Ugliest batsman to watch (and most attractive)

[smoovy]

What I could come up with in recent memory. In order of ugliness and attractiveness. This list has nothing to do with effectiveness

Ugly
1. Shivnarine Chanderpaul
2. Simon Katich
3. Darren Lehmann
4. M.S. Dhoni
5. Phil Jaques


Attractive
1. Damien Martyn
2. Mark Waugh
3. V.V.S Laxman
4. Herchelle Gibbs
5. David Gower (only left hander I could think of)

[aaronm46]

ashwell prince for president of the ugliest batsmen to watch club

[SBI]

At the start of his career Hashim Amla was awful to watch. He has got better.

[rickyp]

I have a dirty fetish for Marsh and Watson's techniques...

[davey_magik]

Some may think KP is ugly but I love watching him play, ditto VVS and Punter.

In terms of ugly batsmen Alistair Cook is right up there. Very good young player, but he's awful to watch.

[TimeIsRunningOut]

Marcus Trescothick into the ugly category.

[bigburger]

I reckon Sehwags technique is pretty awful. Works cause of how good his eye is.

Rohit Sharma has just about a better technique than all the Indians playing atm imo.

[achancely]

Lehmann and Dhoni? WTF?

[tomemy]

Mark Waugh most attractive, Shiv Chanderpaul ugliest.

[Kid rock]

Marcus Trescothick into the ugly category.
Are you serious?

[bigburger]

Are you serious?
I reckon his technique is awful. The last time he moved his feet facing a delivery the ball had probably stopped half way down the pitch and he had walk down to it to hit it.

[Kid rock]

I reckon his technique is awful. The last time he moved his feet facing a delivery the ball had probably stopped half way down the pitch and he had walk down to it to hit it.
Yeah he doesn't move his feet but he plays the best punches through cover and mid off. Good to watch i reckon.

[pinkus maximus]

Ugly: Jaques, Rogers, Chanderpaul

Attractive: Marsh, Sangakkara, VVS

[TimeIsRunningOut]

Are you serious?

Yep - can't stand watching players that don't move their feet.

[Bartram_Class]

Gayle.

[goal sneak]

Ganguly is the most attractive.

[smoovy]

Lehmann and Dhoni? WTF?

Gun batsman and exciting to watch. But aesthetically, break all of the text book rules. We are talking about batsman who make it look easy with a minimum of effort, pure timers of the ball.

[Johnson#26]

Blewett - stylish.

[ManWithNoName]

Rahul Dravid has to be one of the ugliest surely.

[BluesMan]

Gilly, looks like he taps the ball through the covers but it runs away. Love his slog-sweep against the spinners too

[skipjack]

I assume by the inclusion of David Gower in the OP that retired players are ok to list.


Ugly
1. Shivnarine Chanderpaul - by a mile. Absolutely no contest here
2. Michael Bevan - most overated batsman in history. A nudger who turned his head when the ball was pitched short.
3. Phil Jacques - Big forearms aren't enough in my book.
4. Brian Lara - I know that this is going to be an extremely unpopular pick but I'm sticking with it. Lara was a slogger with a damn good eye. He had an awful backlift and didn't move his feet. He played across the line (but not in a good way like Mark Waugh). I got no enjoyment from watching him bat.
5. Cook (England) - shocking. MOVE YOUR FEET!!! Very ugly. It is actually annoying to watch. I wonder how this guy can make runs at test level batting the way he does.



Attractive
1. H Gibbs - sublime to watch. Amazing timing and power. Beautiful stance.
2. Mark Waugh - (when in form and not falling off balance) made batting look so simple. Had the ability to hit the ball into the ground and then the ball appeared to accelerate off the turf.
3. Greg Blewett - best cover drive / pull shot in history. Pity he never learned to let the ball go outside off stump or he would have played plenty more tests.
4. Shane Warne - Superb timing. Attacking (to the point of stupidity). Great hook shot. Looked like he could get out every ball early on which added to the entertainment / enigma.
5. Michael Vaughan - (again, when in form). Amazing drive and a wonderful "slow motion" style pull shot.

[Tigerland2007]

Ugly- M.Hussey, G.Smith, H.Gibbs, Langer, Cook, Prior

Attractive Tendulka, Lara, Sehwag, Laxman, Kallis, Vaughen, D.Bravo

[skipjack]

Ugly- M.Hussey, G.Smith, H.Gibbs, Langer, Cook, Prior

Attractive Tendulka, Lara, Sehwag, Laxman, Kallis, Vaughen, D.Bravo


You are joking?

