One of the joys of foxtel are some of the old stuff you see and the occasional doco such as ESPNs Legends of Cricket. The episode on AB was on the other day and fuck me if he's not the most underrated cricketer and captain in Australian, or overall, cricket history.
Consider the following-
Consider the following-
* Set the record for most runs ever
* Played in over 150 CONSECUTIVE tests. That's over 16 years without missing a single test, anywhere in the world.
* Easily the toughest, hardest bastard in modern cricketing times
This man taught the likes of Warne, Waugh etc how to be tough, how to win and what it means to wear the baggy green. He didn't motivate and worry about touchy feely shit- he batted tough, he tore strips off anyone who played soft and he ONLY cared about winning. Everyone now considers Taylor and Waugh to be better captain because they were more "imaginative and exciting". Bullshit. AB took over in 84 when we were in the shitheap, and style points were the furthest thing from his mind. If he was a cranky prick, and he probably was, it was because he was sick to death of losing and it was completely necessary to lead by example as a hard bastard. Again, it's easy to be imaginative when you are captaining a juggernaut attack with the likes of Waugh and Mcgrath. Not so much when it's Bruce Reid and Tony Dodemaide.
As a batsman, AB was possibly even more underrated than as a captain. He averaged over 50 when for a good part of his career he was the only genuine test calibre batsman in the team. This was when fast bowling attacks around the world were undoubtedly stronger than now- the Windies onslaught, Hadlee, Botham, Imran etc all at their peaks. And time after time, AB would be there when all around him crumbled.
Allan Border is arguably the best captain ever, as he set up the greatest cricketing dynasty of all time. He was also a champion with the bat- yet when the discussion of "greatest since Bradman" is raised, he is never mentioned. Why?
He is the ultimate in substance over style, and the current team could use more blokes like him.
I grew up at the end of the Border era. However my late Grandpop used to sit me down and tell me how good a player and leader Border was. The Border I know is the commentator and just that small snapshot on TV it is plain to see he has very specific views on the game and has a great temperament. I still have a signed copy of Borders book and its a prized possession.
ReplyDeleteStatistically Border is under rated I agree to play for 16 years in a row thats unheard of I didnt know that stat. Who else has a record even close to that???
I wish the current team would play with the same aggression and passion for the Baggy Green. I think they are few and far between, Ponting is a lone soldier in that regard, he will be the last player to go through with that ruthlessness and fight.
Averages and the ammount of test matches played by Border and Ponting lower their averages. They are still in the Bradman ilk if you ask me. They are the 3 best in our history. Imagine lining up with Border, Bradman and Ponting in your side. Id be confident.
In this line of topic in Cricket I also feel that Mark Waugh is under rated by alot of commentators and experts in the game. I thought he was a great bat.
Before I get started on Border, Mark Waugh was the greatest waste of talent I have seen don the baggy green. He was a magnificent bat but seemed to get bored and wouldnt like to grind out a BIG innings. How can someone of his calibre have a highest score of only 150? Should have also scored over 10000 runs and be one of the all time greats. Instead he was too concerned about getting out so he could listen to a horse race. Damien Martin and Michael Clarke are very much in this mold aswell.
ReplyDeleteI think 1 story sums up Allan Border. On the 1989 Ashes series when Australia was on top and in control Dean Jones dropped a quite easy catch from David Gower early in his innings. The daggers Border shot Jones were bad enough but at the end of the over the comment "Don't you want to win" with that fiery glare directed from Border to Jones was a great example of his will to win. Jones didnt drop another catch in the series.
Great post Deevs. For ALL of the abovementioned points, AB was and still is one of my top 3 idols in sport. Tough as nails yet enjoyed the good times when they came without letting players around him forget about the doldrems he and some of them endured for years in the early 80s.
ReplyDeleteAnother great quote to a shitting, spewing and dying Dean Jones in the famous Tied Test in 86, "Toughen up, or we'll get a QLD'er out here to do a real job" when Jones was delerious approaching his double century in ridiculously hot, sweltering conditions that is the woeful country of India.
LEGEND!!
I love Mark Waugh but I have to agree- he could've had a better career than Steve. But, Steve took his lumps in the 80s with AB, and Steve Waugh wouldn't have been the same guy without AB. Mark didn't have to endure much losing.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Dean Jones was on the AB doco and told the "don't you want to win?" story but unfortunately didn't tell the Indian shitting story.