Print

Matthew Hayden

18 (20.5%)

Sunil Gavaskar

27 (30.7%)

Geoff Boycott

7 (8%)

Jack Hobbs

15 (17%)

Herbert Sutcliffe

5 (5.7%)

Len Hutton

3 (3.4%)

Other Please specify

13 (14.8%)

Total Members Voted: 86

[scuudz]

Of all the players I've seen(since the early 90s), I'd have to pick Matthew Hayden.  Like many have said, he dominated bowling attacks around the world and dealt with them with such brutality.  He has changed the way the modern day opener plays the game. 

Of all the openers I've read about, I'd have to say Barry Richards.  To score more than 500 runs in your first test series (4 matches) against an in-form Aussie side is not easy by any means.  He was only 24 at the time.  I also remember reading that his first ton came only an hour after lunch on the first day!!

[Jeet]

Interesting view Jeet and one I will take on board. I always believed that Ponting etc had an easy time because the openers set things up so well.

Yeah you are also correct Art, in that Hayden often paved the way for the rest of his line up to express themselves, but Australia could probably still rack up big scores even if Hayden fell early.

On the other hand, when Gavaskar played for India, the opposition knew if they got Gavaskar early, India could be rolled for next to nothing.

[Apple]

has to be geoff

[Apple]

i wud have piked justin langer otherwise

[Singo]

Sachin Tendulkar!

[umz_786]

I have always admired Marcus Trescothick and Saeed Anwar because their shots are/were so classy and a joy to watch. Gotta love those cuts and drives!

[Liam-SCCC]

Marcus Trescothick, no question.

[The Finisher]

Marcus Trescothick, no question.

Agreaed love that shout liam !

[umz_786]

its a real a shame he suffers from mental illness otherwise im sure he would still be in the national setup. Of course some illnesses are really helpful in cricket; im bipolar and when I have my mood swings I dont shut up on the field, its great!

[roco]

hutton for me

[Mortimer]

Another vote for Greenidge

Can't possibly vote for Boycott or Gooch

Boycott for playing so selfishly and for his cowardice in avoiding the fastest bowlers of the mid 70s

Gooch for going on a tour to SA and for his attitude towards selecting Gower in the early 90s

[gramw]

Trescothick

[Colesy]

Marcus Trescothick, no question.

Got in there before I did

[seedy]

I loved athertons dogged determination such as the classic innings again alan donald.

However I suppose it depends on era, trescothick and hayden i would out on a level as they are/were fantastically destructive batsmen in their day.

Liam

[Buzz]

I am sorry but as good as Trescothic is there is a little west country bias going on. Tresco is a wonderful player, but not in the same league as Hobbs who opened the batting on uncovered pitches all over the world.

Ask yourself how many first class hundreds a player has scored - and then compare that to Jack Hobbs.
http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/14225.html

test match average of 56 in the days when 35 was a good average (not like now when 45 is a good average)
197 first class hundred, with none in his peak during the first world war.
The first cricketer to get a Knighthood for services to sport.

the finest opening batsman of all time.

I will nod to Sehwag as the most exilerating opening batsman of the modern era, but that doesn't make him the best... Tresco isn't in the top ten.