Neville Briggs wrote:Cricketing and genius is not something to say in the same sentence.
mmmm . . . dunno. Okay Matt Hayden may be a stretch, but since Test Cricket began in 1877, an exceptionally good batsman would average 40+. A superstar would average 50+ and an absolute freak would average 60+. Only three players (who have played more than 20 innings at test level) have finished their careers with a batting average above sixty - South Africa's Pollock, West Indian Headly and Englishman Sutcliffe. It must be noted those three were just a blip over 60, none reaching 61 (Matt Hayden finished with an average of 50.73). Are you still awake Nev?

Now I know many, you included, may argue genius can only be measured in ones intellectual capacity where one can be considered a creative genius in the fields of music, arts or science, if one is nearly twice as good as all others over such a long period of time in their chosen field then that ability surely deserves the tag of genius.

It's never too late to open yourself up to the joys of the nuances and the vagaries that come and go in that beautiful game that is Test Cricket (Ashes start real soon).
Cheers, Marty