Dear Editor,

Firstly, congratulations to both Mr Mark Bender and Dr Ian McDonald on their very informative letters on whom they think was the best/greatest Test batsman ever.

Quite a number of my friends/associates solicited my opinion on the subject, and to be fair to those great batsmen I just simply added to the controversy by explaining that other things and batsmen should have been considered.

I explained that apart from runs scored there should be other considerations, namely, strength of batting line-up; team‘s score at the time of entry to crease (state of match); quality of bowling and fielding of opposition; rating of innings. Remember B C Lara is credited with two of the best five innings ever played.  Lastly, but by no means least, placement of ball (finding gaps), not-outs, etc.

Graham Gooch would qualify to be included as being the batsman with the most runs in a Test match.  Javed Miandad should be included for being one of the best (if not the best) at finding gaps in the field.  If you include Ponting, then you must include Rahul Dravid.  I can go on but I think enough said.

George Headley could not have played more Tests.  Remember there was no South Africa (because of apartheid), Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at that time.

To Mr Bender, I have a small request: could he please supply the statistics of the great batsmen discussed in detail.  I mean single centuries, doubles and triples.  We already know who is the person with the only quadruple in the sport.

Gentlemen, please continue this discussion.  It is healthy and informative. I am anxiously awaiting the next letter.

The next subject should be the best fast bowler, then we can go on to the best of the leg-spinners, etc.

Yours faithfully,
Keith Campbell