silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
You're underestimating the flat pitch angle, the bowling support angle and the batting angle. How many people are averaging 50+ these days?adharcric said:Let's compare Marshall and McGrath then.
Wicket-Taking Ability (SR): Marshall 47, McGrath 51 (slight advantage: Marshall)
Run-Stopping Ability (ER): Marshall 2.7, McGrath 2.5 (slight advantage: McGrath)
Overall (Average): Marshall 20.9, McGrath 21.5 (slight advantage: Marshall)
Performance by Opposition (average)
Marshall ~ Australia (23), India/New Zealand (22), Pakistan (21), England (19)
McGrath ~ South Africa (27), New Zealand (25), Pakistan/Sri Lanka (22), England (20), India/West Indies (19)
(advantage: Marshall)
Marshall averages 32 in New Zealand and <25 everywhere else.
McGrath averages 31 in Pakistan, 29 in Sri Lanka and <25 everywhere else.
(slight advantage: Marshall)
Top 7 Wicket Percentage: Marshall 74%, McGrath 75%
Really, if you don't take the flat wickets into account, Marshall takes it fairly comfortably.
If you do, Marshall barely takes it IMO.
Also, if you look at top 7, they come out around the same. But if you look at openers (i.e top 3) then Marshall has taken 33% of his wickets 1-3 while McGrath has taken 40%.
And in addition to all that, McGrath has done it for longer than Marshall as well. The points you mentioned make the two bowlers virtually the same, and the points I added put him over the edge IMO.