Cricket's most reliable batsmen

Quite a lot of smart money is still on Sachin Tendulkar to have on your side if you're fighting for your life. Photo / Getty Images

People have their favourites but Dylan Cleaver asks if there is a batsman today you would trust more than any other.

One of the world's greatest little-known players made a return to international cricket last week. Mohammad Yousuf, the Pakistani batting artist formerly known as Yousuf Youhana, ended his ICL-enforced exile and promptly scored a century on his return.

The 34-year-old doesn't garner the headlines demanded by some of his contemporaries but close to 7000 test runs accumulated at an average of 55.6 per innings suggests greatness.

More than anything, his ability to bat calmly in high-pressure situations is revered among team-mates. His flaw however, and it is not a small one, is his relatively modest record against Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, the three best bowling attacks in the world.

That contrasts with somebody like Kevin Pietersen, who opened the Ashes at Cardiff with a half century and in doing so brought up 1000 test runs against Australia. He bats best on the biggest stage, against the best opponents.

Then there's Ricky Ponting, the redoubtable Australian captain who warded off suggestions of declining powers with a faultless 150 at Cardiff.

It begs the question: Who would you want batting for your life?

Allan Border used to have a mortgage on that title before handing the baton to Steve Waugh - or so the Australians would tell you.

Is there anybody on the circuit today who you would trust more than any other? The Herald on Sunday asked a bunch of former internationals and one backyard cricketer with a horrific technique.

Mark Richardson

"I can't go past Mohammad Yousuf at the moment. To me, he was the best batsman playing test cricket before he left for the ICL and he scored a century on his return. He is the most organised and mechanical run scorer in the game at the moment.

"Since he has converted to Islam he has been just unbelievable.

"A year ago I would have gone for Mike Hussey but he's gone through a bit of a slump. Obviously if Ricky Ponting is motivated, he's unbelievable but I don't think he'd particularly want to bat for my life."

John Morrison

"I'd still go with Sachin Tendulkar. He is still the most capable batsman in the world at staying in, which is the most important thing obviously. He has the full array of shots too, though he might not play them as freely as he once did.

"I like Tendulkar because there are guys out there brilliant on certain types of surfaces but he is adept at playing on anything. Slow, bouncy, turning, whatever - he covers the field on all of them. I'd still back him ahead of everybody, even at the age of 36.

"I've always liked Jacques Kallis and the way he goes about his work but part of that is because he bowls too. Kevin Pietersen has the most fantastic temperament that enables him to overcome technical shortcomings but I'd still be comfortable with my choice of Tendulkar."

Craig McMillan

"It wouldn't be anybody in the New Zealand team unfortunately. I'd struggle to go past guys like Rahul Dravid and Kumar Sangakkara. In the end, I'd take Sangakkara. With Dravid, you know what you're going to get but Sangakkara is probably the most adaptable batsman playing cricket at the moment. He can bat for long periods of time but he also has a great record at one-day and Twenty20 cricket which shows he can play shots. He's just a very, very good player."

Dipak Patel

"I really like Gautam Gambhir and Graeme Smith at the moment but in the end, if they were batting for my life, I couldn't go past Sachin Tendulkar. He's got the experience, the sheer weight of runs and he has the best allround game. He can bat for survival and he can bat to force wins. He's got a big-match temperament and he has scored runs all around the world.

"Gambhir is the new kid on the block but I would put Smith in just behind Tendulkar. He has a wonderful track record of getting through the new ball. Every game he is out there facing the music and is just a terrific competitor."

Gavin Larsen

"There'd be a few on my shortlist. Shiv Chanderpaul would make it, Ricky Ponting, Mr Cricket Mike Hussey. Graeme Smith would be there, as would Mohammad Yousuf and Sachin Tendulkar but the name I keep coming back to is Rahul Dravid.

"He is technically correct, perhaps the best technician in the game, he has scored runs in all conditions, he's dogged and he's incredibly mentally strong. He can bat for long periods of time without scoring and it never seems to get him down."

Paul Ford(Beige Brigade)

"Shivnarine Chanderpaul. I can relate to him. He's in a rubbish team and he's always last man standing. I've won money off the guy, too. I religiously back him at the TAB to be West Indies top scorer and he comes through time and time again."