Actually these figures suggest that batting was hardest since the 50's in the 90's . Also, which players do you deem to be greats from the modern era?
Well just got home from a day at the cricket, what a day!
As for your stats window, interesting but the fact is that the batting outside of the subcontinent was hard in the 90s, whereas the subcontinent was comparatively easier. Ten of the top 50 runs scorers in the sub continent averaged over 50 whereas only four of the top 50 runs scorers in aus, eng, sth Africa and nz averaged over 50 in the same period, suggesting to me that there was easier batting in the sub continent than outside of it.
Additionally the highest average outside the sub continent in the 90s was only 54. In the sub continent tendulkar averaged 66.
As I said, he's very good but played a lot of cricket in batting friendly conditions, so his stats alone should not be used to justify his greatness.
As for who I think is great of the modern era, there was only one player who I've seen live that I would put in the same bracket as viv and don, that is Shane warne. I doubt we will see another bowler that can do the same as he could do with the ball in our lifetime.
But I guarantee there will be batsmen like pointing, kallis, tendulkar and Lara. Blokes that consistently average over 50 in good teams.
Out of those batsmen, lara is my favourite. But I have a soft spot for him. I watched a young Ian bishop bowl from a full run up at Lara for a quarter of an hour at the Adelaide oval nets one morning before a test match (i used to get in before 830 to watch the teams train) I stood behind the nets and watched it from behind Lara. The foot movement was so quick, and quiet, and he was putting bishop away pretty easily. Brian then came over and signed my autograph book, which I still have.