Best Bowling Attack - Tests

[GIMH]

Engand's attack is better than Saffa's

(he says as England are 130-5...but I stand by it)

 

[pasag]

Any attack is helped by it's feildsmen obviously but also the batsmen who make things easier for them and can take a lot of pressure off. Pak's bowlers are facing an uphill battle with no one else coming to the party.

 

[Prince EWS]

Engand's attack is better than Saffa's

(he says as England are 130-5...but I stand by it)

Yeah, England's four specialist bowlers are better than South Africa's four IMO, but Kallis balances their attack out pretty well so it evens out a bit.

I definitely think South Africa's attack is a bit over-rated though. The two things is really has gone for it are Steyn, who's arguably the best bowler in the world and Kallis, who's certainly the best fifth option going at the moment (although having a good fifth bowler isn't really something you can build a team around). Morkel's found some form in this most recent series but he's still largely unproven even at First Class level and dished up a lot of crap in his career before this series too, so he's still a bit of an unknown really. Their third seamer is De Wet, who has a decent yet unspectacular First Class record and doesn't seem to move the ball, nor is he particularly quick. He's not bad but he wouldn't make England's team. Harris is a decent bowler who plays a role but he's no Swanny, as is evident by the fact that he just got dropped in favour of five seamers even though one of their first choice bowlers is out injured.

 

[Xuhaib]

Its a young developing attack which is stringing some games together, would do a lot better if it is supported by some decent batting leave alone catching.At any sign of a partnership Mo Yo goes all defensive since he is not confident wether his own batsman can match the oppostion batting.Gul,Aamer,Asif and Kaneria are all attacking bowlers and its better if they are used in that capacity rather then in a runs controling one.

 

[aussie]

Yeah, England's four specialist bowlers are better than South Africa's four IMO, but Kallis balances their attack out pretty well so it evens out a bit.

Can't agree with that TBF. Steyn/Morkel/De Wet/Tahir (i reckon he may have overtaken Harris) is better than ENGs 4, even without considering Kallis. But not by much.

I definitely think South Africa's attack is a bit over-rated though. The two things is really has gone for it are Steyn, who's arguably the best bowler in the world and Kallis, who's certainly the best fifth option going at the moment (although having a good fifth bowler isn't really something you can build a team around).

I agree with larger point you are making about Kallis. But i disagree with this specific point that he is the best "5th bowling option ATM". Certainly think Watson & Bravo are better bowlers than him in most conditions.

Morkel's found some form in this most recent series but he's still largely unproven even at First Class level and dished up a lot of crap in his career before this series too, so he's still a bit of an unknown really.

True. But you could argue just maybe this series is his starting of his peak. So if he keeps getting better & his FC record never improves, what he did before this series really shouldn't be an issue. Either way he is still better than Broad a similar tall seamer of course.

Plus Broad like Morkel was pretty hot & cold in his test career up until the Oval Ashes test. Morkel definately superior.

Their third seamer is De Wet, who has a decent yet unspectacular First Class record and doesn't seem to move the ball, nor is he particularly quick. He's not bad but he wouldn't make England's team.

De Wet was getting it up @ 145 kmph pretty often in the 1st test TBF. Yea i haven't seen him move the ball much in this series. But like Ntini to level he seems to naturally move it into the right handers. Overall i'd rate him over Onions in most conditions & he definately could make the ENG team IMO.

Harris is a decent bowler who plays a role but he's no Swanny, as is evident by the fact that he just got dropped in favour of five seamers even though one of their first choice bowlers is out injured.

Well yea Swann >>Harris for sure. But the thing is, SA could easily go back to playing an all-seam attack like they did in the 90s too. So you can argue that Harris's importance to SA isn't as significant as Swann role for ENG.

If ENG had Flintoff to enable a 5-man attack i'd probably then agree they where better than SA. But not now..

 

[Faisal1985]

Had only 15 of the 31 dropped catches been taken in the last 5 tests for Pak, and the picture would be different for Pakistan bowling attack....i personally think with good fielding support, this Pakistan attack is capable of running through any test side.

 

[Migara]

So why respond to a comment about a whole attack then?

Responding to this

Rate them about the same. Potentially quite good but not outstanding. Aamer is a great potential and Asif's very good but the back-up is lacking a little.

 

[aussie]

Based on seeing ENG, SA, PAK, AUS, WI attacks in last month or so..

Just judging the pace attacks:

AUS/SA: Both comparable as the best. Hiflenhaus/Bollinger/Siddle/Watson plus with Lee & Nannes as back-up.
probably give AUS the best overall pace stocks.

