5 genuine Test-only players of all time

Second Test - Australia v New Zealand: Day 2
Justin Langer

Some players are born to play the longer version of the game. Test matches demand character, perseverance, technique, and temperament. Not every player who plays the game has it. Some are born with it, and some develop it.

Since the first Test in 1877 between England and Australia, there have been many players who have made an impact in Test cricket with the bat and the ball.

Today, I will analyze 5 genuine Test-only players of all time.


#1 Justin Langer

Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer formed a deadly opening partnership for Australia, for almost 10 years. He played 105 Test matches and scored 7,696 runs at an average of 45.27. His conversion rate was high, and hence scored 23 centuries and 30 fifties.

However, he only played 8 ODI matches in his entire career and scored 160 runs at an average of 32. Some say this is because of his temperament and some attribute it to destiny.

#2 VVS Laxman

England v India: 4th npower Test - Day Four
VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman was one of the most gifted and talented batsmen from India. Laxman was wristy and fluidic in his batting. He played 134 Test matches and scored 8781 runs at an average of 45.97 and helped India win many matches.

In ODIs, Laxman played only 86 matches and scored 2338 runs at an average of 30.76. He could never adapt to the faster version of the game and was never chosen to represent India in the World Cup.

#3 Sunil Gavaskar

England v India - 2nd Vitality International T20
Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar is the greatest opening batsman of all time. He had the perfect technique, and his concentration was limitless. "Sunny", as he was called, had a vast array of strokes, which he put to great use against the pace bowlers and spinners. He played without wearing a helmet, against the likes of Holding, Marshall, Garner, Lillee, Imran, and others.

His record in the 4th innings of the game is great which proves he could play on cracked surfaces with equal ease.

Gavaskar played 108 one-day matches and scored 3092 runs at an average of 35.13 which was not great for a player of his standards. He also played the slowest innings against England in a 1975 World Cup game where he scored 36 runs off 174 balls, and India lost the game.

Gavaskar scored 10,122 runs in Test matches at an average of 51.12. He was the first to reach 30 centuries and in all made 34 tons.

He himself admitted that he never liked playing in one-day matches.

#4 Dennis Lillee

Dennis Lillee Australia 1982
Dennis Lillee Australia 1982

Dennis Lillee was fast and menacing. He evoked fear in the batsman’s mind by his speed and bouncers for which he was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1973.

Lillee played 70 matches and took 355 wickets at an average of 23.92. His partnership record with the wicketkeeper Rod Marsh was outstanding. Together, they dismissed 95 times in Test cricket. However, Lillee only played 63 one-day matches.

This is because he felt; one-day matches were more of the spectator sport than a display of skills and technique.

#5 Jeff Thomson

Jeff
Jeff Thomson inducted into the Hall of Fame

Jeff Thomson was the fastest bowler of his generation. He had an unusual style and bowled with a slinging action. Rod Marsh claimed Thomson bowled at a speed of 180 km per hour. Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan, Vivian Richards, and others also claim he was the fastest. He took 200 wickets in 51 test matches at an average of 28.

Thomson took 55 wickets in 50 one-day matches which is just an average statistic. A bowler of his caliber should have taken around 80 wickets in 50 matches. He also was sceptical of one-day matches and never quite liked them.

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Edited by Nishant Jayaram