vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Someone who was seen as "injury prone" early in his career, has wound up with ten years of consistent cricket under his belt.
Longevity alone makes him an ATG for me, couple that with multiple back to back stunning years with the ball cements things.Anderson has played 129 tests in his 14 year career, that averages to 9 tests per year. And maintaining a bowling average of 27 with this much workload is nothing short of praises. Plus he's a very fit bowler, I wouldn't be surprised if he can play till he's 38-39.
Having said that, the dearth of good players of swing bowling did help him. Especially in 2010s where I can't think of any batsman who plays swing well, Rahane? Amla? those guys are good but still not at Dravid or Crowe level. Anyways, he may not be an ATG but definitely a great bowler on par with Shaun Pollock.
I tend to go soft on people when their side is being smashed .Oh you're gonna be such a laugh a minute come Ashes time aren't you stephen. My early Ashes bet is that you get yourself a ban before the Gabba test finishes.
Why would you ask Harsh to do that? He'll end up closing and archiving it.I request that the mods sticky this thread and close all other current Jimmy Anderson threads.
Harsh......make it happen.
Really? He has longevity but plenty of others have been more talented. Steyn for one.Most raw talent seen in a fast bowler since Wasim. Undoubtedly helped by the conditions in which he's played most of his cricket; one shudders to think what W might have achieved in similar conditions. But that's neither here nor there; the time for Jimmy The Vampire jokes is past, he is a legitimate great of the modern game.
I love Steyn in full flight to bits, too, but Anderson can make the ball wobble at will, just like Wasim could. I understand talent can be measured by different parameters for a fast bowler but the ability to control swing and length at decent speed surely ranks above all others? Pace like Shoaib is a physiological event, seam movement depends on the wicket, but swing at speed has an element of purity about it.Really? He has longevity but plenty of others have been more talented. Steyn for one.
lol wutI love Steyn in full flight to bits, too, but Anderson can make the ball wobble at will, just like Wasim could. I understand talent can be measured by different parameters for a fast bowler but the ability to control swing and length at decent speed surely ranks above all others? Pace like Shoaib is a physiological event, seam movement depends on the wicket, but swing at speed has an element of purity about it.