But Steyn/Morkel are all set to be the premier new-ball duo of the next decade IMO. Plus with De Wet, Parnell, McLaren (who looks a farily good test bowling-allrounder in the making, capable of doing the Craig Matthews role) & Kallis still chippin away with a wicket every now & again as back-ups. Makes both attacks pretty even IMO.

Would be interested to know if they are any younger bowler in South African domestic cricket, who are like Parnell though..



PAK & WI. Tied for me. I see similar potential in Asif/Aamir/Gul & Taylor/Roach/Edwards/Bravo. Whie both have average/poor back-up stocks.


ENG/IND/SRI. Three way tie here. All three have decent pace attacks with a good leader (Khan, Anderson, Malinga) capable of being lethal in helpul condtions but average on flat decks. Neither have much depth in pace-bowling stocks.


NZ. Last by a good way unfortunately. IF Bond was still able to play thus retired, O'Brein & Oram had not retired i'd say they would have been comprable to ENG/IND/SRI as well.

Even if you want to include the spinners when judging each attack "overall" i reckon how i ranked them IMO, would still be the same.

 

[GIMH]

Time will tell if this series was Morkel's coming of age as a Test cricketer or a Harmisonesque flash in the pan, but without wanting to sound too kneejerk, the last couple of matches have led me to retract my earlier statement.

On its day ours is as good as any, but consistency is key in cricket and we're just not there yet.

 

[Pothas]

Based on seeing ENG, SA, PAK, AUS, WI attacks in last month or so..

Just judging the pace attacks:

AUS/SA: Both comparable as the best. Hiflenhaus/Bollinger/Siddle/Watson plus with Lee & Nannes as back-up.
probably give AUS the best overall pace stocks.

But Steyn/Morkel are all set to be the premier new-ball duo of the next decade IMO. Plus with De Wet, Parnell, McLaren (who looks a farily good test bowling-allrounder in the making, capable of doing the Craig Matthews role) & Kallis still chippin away with a wicket every now & again as back-ups. Makes both attacks pretty even IMO.

Would be interested to know if they are any younger bowler in South African domestic cricket, who are like Parnell though..



PAK & WI. Tied for me. I see similar potential in Asif/Aamir/Gul & Taylor/Roach/Edwards/Bravo. Whie both have average/poor back-up stocks.

ENG/IND/SRI. Three way tie here. All three have decent pace attacks with a good leader (Khan, Anderson, Malinga) capable of being lethal in helpul condtions but average on flat decks. Neither have much depth in pace-bowling stocks.


NZ. Last by a good way unfortunately. IF Bond was still able to play thus retired, O'Brein & Oram had not retired i'd say they would have been comprable to ENG/IND/SRI as well.

Even if you want to include the spinners when judging each attack "overall" i reckon how i ranked them IMO, would still be the same.

Think Pakistan have the edge over West Indies largely because of Asif. The West Indies Edwards and Taylor are both decent but they are not anywhere near the same level as Asif, Roach and Aamer obviously have both got loads of potential and we will just have to wait and see with those two.

Think it is harsh to put New Zealand behind Sri Lanka as well, especially considering that Malinga has not even played a test for two years.

 

[Pothas]

Time will tell if this series was Morkel's coming of age as a Test cricketer or a Harmisonesque flash in the pan, but without wanting to sound too kneejerk, the last couple of matches have led me to retract my earlier statement.

On its day ours is as good as any, but consistency is key in cricket and we're just not there yet.

Yeah and Anderson is never going to reach it, think that has been clear for a while. (Still love him though)

Broad could be a different matter, will have to hope.

 

[GIMH]

Broad will, I have no doubt about it. He's only, what? 23? By the time he's 25 he'll be the best bowler in the world, just a hunch I have

 

[aussie]

Time will tell if this series was Morkel's coming of age as a Test cricketer or a Harmisonesque flash in the pan, but without wanting to sound too kneejerk, the last couple of matches have led me to retract my earlier statement.

On its day ours is as good as any, but consistency is key in cricket and we're just not there yet.

I'd be shocked & throughly disappointed in Morkel went back into flash in the pan mode TBH. Having seen all of his series since IND 2008, IMO this is best i've seen him bowl in a series.

On England. Dont rate our pace attack that highly. As you said "on the day" is usually in helpul bowling conditons they are as good as any. The lack of 'consistency" basically comes from the fact that outside helpul conditions - our attack is fair one-dimentional.

Think Pakistan have the edge over West Indies largely because of Asif. The West Indies Edwards and Taylor are both decent but they are not anywhere near the same level as Asif, Roach and Aamer obviously have both got loads of potential and we will just have to wait and see with those two.

