The 1970s and the decades before it are the decades where Test Cricket was the premier form of cricket as there was very little ODI Cricket. The 1970s was the era where players from all around the world were getting at their best. The West Indies team was becoming one of the best of all time. They won the 1975 and 1979 ODI World Cups. Australia and England were at the top with players from India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe becoming stars. Sunil Gavaskar became the best batter in the world during this decade.
Let’s look at the Top 10 Greatest Cricketers of the 1970s
1) Sunil Gavaskar (India)
The 1970s was the era of Sunil Gavaskar. No batter from India had made the impact that Sunil Gavaskar made. He was facing the most fearsome fast bowlers in the world and scoring runs everywhere. He played 60 Test Matches and he made 5647 runs. He had an amazing average of 55.91. Sunil Gavaskar hit 22 hundreds in Test Cricket in this decade including 774 runs against West Indies in his debut tour. Sunil Gavaskar eventually became the first ever batter to reach 10,000 international runs. Here’s the list of Sunil Gavaskar Records
2) Derek Underwood (England)
The best bowler of the 1970s was Derek Underwood. He was the leading bowler for England throughout the decade. He played in 59 Test Matches in the 1970s. He took 202 Wickets at an average of 27.65. He took 10 Five Wicket Hauls in the decade. Derek Underwood took 10 wickets in a match 4 times. Derek Underwood does not get the same recognition as some of the other great England players.
3) Dennis Lillee (Australia)
Dennis Lillee is a fast bowler that is well known around the world even after 50 years of being at his peak. He was one of the best fast bowlers of all time. Australia won multiple test matches thanks to Dennis Lillee. He played in 35 Test Matches and he took 184 wickets. That is more than 5 Wickets per Test Match. He had an average of 23.78. Dennis Lillee took 12 Five Wicket Hauls in the 1970s and he took 10 Wickets in a Test Match 4 times. Dennis Lillee was the inspiration for future Australian fast bowlers. Read here Best Dennis Lillee bowling performances
4) Greg Chappell (Australia)
Greg Chappell is one of the most technically gifted batters of all time. He is best known in recent years for his controversial stint with the Indian team as its head coach. Greg Chappell played 54 Test Matches in the 1970s and he scored 4398 runs. He had a good average of 52.98. He hit 15 hundreds in the decade. Greg Chappell was someone who liked batting long and tiring out the bowlers of the opposition. Do check here Best Innings of Greg Chappell
5) Bishan Singh Bedi (India)
Bishan Singh Bedi is one of the best left arm spinners of all time. He is definitely among the Top 3 best left arm spinners India has ever seen. In the 1970s he played in 48 Test Matches. He took 196 wickets in Test Cricket in the decade. He had an average of 29.79. Bishan Singh Bedi took 10 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket in the 1970s. His partnership with BS Chandrasekhar was the stuff of legend as both of them won Matches for India on their own. He recently passed away. Do read here Bishan Singh Bedi Best bowling performances
6) Gundappa Viswanath (India)
This is the third Indian player on this list. Gundappa Viswanath was a batter who had the best leg side game in India at that time. His flick shot was amazing. He was technically gifted. He played 62 Test Matches for India in the 1970s. He made 4611 runs at an average of 46.11. Gundappa Viswanath hit 10 Hundreds in Test Cricket. He was the middle order rock with Sunil Gavaskar at the top of the order. India had become a team that every other country had to take seriously. Check here Best Innings of Gundappa Viswanath
7) Geoffrey Boycott (England)
The best batter for England in Test Cricket in the 1970s. Geoffrey Boycott was a player that could play long innings anytime he was in the middle. He played 44 Test Matches for England in the 1970s. He scored 3806 runs at a very good average of 55.97. He hit 12 hundreds in Test Cricket which was amongst the Top 3 by batters in that decade. He also had the best batting average in that decade among batters to have made over 3500 runs which was just ahead of Sunil Gavaskar who had an average of 55.91. Geoffrey Boycott has been an expert and a commentator for decades. Check here Best Innings of Geoffrey Boycott in Test Cricket
8) BS Chandrasekhar (India)
This is the fourth player from India in this list. This list would not have been complete without the name of BS Chandrasekhar. He was a spin wizard. He played 42 Matches for India in the decade. He took 180 Wickets at an average of 29.20. BS Chandrasekhar was part of the best spin bowling attack in the world along with Bishan Singh Bedi. India rarely had a fast bowler in their bowling attack. He took 14 Five Wicket Hauls which was the most among the Top 10 Best bowlers of that decade.
9) Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
Clive Lloyd was the best captain of the 1970s. He led West Indies to 2 back to back ODI World Cup wins. In Test Cricket he was amongst the best batters in the world. He played 48 Test Matches and he scored 3475 runs. He had an outstanding average of 45.72. Clive Lloyd hit 8 Test hundreds in the decade. He made the West Indies team so good that they dominated the 1980s and they had the best fast bowling attack in the world.
10) Andy Roberts (West Indies)
The last player in this list is also from the West Indies. Andy Roberts was the first fast bowler to make a mark playing for the West Indies before the likes of Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall came along. Andy Roberts played 29 Test Matches for West Indies. He took 140 Wickets at an average of 25.15. Andy Roberts took 9 Five Wicket Hauls In the 1970s. Andy Roberts would go on to take wickets in the 1980s and he was not alone. Check here Best Bowling Performances of Andy Roberts in Test Cricket
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