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Why McGrath is the best
- Thread starter silentstriker
- