There has always been comparison between players amongst eras. Only one fact is acceptable in the cricketing world that is Donald Bradman was the greatest batsman to play the game. Nobody disputes that. Apart from that every other statement comparing players across eras merely kick starts another argument amongst fans. This time this has been done by the legendary Kiwi batsman Martin Crowe.
He has initiated a new argument stating that Sachin Tendulkar is better than Viv Richards. During the ESPN Cricinfo award night on Friday, he spoke that Viv was the best batsman he had seen in his 14 year cricketing career, alongside Sunil Gavaskar and Greg Chappell.
Also he said that the success mantra of Sachin Tendulkar was he kept things simple. His balance and footwork remained the same irrespective of the formats. That is the reason for his longevity in the game. He also feared, when a young Sachin who was just 16 years old was sent to face Richard Hadlee, one of the greatest fast bowlers of the world. He didn’t have to face Hadlee, because he departed to Danny Morrison. During the Napier test he scored 88 runs against the New Zealand attack and was comfortable against most of the New Zealand bowlers including the great Hadlee.
Crowe summed it up saying he had an inkling that he might go on to have a successful career, but he didn’t know that it would last for 24 years.
