Test cricket is considered as the purest form of cricket. It started way back in the 19th century and still, the custodians of the game, love the orthodox format the most. There have been several debates on who is the best Test batsman of cricket history. The answer is not that easy to find out though.
Test cricket is about determination, concentration, having an adequate defensive technique and the ability to counter-attack when needed. It is considered similar to human life as it has so many challenges. Still, the cricket pundits often tell a few names above the rest for the batsmen who got nearer to perfection. Sachin Tendulkar, Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting are few of those examples.
ICC, the apex cricket body, has its own rating system. According to the ratings, it is decided which batsman is the best among the current players. Steve Smith is at the top of the chart at the moment, but is he the best Test batman that ever took the field?
Let’s find out who have been the top 10 Batsmen of Test cricket history, by looking at the top 10 Test batting ratings of all-time:
10. Sir Clyde Walcott- 938 points (West Indies)
During the mid 20th century, cricket was dominated by the giants of the game, England and Australia. West Indies were just entering into the picture with their flamboyance and carefree cricket. Then came the popular ‘Three Ws’, all three were one of the hardest hitters of the game and were famous for their strong front foot technique. Sir Clyde Leopold Walcott was the youngest of them but grew up to be the tallest.
He started his career with a sluggish series against England in 1948. But with his second series against India, he proved his real mettle. The right-hander scored 452 runs in 5 Tests and the rest followed. His cover drive is regarded as one of the best in history. He is known as one of the renowned attacking players in the era where defence was considered more important than run-scoring.
In Walcott’s praise, Alex Bannister wrote in Cricket Cauldron, “He knew Hutton had to set an attacking field which left gaps in front of the wicket and he accepted the challenge with a counter-attack. How well he succeeded, is history.” Such was the swagger of the great man. Walcott got his career-best ratings in the series against Australia in 1955. He was later knighted in 1993.
