Is mcgrath better than wasim?

[Top_Cat]

AB has good points, and TC I dont think the line and length stuff is all that boring. Windies quicks have made it their staple over the years, none of them had huge swings, Roberts, Holding, Corft, Walsh, Amborse, Garner etc but they were all incredibly effective and got batsmen out by just pitching short of length and with a hint of seam, and thats what counts. Marshall was the only one who could do more with the ball.

Believe me, I agree with you entirely. I just reject the notion that because someone like Wasim did more with the ball and had more variety, that somehow this makes him a 'better' bowler.

That's a damn good point, though. Those guys were quick but were quick line-and-length bowlers. They did what works in most situations and for them and their team, it did. And they're all rated amongst the finest fast bowlers to have played the game. The 'hip-to-heart' length was their staple.

 

[royGilchrist]

Yeah i see where you are coming from, some people get a bit distracted by all the various weapons a bowler like Wasim exhibited in his bowling at the iternational matches. The Mushy/Warne example is even more appropirate, and I must admit I was of the same opinion that Mushy is way better than Warne (altough that Mark is better than Steve ) but over the years Warne has done more than enough to make me convince otherwise. Although now what I get frustrated with the most is that some people dont give Mushy respect, at one time when all three of them, Waqar, Wasim and Mushy were at their peak, more often than not Mushy used to get the top order batsmen, e.g. England series (1995 I think) and Aus series (the second last tour to Aus), Waqar and Wasim were just polishing off the tail most of the time.

But Warne has something that not many others have, and that which is difficult to appreciate in the first look, he uses his mind. Against the batsmen and the umpires, its just so entertaining to watch. He can 'work' the ump up so meticulously

 

[Top_Cat]

Although now what I get frustrated with the most is that some people dont give Mushy respect, at one time when all three of them, Waqar, Wasim and Mushy were at their peak, more often than not Mushy used to get the top order batsmen, e.g. England series (1995 I think) and Aus series (the second last tour to Aus), Waqar and Wasim were just polishing off the tail most of the time.

That's a good point actually. I thought the same on the Aussie tour you mentioned. Wasim and Waqar posed MANY problems for such imposing batsmen as Craig McDermott and Paul Reiffel.

Certainly when Mushy was finally picked, he won a game for Pakistan.

But Warne has something that not many others have, and that which is difficult to appreciate in the first look, he uses his mind. Against the batsmen and the umpires, its just so entertaining to watch. He can 'work' the ump up so meticulously

Nobody and I mean NOBODY works the umps like Warnie. Guys like Venkat don't take too kindly to it, though.............

 

[aussie_beater]

But as you said, it's performance that counts and pure talent counts for little if you don't perform.

No we are not talking about some under-performer here who had talent but couldn't put it to any use, but someone who has performed at the highest level exceptionally well over the years to capture 414 test wickets at an average of just above 23.So, I reckon he is a pretty decent performer as well in addition to having the talent.

Well, I guess variety gets a premium because it gives the bowler the potential to flummox a batsman with a certain type that the batsman hasn't really coped with before.That makes a batsman susceptible to a bowler at all times, if the bowler can unleash that special something for which the batsman has no answer.It can make things happen rather then wait for something to happen.That's seen as little more aggressive and probably the reason why variety is valued more.

 

[Kimbo]

About variety...
if it ain't broke don't fix it!
if you can be successful without trying to do too much tricky stuff then you don't have to change.

 

[marc71178]

As for Wasim, well he's a seasoned performer there. The respect is immense I would imagine.

Not universal by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm sure Derbyshire fans don't hold him in high regard! (1993)

 

[marc71178]

There are people living outside engalnd as well.

Yes, but their opinion wouldn't make a great difference on what the English cricketing circle thinks of the 2 players would it?

 

[R_Powell_fan]

First of all, McGrath is NOT just a line and length bowler as he can (like Walshie) extract variable bounce and seam movement from the pitch.
Wasim Akram is argueably the greatest Left Arm Fast(medium) bowler in the history of the game, the reason why he isn't as good as he used to be is mostly because of his pace or therefore decrease of, his lively pace is just not there anymore and my theory goes like he is used to bowling aggresively and not hold anything back which is deadly if you bowling at 85+ mph and swinging the ball very late from off to middle 'n off bowling over the wicket!!!! but once the pace goes down and the ball swings earlier giving the batsman more time to react it isn't as easy anymore which may explain why he isn't as successful as he used to be, but I think most of us would still rather watch an all fired up youung Wasim striking fear into the batsmen than a young Glenn McGrath. Ummm did i mention Wasim's runup seems slower and shorter a little bit than it used to be....

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

bump

 

[smash84]

i want u to tell me that is mcgrath a better bowler than wasim akram?

McGrath is a better bowler than Wasim Akram.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

And I won't, as they are completely different types of bowler.

McGrath = line and length, metronomic, bore-you-out
Akram = attaking, gets you out...

Very hard to accurately compare, like Murali v Shoaib...

Nope, no batsmen will get bored and throw away his wicket. Mcgrath bowled with a lot of discipline and produced a fair amount of wicket taking deliveries. He was also great at out-thinking the batsmen.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

McGrath is a better bowler than Wasim Akram.

hopefully he will get the notification

 

[smash84]

hopefully he will get the notification

haha, that was exactly my thought. A notification 20 years too late

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Akram better