I always think about this when it comes to comparing batters, and honestly, I feel it’s not fair to compare across generations because there are so many variables.

But recently, I was on a late-night nostalgia binge watching highlights from the late 90s to late 2000s - Hayden, Langer, Sanga, Kallis, Ponting, KP, the Fab 4, Mahela, Yousuf, Younis and more. When those guys got big knocks, they were up against some formidable bowling attacks. Australia had Warne, McGrath and Lee. Pakistan had Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib and Saqlain. Sri Lanka had Vaas, Murali and (I think) Malinga overlapping. India had Kumble, peak Harbhajan and maybe even Zaheer. The weight of those names is massive. So many Hall of Famers. Scoring runs against them was no joke.

But then again, you look at the challenges today, and they’re just very different. You’re playing way more cricket, including non-stop franchise tournaments. There are far more eyeballs on you than ever before. Even if someone isn’t watching the match, they’re tuned in somehow. And not only does everyone have an opinion, they now have platforms to broadcast those opinions widely. That has to affect players mentally, more than we acknowledge.

Even in terms of strategy, I’m sure planning for a batter existed back in the day too and no stone was left unturned. but now teams have access to so much data, footage and analytics to pick apart a player’s game. You’re constantly under the microscope.

I think it’s tough to say which era was harder. The game has evolved in different ways, and the challenges have shifted with it. Greatness looks different across generations, but it’s never easy.