Cricket’s best batsmen of all time

England’s troubled series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates has been making the latest cricket news headlines recently, yet James Anderson continues to boost morale ahead of the third and final Test. Mistakes and illness have plagued the team for weeks, but perhaps our players can draw inspiration from some of these guys.

Sachin Tendulkar

Born in Mumbai, Sachin Tendulkar started playing cricket at an early age and is now regarded as one of the best cricketers in the world. He’s arguably the best player India has ever known and his impeccable balance, exquisite precision and calculated movements have secured him some of the most impressive achievements. He became the first player to score 50 Test centuries and holds the record for most hundreds in Tests and one-day international cricket. He was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team and has enjoyed great international success.

Sir Donald Bradman

Sir Donald George Bradman is an Australian sporting hero and has been named one of the best batsmen of all time. His ability to strike the ball with impressive accuracy combined with his passion for the game made him extremely popular, and he went on to take the world by storm. With a Test batting average of 99.94 and undeniable skill, Bradman remained a master cricketer throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Such was his talent that the England cricket team created a controversial set of bodyline tactics which were designed to undo his success – but he continued to score prolifically. Bradman became the captain of the Australian team from 1936-48 and has left an everlasting impression on many sporting fans.

Sir Garfield Sobers

Former Barbadian cricketer and West Indies captain, Sir Garfield Sobers was knighted in 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to cricket. The left-handed batsman made his Test debut in 1954 and at the age of 21 set a new record for the highest Test score with 365. He went on tour in 1956 and scored a half-century against England, an achievement which earned him an extensive fan base. Sobers was crowned the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1964 and held the Frank Worrell Trophy up high as captain. He was named one of the 10 National Heroes of Barbados back in 1998 and was referred to in the media as King Cricket.

Brian Lara

Like many world-famous cricketers, the former West Indies batsman Brian Lara began his career at an early age. He started training at the Harvard Coaching Clinic and soon hit the headlines with his impressive cricket scores . He became Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest captain in 1990, aged just 20, and made his Test debut against Pakistan that same year. Renowned for his perfect positioning – bat high, front knee bent and eyes low – he quickly excelled and received the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year in 1994, as well as a host of other awards.

Cricket can be a physically demanding game, but let’s hope the England team can be empowered by the above players.