Bettor.com’s Top 10 Classy-Batsmen from 1990 onwards (Part 7)
(Continuation of Part 6 and the discussion regarding the top 10 classy batsmen from 1990 onwards, keeping in mind, that case in point is Australian batsman Steve Waugh)
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-South-Wales-c823 and Somerset in a career spanning over two decades. While playing for Australia, Steve started off as a lower
middle order batsman along with a right arm medium pace bowler.
Besides his twin brother and teammate Mark Waugh, the veteran skipper had another brother http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dean-c53369 Waugh. Dean was a cricketer by profession but never made it to the national level, as he continued playing first-class and domestic cricket for New South Wales
and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844.
Steve Waugh took over Mark http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Moody-c77690 to win the ICC World Cup.
Steve Waugh is the only all-rounder in Bettor.com’s list of the top 10 classy batsmen from 1990 onwards.
He underwent several back-injuries in the initial stages of his career, which were aggravated because of his pace bowling. To resolve the issue, the veteran had to reduce his pace and the number of bouncers he used to bowl.
For a fast or medium pace bowler to bowl a bouncer takes a lot out him, as the bowler has to put more effort in terms of bending his back at a certain angle to extract that extra bounce. Steve’s back injuries forced him to focus on his batting. Within no
time, Steve Waugh was a potent force to reckon with as the veteran became the number 1 test batsman in 1995/96.
Steve Waugh has an impressive test record, as he scored a total of 10,927 runs, at an average of 51.06, from a massive 168 tests that he played. The former skipper had 32 centuries and 50 half-centuries to his credit, with a personal best of 200 runs in
a single innings. He had a strike rate of 48.64. Steve struck 1175 boundaries and 20 smashing hits out of the park.
The veteran has 92 test wickets, at a modest average of 37.44 to his name. He had an economy of 2.64 and a strike rate of 84.8 respectively. Moreover, he has 3 five-wicket hauls under his belt to prove that Steve was a good bowler in his hey days.
His ODI record, consisting of over 7500 runs at an average of 32.90 is brilliant. With 168 ODI matches played, the veteran scored 3 centuries and 45 half-centuries, with a personal best of 120 not out runs. Keeping in mind that Steve batted lower down the
order in the 50-over format, his credentials are commendable. He also had a healthy strike rate of 75.91, as he struck 530 boundaries and 68 smashing sixes.
Steve Waugh is by far the most consistent and reliable batsman known to world cricket and for Bettor.com’s analysts, this quality and trademark of his makes him a world class player in all contexts. His outstanding match-winning performances under immense
pressure and stress of captaining a test team, surely makes him worthy of a position amongst the top 10 classy batsmen from 1990 onwards.
Mark Waugh
Steve Waugh’s twin brother Mark Waugh is known to be the finest batsman that Australia has ever produced. His greatest gift was the elegance he brought to stroke-making.
Mark Waugh’s played effortless shots all around the park, including some extraordinary drives, cuts and pulls that one would ever see in international cricket.
(To Be Continued...Part 8)
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