wutLet’s not be ridiculous and try to denigrate McGrath’s achievements based on him not having subcontinental fielders around him.
McGrath was either the second or third GOAT.
Wasim is great, but not at the expense of McGrath’s legacy.
That's fair and I broadly agree (more in the Waqar camp myself) but I did appreciate the McG spells more over time.Yes that's right. McGrath was the king of breaks. One of the most intelligent bowlers ever to grace the cricket field, he was a bowler who bowled within himself and made the most of anything that was available to him, just like a proper fast bowler should. Whether that be a weakness in the batsman's defence, a blemish/crack in the pitch, cloud cover... you name it. Pidge was the master of precision. Since he had the ability to land the ball on a 20c piece, a mere off cutter was sometimes all it took. Some of GMcG's spells are a thing of hypnotic beauty. However, I'd prefer to watch Wasim tear through a lineup than McGrath based on aesthetic reasons and agree that Wasim had more natural "skill", even though his Test record in inferior.
And with 10 miles of extra pace.I dont think Akram was "easily" the superior bowler at all. McGrath did it all, everywhere, just not as flamboyantly as Akram.
i do not see how statistics are the sole judge of a sporting career. Floyd Mayweather never lost a fight and Roy Jones won more world titles but no one in their right mind lists either above Ray Leonard or Ali.It's the old argument of impressions vs results. Akram is the more obviously skilled but McGrath's record is better.
You wont get an argument from me. Not convinced he is necessarily better, but he is perhaps the most underrated quick of all time.I’m of the opinion Donald was better than them. Could have ended up with more wickets if not for apartheid.
He was 25 when he started at int level... he would have found a place in a SA team 4/5 years earlier and was a real tear away then, debatable he only played 76 tests and that is low for modern era bowlers of his caliber.White lightning was extremely good. I'm not sure apartheid did much to his career since he got in a good decade. I'd say it did more to the career of PA de Villiers than Donald.
It might not have been just those selectors. He only played 18 test matches, and you would have thought he should have played more than that.Funnily enough Fanie didn't get selected in any of the rebel tours matches during the 80's. I understand that they had a completely different cricket board & selection committee back then, but does anyone know why he wasn't on the selectors' radar in those days?
There was also a guy named Pollock who picked up one or two wickets...But it is just unbelievable to me that we had Donald, Steyn and now Rabada following in succession, could not ask for more as a SA cricket loving fan.
Well in between the ATG`s we've had Pollock (in his case also an a ATG, but not quite the same as Donald Steyn and potentially Rabada), Morkel, Philander, Fanie, Ntini as backup... no complaints there either...There was also a guy named Pollock who picked up one or two wickets...
After a quick cricinfo trawl it looks like Fanie was indeed selected for some LOIs against the rebel England team in 1990. I am aware that he suffered injuries from '95 onwards, but apart from that he was unlucky not to play more Tests.It might not have been just those selectors. He only played 18 test matches, and you would have thought he should have played more than that.
Possibly may have been a case of who you played for. N.TVL was only really becoming a force in the 80s but mainly Fanie made his FC debut in 85/86 & might have just peaked a bit later than others but probably also timing of others. It is an interesting debate.Funnily enough Fanie didn't get selected in any of the rebel tours matches during the 80's. I understand that they had a completely different cricket board & selection committee back then, but does anyone know why he wasn't on the selectors' radar in those days?
I'd imagine their fast bowling attack of the late 80's revolved around Donald, Page, Hanley, Snell, van Zyl, McMillan & Rice. No room for a young Fanie?
Certainly not. It really says something when Shaun Pollock is only the fourth best bowler of the past 20-25 years.Well in between the ATG`s we've had Pollock (in his case also an a ATG, but not quite the same as Donald Steyn and potentially Rabada), Morkel, Philander, Fanie, Ntini as backup... no complaints there either...
Akram was very good (which shows how good Martin Crowe was, as Akram rated him the best batsman he ever bowled to), but there is no way he was better than Hadlee and McGrathYes I do, as I think most would.
The Sky panel last year unanimously voted Akram as the greatest fast bowler of them all, above McGrath. If you listen to the likes of Lara, ABD and many others talk, they all say the same about him.
Personally, having seen Akram live in four tests and McGrath in six, Akram was easily, and I do mean eaisly, the superior bowler. His swing, late and early, bouncer, speed, new and old ball ability etc were all better. Akram and Marshall are the Ali and Robinson of fast bowling. The others merely enjoy the shade in their shadows.