Shaun Pollock vs Waqar Younis

[subshakerz]

So we’ve moved on from devaluing Kallis to devaluing Pollock. Cool.



And yet people always hype up Imran’s batting. If people were consistent in their logic McGrath > Imran as a cricketer.

Don't be such a sourpuss.

Imran as a bat had many more innings of substance compared to Pollock.

However, I change my mind and switched my vote to Pollock overall to make you happy as they were closer as bowlers than we care to admit.

 

[Migara]

Pollock has a peak twice as long as Waqar while being equally rated. There is nothing between these two with the ball. Given the consistency, i would go for Pollock.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

CW wrong again, sigh

Not anymore!

 

[trundler]

Actual all rounders get underrated and low impact pretty average players get overrated.

 

[BazBall21]

Actual all rounders get underrated and low impact pretty average players get overrated.

Cairns

 

[Coronis]

Actual all rounders get underrated and low impact pretty average players get overrated.

Being mediocre in two disciplines isnt better than being great in one and mediocre in one.

 

[shortpitched713]

Actual all rounders get underrated and low impact pretty average players get overrated.

Don't worry, no one here has fallen for the Ben Stokes positive average difference comparable to Hadlee to rate him on par with him, or better than Botham.

 

[trundler]

Being mediocre in two disciplines isnt better than being great in one and mediocre in one.

Average Barrington overrating spreadsheet lover

 

[Coronis]

Average Barrington overrating spreadsheet lover

That makes sense.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Younis. More dangerous in his peak and didn't have such a horrible career post peak.

How do you come up with such trash. Waqar went through extended patches post peak where he bowled absolute rubbish. Pollock stated reliably solid.

 

[trundler]

How do you come up with such trash. Waqar went through extended patches post peak where he bowled absolute rubbish. Pollock stated reliably solid.

Both averaged 27 in the second half of their careers but Waqar has a better away record by far and played on tougher home decks. 2 fifers for Pollock and 3 for Waqar post peak. Pretty comparable.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Both averaged 27 in the second half of their careers but Waqar has a better away record by far and played on tougher home decks. 2 fifers for Pollock and 3 for Waqar post peak. Pretty comparable.

Post 95 Waqar stats are almost entirely carried by Bangladesh zimbabwe bashing. He averaged 31 against the other teams with one 5fer. It's mildly unfair because late 90s zimbabwe weren't that bad. But it's still a big skew. And he just bowled really wayward spells if you watched him bowl.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Waqars home away split is similar to Rabadas

 

[trundler]

Post 95 Waqar stats are almost entirely carried by Bangladesh zimbabwe bashing. He averaged 31 against the other teams with one 5fer. It's mildly unfair because late 90s zimbabwe weren't that bad. But it's still a big skew. And he just bowled really wayward spells if you watched him bowl.

You are underestimating Pollock's limitations away from home post peak. It is a Philanderesque record. I don't think it's fair to say he was a more steady bowler than Waqar. He just peaked lower but was equally mediocre post peak. His numbers are better because he bowled in SA.

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Waqar:

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Even excluding Zimbabwe whom we shouldn't because they won tests against India and Pakistan, Pollock's better record is down to better home conditions basically and him getting to play more so at home.

 

[OverratedSanity]

You are underestimating Pollock's limitations away from home post peak. It is a Philanderesque record. I don't think it's fair to say he was a more steady bowler than Waqar. He just peaked lower but was equally mediocre post peak. His numbers are better because he bowled in SA.

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Waqar:

All-round records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

Even excluding Zimbabwe whom we shouldn't because they won tests against India and Pakistan, Pollock's better record is down to better home conditions basically and him getting to play more so at home.

Not wrong but excluding 1995 for Waqar is sneaky.

 

[trundler]

Not wrong but excluding 1995 for Waqar is sneaky.

You literally said post 95 and I was trying to find an equivalent length of matches for both.

 

[Bolo.]

He did look technically okay but I wouldn't take Shaun Pollock's batting average at face value.

I don't get this at all. He was technically fine. Very limited range of shots, but no obvious weakness that resulted in him getting out. If Waugh managed to be an ATG bat by playing in almost exactly the same way, Pollock can be a decent bowling AR.

The fact that he spent a chunk of his career away career in very easy conditions notwithstanding, you do need to respect a guy who averages late 30s away from home. I'm not sure that a bowling AR has ever managed this. I can only think of 1 balanced AR from the last century who has him beat on this. He is basically midway between Keith Miller and Michael Clarke on away average.

He is not as good as is average suggests simply because he batted low? He was just unlucky to play for teams with a lot of ARs. He got out in single digits a lot. Once he hit double digits, he was very reliably good for runs. If he wasn't running out of partners, he would have scored and averaged a bunch more.

 

[Dendarii]

Once he hit double digits, he was very reliably good for runs. If he wasn't running out of partners, he would have scored and averaged a bunch more.

Both his centuries were scored batting at 9, which takes some doing.

 

[Kirkut]

One is ATVG and the other is ATG.

You decide what is better.

 

[Migara]

Most of the Pollock's runs came when SAF was at tight spots.