It is common to see comparisons made between players from different eras, and rarely are they thoughtful or detailed -- usually neither. One frequently sees Kallis vs Sobers or Richards vs Lara.
The fact that younger cricket writers rarely absorb in-depth analyses of players they did not see is unfortunate, as it devalues their writing.
Cricket, like all sport, is entertainment, and one should always bear that basic tenet in mind when assessing players. One must also rely heavily on context, and that can only be done by listening to people who were around to see the old-timers.