[smoovy]

I assume by the inclusion of David Gower in the OP that retired players are ok to list.


Ugly
1. Shivnarine Chanderpaul - by a mile. Absolutely no contest here
2. Michael Bevan - most overated batsman in history. A nudger who turned his head when the ball was pitched short.
3. Phil Jacques - Big forearms aren't enough in my book.
4. Brian Lara - I know that this is going to be an extremely unpopular pick but I'm sticking with it. Lara was a slogger with a damn good eye. He had an awful backlift and didn't move his feet. He played across the line (but not in a good way like Mark Waugh). I got no enjoyment from watching him bat.
5. Cook (England) - shocking. MOVE YOUR FEET!!! Very ugly. It is actually annoying to watch. I wonder how this guy can make runs at test level batting the way he does.



Attractive
1. H Gibbs - sublime to watch. Amazing timing and power. Beautiful stance.
2. Mark Waugh - (when in form and not falling off balance) made batting look so simple. Had the ability to hit the ball into the ground and then the ball appeared to accelerate off the turf.
3. Greg Blewett - best cover drive / pull shot in history. Pity he never learned to let the ball go outside off stump or he would have played plenty more tests.
4. Shane Warne - Superb timing. Attacking (to the point of stupidity). Great hook shot. Looked like he could get out every ball early on which added to the entertainment / enigma.
5. Michael Vaughan - (again, when in form). Amazing drive and a wonderful "slow motion" style pull shot.

I agree with you somewhat about Lara. He had exagerated movements across the crease and had a massive backlift.

[SBI]

You are joking?

Agreed on Smith. Very ugly technique.

Gibbs, however, is great to watch when in form.

[The Sim Dog]

Katich is pretty ugly. Peterson can be too. Vaughn was just about my favourite to watch for years. I like watching Gambhir, Bell and Sangakara these days also.

[weevil]

You don’t really get a great sense of it from this but Gower was absolutely superb.

Sp7UqReWQ2c

[Carl Spackler]

Ugly
Kepler Wessels - disgusting
Ijaz Ahmed - the woodchopper, amazing grip and style
Sanath Jayasuriya - stand and deliver. damn effective though
Ian Healy - arse out, scooped, nudged and flicked his way to a more than decent test average
Steve Waugh - found his own way to bat, cared about runs, not style

Attractive
Inzamam-ul-haq - loved him, looked completely untroubled by any bowler he faced, pace or spin
Aravinda de Silva - made it look ridiculously easy at times
Martin Crowe - that's how you're meant to bat
Saeed Anwar - style personified
VVS Laxman - only against Australia mind you, a hack against the dud nations


Don't understand all the "he's just got a good eye" comments above. What does that mean? Surely it just means that they're good at batting. They hit the ball in the middle of the bat often.

Bit like describing a footballer who can "play tall" - it's not some secret, enigmatic quality they possess. They are good at playing football. And beat their opponent.

[Barts]

I assume by the inclusion of David Gower in the OP that retired players are ok to list.


Ugly
4. Brian Lara - I know that this is going to be an extremely unpopular pick but I'm sticking with it. Lara was a slogger with a damn good eye. He had an awful backlift and didn't move his feet. He played across the line (but not in a good way like Mark Waugh). I got no enjoyment from watching him bat.


Attractive
1. H Gibbs - sublime to watch. Amazing timing and power. Beautiful stance.


Gibbs doesent move his feet. I can see where your coming from but you cant knock Lara about not moving his feet when Gibbs looks like he wears 2 concrete slabs as shoes when he bats. The only difference is Lara just smashes the ball with an exaggerated backlift while Gibbs is much more natural in his backlift and swing.

[skilts]

When I first thought about this topic, the names Graeme Pollock, Sobers and Neil Harvey came first to mind. All left-handers, all completely different. Pollock never hit the ball, he leant on it. Next thing you knew they were picking the ball up from the boundary. Harvey had the twinkling toes of the best footwork I've seen. Sobers thrashed the ball with great style and majesty, but with very little regard as to whether his feet were anywhere near the pitch of the ball.

Of the right-handers, Barry Richards was glorious to watch. Paul Sheehan was particurly elegant, as was yet another lefty Gower, as has been mentioned.

