Ryan Harris vs Vernon Philander

[PlayerComparisons]

Two very good bowlers from the 2010s that probably didn’t play as many tests as they should have

 

[trundler]

This is essentially just Bond vs Kapil again

 

[TheJediBrah]

This is essentially just Bond vs Kapil again

not really, it's 113 wickets v 224 wickets, and both relatively late bloomers

not as big or meaningful a gap

 

[subshakerz]

Philander due to a longer career.

 

[trundler]

not really, it's 113 wickets v 224 wickets, and both relatively late bloomers

not as big or meaningful a gap

Same concept but with the dials turned to make it closer

 

[Himannv]

Harris was phenomenal and Australia's best bowler for a good while whenever he was fit to play. I thought he was very effective on pitches that weren't typically helpful to pacers as well.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I thought he was very effective on pitches that weren't typically helpful to pacers as well.

The anti-Philander

 

[The_Bunny]

Harris was better imo.
But I think Philander was the greater bowler as Harris just wasn't on the park long enough.
So if the question was who was the greater test bowler my answer would be different.

 

[Prince EWS]

not really, it's 113 wickets v 224 wickets, and both relatively late bloomers

not as big or meaningful a gap

Philander wasn't really a late bloomer as much as he just wasn't selected in Tests earlier in his career. Harris was properly **** when he was younger.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Philander wasn't really a late bloomer as much as he just wasn't selected in Tests earlier in his career. Harris was properly **** when he was younger.

Philander bloomed physically into the well-rounded specimen we know and love

 

[Flem274*]

Side by side during their careers, Harris was the better bowler. He was a clear #2 in the world to Steyn. Philander around the top 5.

 

[ankitj]

Side by side during their careers, Harris was the better bowler. He was a clear #2 in the world to Steyn. Philander around the top 5.

His career was so brief it hardly matters what happened in the period his career overlapped with Philander.

 

[Flem274*]

His career was so brief it hardly matters what happened in the period his career overlapped with Philander.

Mattered a lot to the results column.

 

[trundler]

Mattered a lot to the results column.

Making it to the park is pretty important too.

 

[Bolo.]

Side by side during their careers, Harris was the better bowler. He was a clear #2 in the world to Steyn. Philander around the top 5.

Mattered a lot to the results column.

I agree that Harris was better on a match by match basis. But I think you overlook how insanely good the start of Philanders career was. The friendliness of the the pitches he got early career notwithstanding, he was outperforming Steyn pretty significantly at the start. Here is the date at which they had both played 19 matches, or about 70% of ryan's career. Philander debuted later, and Ryan has picked up only about half as many wickets in the same time. IDK if these stats make Philander the better bowler on a game by game basis in this period (pitches), but he is 100% helping to win more matches.

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[ankitj]

Ryan Harris was never ranked #1, Philander was. Ryan Harris' peak rating is well below Philander's. What exactly are we going by when we say "peak"? Very likely Philander would have a better peak in similar number of games as whatever peak of Harris you consider.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Ryan Harris was never ranked #1, Philander was. Ryan Harris' peak rating is well below Philander's. What exactly are we going by when we say "peak"? Very likely Philander would have a better peak in similar number of games as whatever peak of Harris you consider.

Harris was bowling seriously well when Ian Bell hit him for 3 match winning centuries in the 2013 Ashes.

 

[slowfinger]

Can we throw in Stuart Clark into the mix? 94 wickets @ 23 is nothing to be sniffed at