fans of him than those from his own country? ::confused::

It's pretty hard to choose who my favourite cricketer is and when I finally think I've picked, another name pops into my head but up to now I think I have to choose Ian Botham. He might not have been the greatest players statistically, but he was involved in some of my favourite cricketing memory's so that counts for a lot I think when your trying to narrow your selections down.


On sheer class and ability alone though, Lara is going to be a name that many people will choose and it's easy to see why, but for me I think Botham did as much for English cricket as Lara as done for cricket in general, and seeing as I'm English, that means a lot and it certainly did back then hen  he was playing.

[quote author=DragonWarLord link=topic=105350.msg703909#msg703909 date=1468969508]
You make a fair point there. It's interesting how different players are perceived around the world. Do you think that more English people are fans of him than those from his own country? ::confused::
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Definitely as we feared him and he served Warwics for many years with great effectiveness.

What was important and ground breaking about Rohan was the innovation he showed in his strokeplay, his famous pull shot that saw him land on the pitch, the manner in which he scored. He could score very quickly and take the game away from you and at the same time could save you games by crease occupation. His 158* at Sabina in 71 was such an innings with Windies following on.

Kanhai once said " Once I get the fielders with their tongues hanging out I aim to run them into the ground".

He did not fail against any of the other 4 test playing nations and was splendid against spin.


1973 he was getting on in age and look at HIS POISE,  the stance, back lift, types of shotS very reminiscent of some we call great subsequently.

Marshall for me was the best bowler of all time.

That man could take wickets on any surface, no mug with the bat and a good fieldsman.

RIP

My