The best at their peak?

[ankitj]

How's this for a peak? 11 years and 90 matches, 631 wickets @ 7 wpm and average of under 20. That's the reason why I regard Murali the greatest bowler ever bar none. He was "unstoppable" for whole 11 years.

 

[hang on]

From peak I thought you guys meant a part of their career where they hit a purple patch like Yousuf in 2006 or Ponting that time around, not a series.

not really. but still interesting to look at it like that. all good!

 

[ganeshran]

Donald's spell to Atherton in 1998 would qualify

 

[Flem274*]

Need I say more?

 

[centurymaker]

imagine it being a series of 5 matches.

would have to back lara as he had a couple of incredible series in his career...

 

[ganeshran]

Sachin once scored 495 runs in three innings in 2004 against Australia and Pakistan without being dismissed.

 

[hang on]

would have to back lara as he had a couple of incredible series in his career...

completely agree. and not only that he has had some incredible innings too in terms of just piling on the runs. and some incredible overs.....scoring 26 and 28 or whatever the correct number is on more than one occasion. pretty much ticks all the boxes.

 

[Daemon]

Need I say more?

Probably the second best peek in cricket

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Probably the second best peek in cricket

All eyes on the girl, but Yuvi only has eyes for Utthapa.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Are we talking about an extended peak over a period of months and years or those matches where a player hit his zenith?

If it's the latter it has to be Curtly Ambrose as a bowler. The man was almost literally unplayable when the force was with him and the wind was at his back. His spell to reduce an England chasing just 194 for victory at Port of Spain in 94 to 46ao was as relentless as it was magnificent.

& BC Lara as a batsman, obvz. Preternaturally gifted and, at this perihelion, awesome in the literal sense of inspiring admiration (amongst those watching) and fear (amongst those bowling to him).

 

[Blakus]

Would add Ian Botham to that list. For the first 5 years of his career he was arguably the greatest cricketer to ever grace the field.

 

[Ikki]

At their very best as batsmen:

Lara
Ponting
Gilchrist
Sehwag

Reckon when they were on song the other teams were crying themselves to sleep.

For bowlers;

Waqar, Donald and Warne

They were asphyxiatingly good, batsmen didn't know what shot to play or what balls were threatening or not. Waqar for fast bowlers, Warne for spinners. I think Warne in the 00s was the greatest spinner ever. He was, ludicrously, striking at 50 - about as fast as McGrath - and that hides how good he really was, for Australia was not conducive to spin in that time. Away from home he was striking at 44!

 

[Ikki]

How's this for a peak? 11 years and 90 matches, 631 wickets @ 7 wpm and average of under 20. That's the reason why I regard Murali the greatest bowler ever bar none. He was "unstoppable" for whole 11 years.

Once you account for the minnows it's really not that much better than his overall career stats. Christ, he's incredibly reliant on his home pitches.

I haven't looked but he probably has a more impressive record in a shorter period.

 

[smash84]

I think if peak for bowlers is concerned Imran probably had the best post war peak among all bowlers.

Was quite unplayable for a 3 year period before his injury

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Hate to be boring but surely Bradman was the best batsman at his peak?

 

[Furball]

Hate to be boring but surely Bradman was the best batsman at his peak?

Bradman probably doesn't really have a peak tbh.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Bradman probably doesn't really have a peak tbh.

Still ****s on any other cricketer ever from a bloody great height though.

 

[akilana]

How's this for a peak? 11 years and 90 matches, 631 wickets @ 7 wpm and average of under 20. That's the reason why I regard Murali the greatest bowler ever bar none. He was "unstoppable" for whole 11 years.

What's his record excluding England?

 

[fredfertang]

He peaked in 1930 - made Larwood look very ordinary that summer

 

[akilana]

1999 onwards, Kallis average 62 over 123 tests.