Chaminda Vaas v Nathan Bracken

[andruid]

Your efforts to summon @Nnaden from the CW afterlife are noble if not futile. But I jest.


I had a proper soft spot for Bracken after the 2007 World Cup, and liked the Vaas-Murali partnership for Sri Lanka in tests. Very hard for me to pick one over the other

 

[The Sean]

This is as good an opportunity as any to give my traditional, obligatory shout-out to Bracken's efforts in THAT match. Largely lost now in the mists of time due to all the extraordinary other shenanigans which took place that day, but in the context of the colossal and unprecedented carnage going on around him I reckon Bracken's display is one of the all-time great ODI bowling performances.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Bracken delivered huge in the 09 CT final too. WI started their innings on fire but Bracken tore through their top order and it ended pretty quick after that.

 

[honestbharani]

Bracken delivered huge in the 09 CT final too. WI started their innings on fire but Bracken tore through their top order and it ended pretty quick after that.

That was 06. He was the reason they won that trophy, otherwise amazingly against all odds, a Windies side led by Lara would have won consecutive world titles.

 

[Gob]

That was 06. He was the reason they won that trophy, otherwise amazingly against all odds, a Windies side led by Lara would have won consecutive world titles.

I wouldn't say against all odds. That was a comparable aust team to any that won world cups minus Hayden. Martyn was amazing

 

[honestbharani]

I wouldn't say against all odds. That was a comparable aust team to any that won world cups minus Hayden. Martyn was amazing

Lol I meant that Windies side led by Lara without Ambrose Walsh etc winning 2 world ODI titles back to back - that would have been heavily against all odds.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

Bracken was better in lois.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Lol I meant that Windies side led by Lara without Ambrose Walsh etc winning 2 world ODI titles back to back - that would have been heavily against all odds.

Browne and Bradshaw, wtf even was that

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Bracken

 

[stephen]

Bracken was an ATG change bowler, and probably close to the best ever. Vaas was a good - and probably underrated - opening bowler. In tests Vaas obviously was light years ahead and a case could be made that Vaas was more important to SL than Bracken was to Australia at any point in their careers.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Bracken was an ATG change bowler

I reckon Bracken opened in, like, 95% of his games tbh

 

[stephen]

I reckon Bracken opened in, like, 95% of his games tbh

I don't ever remember him opening tbh. He was behind McGrath and Lee normally.

 

[stephen]

I mean, it turns out that you're right since he opened nearly 100 times and bowled change 17 times, but it's still surprising to me.

Turns out, they only played 18 ODIs together and in those games Bracken and McGrath shared first change duties.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah he almost always opened, even in his first few series. He was a specialist new-ball outswing bowler so it would be weird if he didn't. Was only later on that he developed his off-cutters and became an even better mid-late innings bowler. Even in the 2007 World Cup McGrath bowled first change to accommodate him.

 

[Bolo.]

As a big fan of longevity, Im gonna say Bracken, comfortably.

Both underated, but longevity aside I reckon Bracken deserves to be called an ATG, while Vaas was just a really good bowler.

Bracken was also one of the best bowlers ever to watch. Such a nice change from heat and lift dictating the quality of bowlers, and the way he could switch it up between seam and swing was top notch.

Bracken would also be a T20 god these days imo.

Yip. Wouldn't surprise me if he was better than guys like Mcgrath and Pollock if they were all playing T20 today. Not saying it would be true, but its a distinct possibility.

 

[stephen]

Yeah he almost always opened, even in his first few series. He was a specialist new-ball outswing bowler so it would be weird if he didn't. Was only later on that he developed his off-cutters and became an even better mid-late innings bowler. Even in the 2007 World Cup McGrath bowled first change to accommodate him.

Frankly it's his cutters that are burned into my memory but now that I think a bit harder, his swing was a big factor too early in the innings.

That's back when the white ball actually swung in the first 10-20 overs.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

He definitely opened in ODIs. Would be interesting to see Bracken and Chaminda's ODI numbers vs Stephen Fleming. Both seemed to regularly get him out for low scores

 

[Arachnodouche]

No two decent bowlers were ever more boring to watch.

 

[Migara]

He definitely opened in ODIs. Would be interesting to see Bracken and Chaminda's ODI numbers vs Stephen Fleming. Both seemed to regularly get him out for low scores

Vaas' real bunnies were Chris Gayle in ODIs and Atherton in tests.

 

[vicleggie]

Vaas was awesome.