Greatest left hand bat since Sobers - AB or BCL?

Both heroes in their teams darkest eras; one the flashy, mercurial match-winner, the other the dogged 'bat for your life' type.

In all conditions, against all comers, I'd prefer AB; but I'm probably biased. What do others think (don't think we've ever had this discussion)?

Graeme Pollock.

I knew some pedant would say that...

Redefine it as greatest to play tests since 1975 if you want.

Bruce Reid

BCL

Best batsman i've seen since Richards

NLWL

Wasim Akram should get a mention.

BCL > The shotless wonder.

Wally Edwards

Jo Angel

Tony Mann

Big Amby.

Graeme Wood

Sasquatch

Hogggyyy!!!

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:BCL > The shotless wonder.

'Shotless wonder' is bollocks, LLL.

Leo wrote:I knew some pedant would say that...

Redefine it as greatest to play tests since 1975 if you want.

You could ask who is the "greater" of the two.

FWIW - BCL is undoubtedly the better batsman but AB was the greater cricketer. He almost singlehandedly laid the groundwork for a generation of Australian dominance. BCL was almost the reverse for the WI.

SRT ...If he wanted to

JGK wrote:

FWIW - BCL is undoubtedly the better batsman but AB was the greater cricketer. He almost singlehandedly laid the groundwork for a generation of Australian dominance. BCL was almost the reverse for the WI.

Can you really say that though?

Australia were always going to come out of a slump sooner or later. Granted, he held you together when you were shite...

Barry Bonds

JKLever wrote:

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:BCL > The shotless wonder.

'Shotless wonder' is bollocks, LLL.

You're not going to go all tailender on me are you? Shhhh! I'm trying to wind up the Aussies.

BCL was undoubtedly far more talented.

I think I'd prefer AB in my team though - he'd score almost as many runs (the median score would probably be higher even if the mean wasn't) and there are attitude issues with BCL.

JKLever wrote:

JGK wrote:

FWIW - BCL is undoubtedly the better batsman but AB was the greater cricketer. He almost singlehandedly laid the groundwork for a generation of Australian dominance. BCL was almost the reverse for the WI.

Can you really say that though?

Australia were always going to come out of a slump sooner or later. Granted, he held you together when you were shite...

But they came out of the Border era with half a dozen hard nuts who learnt from the hardest nut of all and that ruthlessness was a major part of their success. Sure there was talent there but the likes of Boon, Taylor, Slater, Healy, Reiffel. Langer etc were hardly the most talented going around.

FFS, it's always SRT.

Why do you guys try so hard to be witty?