Who is Sri Lanka's best ever cricketer?

[Jono]

It is Murali by a comfortable distance

 

[TheJediBrah]

Easily Sanga

Murali has the statistical edge, but he genuinely had an unfair advantage over every other player (whether it was "cheating" or just a genetic abnormality which allowed him to get away with it is irrelevant).

 

[Jono]

Yeah agree, same with those black folks who have the genetic edge over white folks in terms of the 100m sprint.

 

[Burner]

You could say the same thing about a lot of exceptional sportsmen in history tbh. As he didn't break the rules, he deserves every wicket he got.

 

[akilana]

If by literally you mean had a very minor effect on then I totally agree.

If you mean minor effect on English cricket then I totally agree.

 

[viriya]

He still averaged 40 with the bat and 34 with the ball in tests...

That 34 bowling average in Tests is deceiving.. he barely bowled and didn't even get to 100 test wickets after 110 tests (<1 wicket per test).

 

[viriya]

Easily Sanga

Murali has the statistical edge, but he genuinely had an unfair advantage over every other player (whether it was "cheating" or just a genetic abnormality which allowed him to get away with it is irrelevant).

Having supple wrists is unfair then?

 

[indiaholic]

Easily Sanga

Murali has the statistical edge, but he genuinely had an unfair advantage over every other player (whether it was "cheating" or just a genetic abnormality which allowed him to get away with it is irrelevant).

Terrible post.

 

[mr_mister]

If by literally you mean had a very minor effect on then I totally agree.

he was the face of change dude

 

[ankitj]

Should be public poll.

 

[Gob]

muralikkara

 

[Gob]

sangurali

 

[marc71178]

If you mean minor effect on English cricket then I totally agree.

So what is this massive effect he had on cricket then?

 

[marc71178]

he was the face of change dude

Change? Of what?

 

[mr_mister]

the way teams approached the opening overs of an ODI

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Sanga is a great great player but I think Murali is the best player of the post-1980s era. Even though the greatest of all (the Don) is a batsman, bowlers win matches.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah agree, same with those black folks who have the genetic edge over white folks in terms of the 100m sprint.

Not even remotely analogous

You could say the same thing about a lot of exceptional sportsmen in history tbh. As he didn't break the rules, he deserves every wicket he got.

Highly debatable, as shown by how much it has been debated. Irrelevant now though. He had a huge influence on cricket and the game is richer for having had him.

One thing most people can agree on is that if he did "break the rules", it probably wasn't really on purpose and he's a great guy, not a "cheater"

 

[marc71178]

the way teams approached the opening overs of an ODI

Apart from being 4 years too late?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

.

One thing most people can agree on is that if he did "break the rules", it probably wasn't really on purpose and he's a great guy, not a "cheater"[/QUOTE]

Maybe Murali can say his mother gave him double-jointed wrists, just like someone else's mother giving him pills.

If one is a cheat, the other one definitely is too.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Best player for each country - clear cut

Australia - Bradman
Sri Lanka - Murali
New Zealand - Hadlee
Zimbabwe - Andy Flower
Bangladesh - Shakib

There would be a big debate over the others:
West Indies ????
South Africa ????
Pakistan ??????
England ??????
India ?????