Eight best batsmen not to play IPL

The eighth edition of the Indian Premier League is upon us and some of the brightest stars in the game will spend the next six weeks battling it out in sold-out stadiums across planet’s most cricket-mad nation.

But what about those legends ahead of their time that never got the chance to don the coloured garb of the IPL? What would they bring to the 46-day festival of cricket?

Cricket.com.au hereby presents the top eight batsmen that never played Twenty20 cricket, but we really wish could have.Image Id: ~/media/9C5558A0B6F04B8B9960895962928A51

Sir Vivian Richards

The master blaster himself, Viv Richards was the definition of batting grace, power and swagger for more than a decade. In 121 Tests and 187 ODIs Richards averaged 50.23 and 47.00 respectively, while his career one-day strike-rate of 90.20 still places him inside the top 50 in a world of huge bats, tiny grounds and dead flat wickets. Far from a slouch with the ball, Richards’ finger spin also snared 118 ODI scalps, making him a handy addition to any IPL side.

Greatest strength: The pull-shot. Short ball barrages do not work to this man who never wore a helmet.Image Id: ~/media/4C03B499818C491B974E6D16CEFADFC5

Lance Cairns

The original stand and deliver big hitter, Lance Cairns re-imagined what it meant to ‘go large’. In 1983, Cairns made the MCG look like a postage stage as he plundered 52 off 25 deliveries against the likes of Dennis Lillee, Geoff Lawson and Rodney Hogg.

Greatest strength: Planting the front foot and crashing sixes over the on-side.Image Id: ~/media/C7E219CBD1E44DB8A381D0F27D28C0DA

Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes

A pair of Barbadians with a penchant for riling up the green and gold army, Test cricket’s most prolific opening partnership (and one-day cricket’s third most) were the consummate opening duo. Greenidge was the power, Haynes was the patience. You can’t split these two up however, so only IPL franchises looking to overhaul their opening partnership with two new batsmen need apply.

Greatest strength: Versatility. Pace or spin. Dust bowls or green seamers. Greenidge and Haynes were rarely troubled.Image Id: ~/media/56225BDFAB99442CB602817E10A99AD1

Mark Waugh

Whether cutting through point or flicking off his pads few could score as quickly, or with such apparent ease, as ME Waugh. The younger Waugh twin was equally capable on both sides of the wicket and even collected a few handy wickets as a seamer early in his career and a finger-spinner later on.

Greatest strength: Unflappable calmness – very handy during a tense run chase.Image Id: ~/media/FBBE8799FC5945D48CF975AB2416B383

Brian Lara

One of the greats alongside Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar in the group considered the next best behind Sir Donald Bradman, Lara’s record speaks for itself. A Test average of 52.88 and a strike-rate of 60.51 belies the carnage he could unleash – almost at will – and his staying power was unrivalled. As illustrated by his Test-record 400 against England in 2004 and 277 against Australia at the SCG in 1993.

Greatest strength: Incredibly strong if given any width, Lara would undoubtedly enjoy the IPL’s short square boundaries.Image Id: ~/media/A42132A70FCA48CDA2CB979D3BF684DA

Dean Jones

The man that ushered in a new era of one-day cricket, Dean Jones’ limited-overs record (average of 44.61 at a strike-rate of 72.56) would still be world class today. A superb runner between wickets, Jones was also one of the first to use his feet to the quick bowlers – a tactic he used to great effect against England in 1990.

Greatest strength: Charging down the wicket to fast bowlers and lofting boundaries over the infield.Image Id: ~/media/0CCFC34B99394120BC5292C777C123D4

Imran Khan

Imran Khan’s selection in the eight is as much for his ferocious grit and competitive nature as his skill with bat in hand. That doesn’t mean he can’t hit the ball a long way however – as the allrounder showed against the West Indies in 1989 when he blasted an unbeaten 67 off 41 deliveries to see Pakistan home at the Gabba.

Greatest strength: A fierce determination and competitive edge.Image Id: ~/media/4DA75049337D44A9AE7C0E72B3A88381

Sir Donald Bradman

An unparalleled batting average and the mantle of cricket’s greatest ever player weren’t enough to earn an automatic selection in cricket.com.au’s best eight not to play in the IPL – namely due to his preference of hitting balls along the ground as opposed to into the stands. Surprisingly enough, it was a Blackheath XI v Lithgow XI match that earned the legend his berth. Bradman struck an incredible 100 runs off three eight-ball overs in 1931 – an onslaught that featured nine fours and 10 sixes. Those numbers, along with a career Test batting average more than 36 runs better than anyone before or since, has us backing Sir Don to adjust his game to the shortest format.

Greatest strength: Anything. Everything.