The ugliest batsman I've ever seen was Ken 'Slasher' Mackay. He was pottery in motion.

[KennyHuntersBlues]

ugly : Larry Gomes
Chris Tavare
Mike Brearley
attractive : Kim hughes
Greg Chappell
Graeme Wood

[skipjack]

Gibbs doesent move his feet. I can see where your coming from but you cant knock Lara about not moving his feet when Gibbs looks like he wears 2 concrete slabs as shoes when he bats. The only difference is Lara just smashes the ball with an exaggerated backlift while Gibbs is much more natural in his backlift and swing.

Yes (about the footwork), but at least Gibbs hits through the ball. His swing arc flows beautifully. When I watch a replay of one of his drives my jaw drops at the timing and power through the ball.

Lara had that massive backlift and then used his wrists to flick the ball to leg and often appeared to hit the ball with the toe of the bat as he swung through too early. Yes. He still smashed those balls for four etc etc. When watching a replay of a Lara shot I often found myself thinking, "You lucky bastard" as it skewed away for four runs rather than "how good a shot was that?"

Must just come down to personal preference.

[skipjack]

Don't understand all the "he's just got a good eye" comments above. What does that mean? Surely it just means that they're good at batting. They hit the ball in the middle of the bat often.

Bit like describing a footballer who can "play tall" - it's not some secret, enigmatic quality they possess. They are good at playing football. And beat their opponent.

"A good eye" basically refers to hand-eye coordination.

I comment on someone "only having a good eye" if they have flaws in their technique, yet still manage to get runs.

Yes, it does mean that they are good at batting, indeed, the end result of runs in the book is the most important thing, but a player with a flawed technique will eventually get found out either by a good bowler or when age catches up with them.

If your main asset is reaction time and hand-eye coordination, then your lifespan may be limited because age has a negative affect on these. However if you can back these skills up with a solid technique it will definitely prolong your career.

Therefore, having "a good eye" is definitely important, but it is only a part of what makes a great batsman, not everything.

[Carl Spackler]

"A good eye" basically refers to hand-eye coordination.

I comment on someone "only having a good eye" if they have flaws in their technique, yet still manage to get runs.
I find talk of the 'right' technique as far off the mark as the 'only got a good eye' criticism. What is the right technique? Does Lara have the right technique? Or is it Jacques Kallis? Or Chanderpaul?

Should you grip the bat at the top of the handle like Adam Gilchrist? Or hold it right at the bottom of the handle like Gary Sobers?

Which of these guys are doing it right? Which ones are doing it wrong?

A technique that makes runs is a good technique. A technique that doesn't make runs is a poor technique.

A player gets criticised because he doesn't move his feet. What rubbish. Any decent batter knows the important thing is to have your head still and watch the ball closely. Virender Sehwag and Herschelle Gibbs don't move their feet as much as Greg Blewett did... but have superior records. So who was doing it right?

Sachin Tendulkar doesn't really get his foot right to the pitch of the ball when driving, but he goes ok. And Ricky Ponting - the best player of a pull shot going around - doesn't actually go back and across. Technique shmechnique.

[saj_21]

Mark Richardson from NZ was th emost ugliest batsmen ever, he is the only "batsmen" to play test cricket without a shot in his armour. All he had was an attempted cover drive that he nicked through 4th slip to third man for 3. That is all nothing else.

[CrazyQ]

Kallis, love watching him bat just for his technique. What exactly are we talking about? people have Gibbs as attractive than have him as unattractive. If it's a batsman that's good to watch, I'd have Pietersen, Gibbs, Sehwag, Gilchrist, Waugh.S, Gayle, Tendulkar and Lara. If it's technique, than Kallis, Tendulkar and Vaughan.

[emperor]

Additions to the ugly list:

Sherwin Campbell
Stephen Fleming
Robert Key
Nasser Hussain
Alec Stewart

Funnily enough I used to love watching these blokes bat:D

Additions to the attractive list.

Carl Hooper

[bigpapagman]

Symonds looks like he's playing hockey.


still my fave though.

[Belnakor]

Haydos - he looks like he is holding a club, not a bat.

I like watching Punter bat, though alot of people reckon he is too mechanical.

Clarke is good to watch when he is moving his feet.

I hate watching Dhoni bat, how that guys gets runs is beyond me.

