Wasim Akram vs Shaun Pollock

[Rob Wesley]

Differ on the bold part. Wasim was just not that great in tests involving top 5 teams during his playing days to lay the claim 'easily' for me. I am taking Aus, WI, SA, Pak and Ind. Now, some posters raise legacy standing of Eng and it's being a big team during Wasim's time, Wasim avg against Eng was 30-31. So nothing great there as well.

Easily better would be McGrath, Ambrose and Donald who played and did well against better teams. Before some one brings it up, it was not due to Wasim playing on flatter tracks in Pakistan. Wasim avg is 27 away against top 4 oppositions. Again, legacy status of Eng and including Eng does not help him. His avg in Eng was 28-29.

Pollock declined big time in the last few years, but he was as good as anyone from 96-03 period with 280 test wickets at avg of 20.

I can see the point of better. I will pick Wasim as well between these two as bowlers. Easily better, not sure about it. I used to think easily better as well, but after looking at Wasim's actual output against better teams closely, I started bracketting both together below the likes of McGrath, Ambrose and Donald. Happy to change my mind because out of all pacers in 90s, I enjoyed watching Wasim most.

That’s a top notch post. What is the argument in favour of Wasim?

1. Bowled on flat decks in Pakistan argument got destroyed.

2. The only place where Wasim > Pollock is Australia and that too because Pollock declined big time vs Australia in final years. Maybe pitches got flatter too and Wasim anyways retired by then.

Wasim’s versatility with bowl and peer reputations is probably the only argument in his favour, which is why most would pick Wasim over Pollock.

 

[Rob Wesley]

Also, peer reputation is quite high for Andy Roberts too, in comparison with Joel Garner or Michael Holding .

 

[Randomfan]

That’s a top notch post. What is the argument in favour of Wasim?

1. Bowled on flat decks in Pakistan argument got destroyed.

2. The only place where Wasim > Pollock is Australia and that too because Pollock declined big time vs Australia in final years. Maybe pitches got flatter too and Wasim anyways retired by then.

Wasim’s versatility with bowl and peer reputations is probably the only argument in his favour, which is why most would pick Wasim over Pollock.

Yah, versatility and peer reputation , Wasim will have that. In fact, before looking at output closely I used to rate Wasim higher than many others due to my personal bias. Not just above Pollock, but above Donald and even some time above Ambrose. While growing up, he was my favorite pacer to watch. But when all said and done, bowler's job is to pick wickets quickly and cheaply in all kinds of conditions and against all kinds of teams.

No issue with Wasim being higher at all, but I don't think that the gap is very large. So I decided to club them together when talking about pacers of 90s.

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I think this flat decks in Pakistan argument has no legs. Not just with Wasim. It's the same situation for IK and Waqar. Collective away performance against better teams in pacer's friendly pitches was worse compared to flat Pakistani decks.

 

[Randomfan]

Also, peer reputation is quite high for Andy Roberts too, in comparison with Joel Garner or Michael Holding .

I think we should separate the tangibles from intangibles. Peer reputation can come due to many things. I don't know about Roberts, but in Wasim's case, being left hander, ability to bowl all kind of ball, county cricket coverage etc. All of that played a part in him getting a reputation.

In fact, lots of fans have him in all time test XI due to variety. I have thought about it and I think if a bowler is not able to pick wickets quickly and cheaply against top oppositions then what's the use of variety. I meant , he had all that variety( being left hander & ability to bowl all kinds of balls) playing for his own team and record is not all that great. Variety is a great point when quality is comparable, but having Wasim over many others simply weakens the team in my opinion.

Anyway, glad to have watched him bowl live.