• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Mohd. Rafique vs Ashley Giles

Who's the better spinner?


  • Total voters
    37

Uppercut

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Probably Gilo I'd say. He's won matches for his side whereas Rafique, needless to say, hasn't.
 

Evermind

International Debutant
I voted Atkinson because if I'm gonna have to choose between Giles and Rafique, I might as well go for Atkinson. It'll be funny, if nothing else.
 

ozone

First Class Debutant
Gilo, no contest. Fact of the matter is, Rafique would, at no stage have got near the England side whilst Giles was the best spin option for England for a time, and would have been remembered with more fondness had he not come back after his hip injury.
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
Gilo, no contest. Fact of the matter is, Rafique would, at no stage have got near the England side whilst Giles was the best spin option for England for a time, and would have been remembered with more fondness had he not come back after his hip injury.
I think Rafique at his peak would have made the English side on tours to the Sub Continent.

Also Rafigue was a very tidy bowler, so he may have played on a few occasions elsewhere. His batting was underrated slightly too, scored a Test century.
 

ozone

First Class Debutant
I think Rafique at his peak would have made the English side on tours to the Sub Continent.

Also Rafigue was a very tidy bowler, so he may have played on a few occasions elsewhere. His batting was underrated slightly too, scored a Test century.
Well even as the second spinner, he would have been competing with someone like Gareth Batty or Shaun Udal who were both underated. Although I suppose its hard to believe he wouldn't have toured ahead of Alex Loudon in the Indian ODI series in 2006.

And he may have been a tidy bowler, but apart from on the sub-continent, I'd like to know the last time England played two specialist spinners for two games in a row. Under the previous selectors, it was simply a policy to only play one spinner in 'non-spin' conditions.
 

Corbin

School Boy/Girl Captain
Both would make a 'top 50' favourite players of mine but I'd probably have to say Rafique by a whisker!
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
Well even as the second spinner, he would have been competing with someone like Gareth Batty or Shaun Udal who were both underated. Although I suppose its hard to believe he wouldn't have toured ahead of Alex Loudon in the Indian ODI series in 2006.

And he may have been a tidy bowler, but apart from on the sub-continent, I'd like to know the last time England played two specialist spinners for two games in a row. Under the previous selectors, it was simply a policy to only play one spinner in 'non-spin' conditions.
Rich has mentioned [on several occasions] that Giles shouldn't have played many Tests that he did play.

Perhaps in a few of those Tests Rafique would have been a better option?

I voted for Giles, just stating that the difference between the pair wasn't that big.
 

James90

Cricketer Of The Year
Rafique had one period where he would take 6 wickets virtually every test. Giles was never that dangerous although he had longevity.

It's also easier to bowl when you've got Flintoff and Jones creating pressure down the other end. Rafique had to shoulder the attack by himself.
 

Corbin

School Boy/Girl Captain
Rafique had one period where he would take 6 wickets virtually every test. Giles was never that dangerous although he had longevity.

It's also easier to bowl when you've got Flintoff and Jones creating pressure down the other end. Rafique had to shoulder the attack by himself.
To be fair Mashrafe Mortaza had caught on somewhat during that stage.
 

cricman

International 12th Man
Rafique was the fastest modern Day SLA spinner to 50 Test Wickets,

I just want to add the fact the Rafique Rarely had Opportunities to bowl in a 2nd Innings. The Few Tests where he had a chance to bowl a second time he was pretty good. you could probably add 35+ more wickets to his name at the very least

I'm sure if you compare the Batsmen Rafique dismissed to Giles, Rafiques would be a much more accomplished list.

EDIT: He head bums bowl along side him as well
 
Last edited:

Evermind

International Debutant
ATM it's a close contest (for second place) between Prince Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh vs Giles, King of Spain.

WHO WILL WIN?
 

Top