[emperor]

Where does the tin man, Shane Watson, fit into calculations?

I'm not sure whether he is ugly or attractive to watch, sometimes a little from both I think :p

[Bomber Bears]

Mark Waugh was the best batsmen to watch, supurb when on song
I can not stand watching kallis bat

[TorresIsGod]

AB de Villiers is awesome to watch

[Cooldude]

I used to always say Ganguly a fair few years ago, always very ungainly sometimes, even though he had the off side strokes, but was a crap hooker who compulsively hooks and was a horrible fisher outside off stump. Improved so much the past 18 months though

Graeme Smith definitely has an ugly technique.

Lance Kluencer was right up there as well

In terms of the most attractive, no one has a more perfect and pure technique than Sachin Tendulkar, without a doubt. Also think Kallis and Dravid has beautiful beautiful textbook techniques back in their day. Watson is also very much up there.

In terms of the most graceful to watch then you can't go pass the likes of David Gower and Mark Waugh

[JimDocker]

Most elegant and beautiful to watch

Gower
M Waugh
Azzaruddin
Vaughan's cover drive
VVS Laxman
Richie Richardson
Greg Chappel

Ugly

Lehman

[Power21]

Don't understand all the "he's just got a good eye" comments above. What does that mean? Surely it just means that they're good at batting. They hit the ball in the middle of the bat often.

Bit like describing a footballer who can "play tall" - it's not some secret, enigmatic quality they possess. They are good at playing football. And beat their opponent.

All it really means is that they can still time the ball really well without getting themselves into the right position, which in theory should make the shot harder.

Usually you would hear people say sloggers have a good eye because they can still whack a ball off balance or in the wrong position.

[Carl Spackler]

All it really means is that they can still time the ball really well without getting themselves into the right position, which in theory should make the shot harder.

Usually you would hear people say sloggers have a good eye because they can still whack a ball off balance or in the wrong position.
I'm probably sounding like a broken record here but surely the 'right' position is one where you hit the ball in the middle of the bat, the 'wrong' position is one where you don't.

I would venture that most of the batters renowned for 'having a good eye' are the ones who are the most balanced whilst playing the ball.

[Belnakor]

Mark Waugh was the best batsmen to watch, supurb when on song
I can not stand watching kallis bat

Mark Waugh's leg glance was fanastic.

i miss his work in the slips. he really was freakish during his peak.

[DoubleO7]

Ugly: Simone Katich end thread. Guys like a robot, its disgusting.

Attractive: Kevin Pietersen. Love watching this guy bat. Such an entertainer.

[aaronm46]

Mark Waugh's leg glance was fanastic.

i miss his work in the slips. he really was freakish during his peak.


Junior the commentator > Junior the batmen :D

[Belnakor]

Reckon he'll end up on Chan 9?

[fraser25]

Mark Waugh was fantastic but Martyn took classical timing to another level. Beautiful player.

[Wallaby]

Ponting - very dynamic and correct.
Peterson - fastest hands I've seen. Spectacular.
Gayle.
Martyn.
Fleming.
Lara - No. #1 by miles.

Ugly.
Border
Langer
Dean Jones
Boycott - he might have been technically correct, but he looked horrible. Tavare looked better (and Tavare was slower).

Of course Chanderpaul is in a class of his own here....

[Alpha1]

I think Sachin beats them all, love the way he hits the checked straight drives. He has made that shot his own especially during his peak. Sachin is just a legend and not to mention his flicks through the leg side when the ball is on the off stump, his cover drives etc. The list is endless so it's Sachin for me.

[BLPC08]

Best: Afridi, Gayle, Gilchrist, Jayasuriya, Mascharenas

Ugliest: Katich, Dravid, Chanderpaul, Dippenaar, Mark Richardson

[the_mighty_pies_3733]

I dont get all this Dravid bashing, two years ago he was the purest batsman with the best technique around.
BEST
Sangakkara- just style personified
Marsh- love how still he is at delivery point
Jayawardene
Vaughan
M Waugh
Ian Bell- beautiful when working
Kallis
Dravid at his peak
Steve Fleming- laconic and oh so cool
Also think Strauss is quite elegant in his own way

WORST
Al Cook- workmanlike
Prince
Paul Collingwood-short backlift is not attractive
Jaques
Smith- hunched over like an old man
Ian Healy- absolutely hated his style
Hayden- big step down the pitch n punch doesnt do it for me

[Nankervis brothers]

I find talk of the 'right' technique as far off the mark as the 'only got a good eye' criticism. What is the right technique? Does Lara have the right technique? Or is it Jacques Kallis? Or Chanderpaul?