Asif>>>Taylor as leader
Aamir=Roach as a young hot talent
Edwards=Gul

Plus Bravo is as good as Watson & Kallis with the ball.

Although as you said Asif is better than the entire WI attack. The fact the back-ups are basically even, its hard to split them definately.

Think it is harsh to put New Zealand behind Sri Lanka as well, especially considering that Malinga has not even played a test for two years

Well i was rating SRI with the hypotetical notion that Malinga would be fit TBF. Blokes like Dammika Prasad, Thushra, Walagedera (spell check) based on what i've seen are fairly comparable to Martin/Tuffey/Southee/Gillespie IMO. As if said if Bond, O'Brein & Oram hadn't retired they would be better though than SRI though.

 

[Faisal1985]

I'd be shocked & throughly disappointed in Morkel went back into flash in the pan mode TBH. Having seen all of his series since IND 2008, IMO this is best i've seen him bowl in a series.

On England. Dont rate our pace attack that highly. As you said "on the day" is usually in helpul bowking conditons they are as good as any. The lack of 'consistency" basically comes from the back that outside helpul conditions - our attack is fair one-dimentional.




Asif>>>Taylor as leader
Aamir=Roach as a young hot talent
Edwards=Gul

Plus Bravo is as good as Watson & Kallis with the ball.

Although as you said Asif is better than the entire WI attack. The fact the back-ups are basically even, its hard to split them definately.





Well i was rating SRI with the hypotetical notion that Malinga would be fit TBF. Blokes like Dammika Prasad, Thushra, Walagedera (spell check) based on what i've seen are fairly comparable to Martin/Tuffey/Southee/Gillespie IMO. As if said if Bond, O'Brein & Oram hadn't retired they would be better though than SRI though.

Where would you put Sami?

Tbh, on a seaming track he was looking far from being just ordinary?

 

[aussie]

Where would you put Sami?

Tbh, on a seaming track he was looking far from being just ordinary?

Yea yes he bowled well in Sydney (1st innings). But before then i'd written him off as total garbage TBH, him averaging 50+ an all.

Do you as PAK fan rate him as good back-up option currently?. Since as neutral i dont know if they are any young talented pacers in PAK domestic cricket that you guys think should be behind Asif/Aamir/Gul..

 

[andyc]

AUS/SA: Both comparable as the best. Hiflenhaus/Bollinger/Siddle/Watson plus with Lee & Nannes as back-up.
probably give AUS the best overall pace stocks.

Edit: Nannes wouldn't be one of the back ups either.

 

[aussie]

Yes he is. The selectors just wont pick him.

Same way Hodge was always a back-up test match option, but we knew given certain factors the selectors where never going to pick him.

 

[Faisal1985]

Yea yes he bowled well in Sydney (1st innings). But before then i'd written him off as total garbage TBH, him averaging 50+ an all.

Do you as PAK fan rate him as good back-up option currently?. Since as neutral i dont know if they are any young talented pacers in PAK domestic cricket that you guys think should be behind Asif/Aamir/Gul..

Different people have different opinions. In Sami's case i think Pakistani fans will be divided (as usual). I personally think he is certainly a better prospect then the Rauf's and the Rao's.....his pace is what puts him ahead of these names.....even in ODIs i would pick him in case of an injury to the first choice attack....

 

[Black_Warrior]

Pakistan for me..Asif, Aamer, Gul, add Akhtar to that and you have a deadly attack.

 

[Flem274*]

I'd be shocked & throughly disappointed in Morkel went back into flash in the pan mode TBH. Having seen all of his series since IND 2008, IMO this is best i've seen him bowl in a series.

On England. Dont rate our pace attack that highly. As you said "on the day" is usually in helpul bowling conditons they are as good as any. The lack of 'consistency" basically comes from the fact that outside helpul conditions - our attack is fair one-dimentional.




Asif>>>Taylor as leader
Aamir=Roach as a young hot talent
Edwards=Gul

Plus Bravo is as good as Watson & Kallis with the ball.

Although as you said Asif is better than the entire WI attack. The fact the back-ups are basically even, its hard to split them definately.





Well i was rating SRI with the hypotetical notion that Malinga would be fit TBF. Blokes like Dammika Prasad, Thushra, Walagedera (spell check) based on what i've seen are fairly comparable to Martin/Tuffey/Southee/Gillespie IMO. As if said if Bond, O'Brein & Oram hadn't retired they would be better though than SRI though.

Gillespie is long gone. Arnel would be the next cab off the rank.

I do think we should be around the back though because the two best seamers are gone and we have no idea how their replacements will go, plus Southee and Tuffey have only just returned to test cricket.