Quote:
Originally Posted by Neel Here
I don't know what makes you think that. near 200 scores were as common then as they are now.
180+ scores by decade :
1980's
richards 189* vs eng
richards 181 vs SL
1990's
ganguly 183 v SL
kirsten 188* v UAE
sachin 186* v NZ
anwar 194 v Ind
2000's
hayden 181* v NZ
dhoni 183* v SL
jayasuriya 189 v Ind
coventry 194* v BD
2010's
sachin 200* v SA
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Here is why I said the 200 mark was beyond expectations, before Sayeed Anwar scored the 194, only 3 batsmen crossed the 175 mark since 1971. That includes 2 innings from Viv Richards, and 3 innings from over a decade ago when ODI cricket was a 60 over game. Kapil's 175* came in a 60 over game, and Viv's 175+ scores came in a 55 over and one 50 over game.
So, only twice in the previous 1208 games did anyone come close to 200. [once against a less than ordinary UAE attack.] That shows why a 200 was so unexpected from a batsman in that period, specially against an international class bowling attack.
But in recent times, due to the T20 revolution, the heavier bats, smaller grounds, field restrictions etc scoring quickly is fast becoming the norm. And when you see people scoring 100+ in a 20 over game, a 200 in a 50 over game is not beyond expectations.
I have no intentions of undermining the greatness of the 200* by SRT. I honestly felt privileged to be able to see the knock live. And perhaps the best ODI innings I have seen[or will ever see]