Better bowling performance in a series

[sunilz]

As there is already a thread for Batting one.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s debut series versus England in 2016 where he took 19 wickets in 2 test matches.

 

[TheJediBrah]

In 4 another thread of everyone adding in their own favourites





Shane Warne 2005 Ashes

 

[mr_mister]

Harbhajan did **** all outside this series, but this series was arguably the best bowling performance of the modern age

Was going along at 10wpm

 

[nightprowler10]

Imran vs India 1982.

 

[honestbharani]

Of the two I have seen from the poll, Mitch Johnson's seemed to happen on wickets where almost nobody else was a threat to his level even though he had an excellent support cast led by Rhino himself who was at his best as well. Harbhajan's was such a one man show that, to this day, I dont even recall who else played for India as bowlers in those tests. The fact that Sachin seemed to be our next best bowler and how many levels he was below Harbhajan says it all, for me. Plus the fact that he was so inexperienced and young and was still pushed to basically be leader of the attack. Everyone waxes lyrical about how Siraj ended up leading the attack at the Gabba earlier this year for India but it is what Harbhajan did on his own comeback to the side as a 20 year old back in 2001 over 3 tests. Remember he had Australia in a bit of a tangle even in Mumbai before Gilly played a counterattacking knock.


So, Bhajji for me.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Bhajjis series was the ultimate one man show. Never forget Sachin was India's second highest wicket taker with 3 wickets.

 

[subshakerz]

Imran Khan's 40 wickets against India in 82-83 for the below reasons:

- Bowled Pakistan to victory
- No standout bowling support
- Flat batting wickets
- Very good opposition batting lineup of Gavaskar, Amarnath, Vengsarkar and Viswanath
- Mid-series, took 30 wickets in three tests, two of the other tests didnt get to bowl in both innings otherwise would have ended up with even more

Absolute peak of fast bowling.

The other contenders would be Mitchell Johnson in 2013, Hadlee in 85, Harbajan in 2001, Alderman in 81 or 89 and Warne perhaps in 2005. But all of those had more favorable bowling conditions or backup support.

 

[Starfighter]

Habhajan's is the most statistically astonishing, but I'd rather watch Johnson.

 

[Shady Slim]

but I'd rather watch Johnson.

 

[OverratedSanity]

For watchability, my favourite is Steyn vs India in 2010/11. The nagpur spell was great too but his bowling in all 3 games in the return series in SA was pure swing bowling porn. Have never seen outswing like that before or since.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Sometimes when my wife goes shopping i dim the lights in the lounge and watch Johnson on the big screen

2013-14 of course

 

[ankitj]

In Wisden's ranking of 100 greatest spells, Harbhajan had 4 entries from that one series (and something similar in DoG's ratings iirc?). Greatest bowling performance in a test series comfortably.

Edit: https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2001/jul/30bow100.htm

 

[Migara]

Hadlee it is.

 

[subshakerz]

In Wisden's ranking of 100 greatest spells, Harbhajan had 4 entries from that one series (and something similar in DoG's ratings iirc?). Greatest bowling performance in a test series comfortably.

Edit: https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2001/jul/30bow100.htm

One drawback is that Harbajan's performances though basically came in only the last two out of three tests in that series, He started the first test well but was eventually hit out of the park by Gilchrist. Whereas the others had performances that were more spread out.

The reason I prefer Imran's is that it is far tougher to take wickets as a pacer in Pakistan than as a spinner in India. To take 30 wickets in Karachi, Faisalabad and Hyderbad as a pacer is amazing. Though I grant that Harbi faced a better batting lineup.

 

[Migara]

One drawback is that Harbajan's performances though basically came in only the last two out of three tests in that series, He started the first test well but was eventually hit out of the park by Gilchrist. Whereas the others had performances that were more spread out.

The reason I prefer Imran's is that it is far tougher to take wickets as a pacer in Pakistan than as a spinner in India. To take 30 wickets in Karachi, Faisalabad and Hyderbad as a pacer is amazing. Though I grant that Harbi faced a better batting lineup.

Not necessarily. Subcontinental batsmen on SC wickets are a far more tougher challenge than non SC side on SC wickets. For example even with a bowling side with Murali which was well suited for spinning wickets, best performers against SL were Indians and Pakistanis. Infact Pakistanis beat us at home than any other side.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Not necessarily. Subcontinental batsmen on SC wickets are a far more tougher challenge than non SC side on SC wickets. For example even with a bowling side with Murali which was well suited for spinning wickets, best performers against SL were Indians and Pakistanis. Infact Pakistanis beat us at home than any other side.

very good point from Migs. Aus on turning wickets is almost never a strong proposition

 

[_00_deathscar]

For watchability, my favourite is Steyn vs India in 2010/11. The nagpur spell was great too but his bowling in all 3 games in the return series in SA was pure swing bowling porn. Have never seen outswing like that before or since.

Yea that Sachin / Steyn duel was fantastic. Great bowling by Steyn throughout that match particularly, but the series as a whole too

 

[subshakerz]

For watchability, my favourite is Steyn vs India in 2010/11. The nagpur spell was great too but his bowling in all 3 games in the return series in SA was pure swing bowling porn. Have never seen outswing like that before or since.

I thought that series was peak Steyn but for some reason at that stage of his career he always seemed to lose a gear in the second innings of each test. Especially in Cape Town where he didnt seem to threaten to push for victory on the final day.

 

[Slifer]

Harbajan easily. Did great vs the greatest batting lineup in history.