Should you grip the bat at the top of the handle like Adam Gilchrist? Or hold it right at the bottom of the handle like Gary Sobers?

Which of these guys are doing it right? Which ones are doing it wrong?

A technique that makes runs is a good technique. A technique that doesn't make runs is a poor technique.

A player gets criticised because he doesn't move his feet. What rubbish. Any decent batter knows the important thing is to have your head still and watch the ball closely. Virender Sehwag and Herschelle Gibbs don't move their feet as much as Greg Blewett did... but have superior records. So who was doing it right?

Sachin Tendulkar doesn't really get his foot right to the pitch of the ball when driving, but he goes ok. And Ricky Ponting - the best player of a pull shot going around - doesn't actually go back and across. Technique shmechnique.

All true, but the thread is about ugly and attractive batting. So it is very much an issue of technique and aesthetics.

David Gower was possibly the most elegant batsman I have seen. He never seemed to hit a ball in anger; it was all flawless technique, balance and timing. He made batting look effortless. Clive Lloyd’s batting was also very laconic, but his style wasn't as 'classical' as Gower's .

Sachin Tendulkar is great to watch, in form or otherwise. Mark Waugh, Greg Chapell and Kim Hughes are three Australians I would view as 'attractive' batsmen. David Boon was a deceptively fluid batsmen (pardon the pun) with a sweet drive, but his physique brought some limitations.

Of the big hitting 'power batsmen' Vivian Richard’s was the best I have seen. Gillchrist was as effective, but he had that ugly 'ass-at-a-right-angle' stance. Pietersen is the heir apparent in this group.

Unlike many here I don't see Simon "the moving target" Katich as an ugly batsmen, but more an 'idiosyncratic' batsmen. Of course, he is not in the same class as Keppler Wessel's. For what its worth, Wessel's cut shot was second to none, although his bizarre stance was designed to facilitate it.

Anomalies in the current Australian team would be Pointing and Hayden. Ponting has flawless technique and a huge array of shots, but there is almost something perfunctory about the way he goes about. Hayden is awesome on song, but its all bottom hand bullying and not much finesse. Still, both great players.

[emperor]

Jimmy Adams was a shocker to watch on that ill-fated Windies tour that he skippered. Two-eyed stance, could barely get it off the square. Unfortunately I don't remember seeing him when he was at the height of his powers (as he did have a few very good years early on)

Used to love watching Ambrose and Walsh go about their busienss with the willow in hand too:D

[Kid rock]

Ponting - very dynamic and correct.
Peterson - fastest hands I've seen. Spectacular.
Gayle.
Martyn.
Fleming.
Lara - No. #1 by miles.

Ugly.
Border
Langer
Dean Jones
Boycott - he might have been technically correct, but he looked horrible. Tavare looked better (and Tavare was slower).

Of course Chanderpaul is in a class of his own here....
Pontings technique is far from correct.

[Juddy88]

Yep - can't stand watching players that don't move their feet.

So you didn't like watching Damien Martyn?

[Juddy88]

I don't know how people think Langer was ugly to watch :confused:

[westcoast wizard]

Most Attractive -

Tendulkar - Hes in a class of his own, beautiful player to watch, just has great technique, great footwork

Lara - Why are people saying hes not good to watch, his style is how the great West Indian Players play, big back lift, quick shuffles


Sangakkara - Wonderful player, superb timer of ball

[BluesMan]

How about the good old "West Indian Flick" behind square leg down to deep fine:D

[XFactor1979]

fluid and flowing
mark waugh
lara
michael vaughn
tendulkar
sangakkara

ugly techniques
sehwag's not exactly a technician but he gets runs, lots of runs
chanderpaul

[drexel]

Richie Rich and Mark Waugh - extravagant and elegant.
Damien Martyn - Classy and Minimalist
Ganguly - Princely

------

Hayden, Symonds, Hussey, Ponting - Sloggers/Bashers (lucky bat technology helps them)

[tin can sam]

Justin Langer is my favourite to watch.

I know bowlers shouldn't be considered but I can't stand watching Harbajhan Singh.

Shocking technique.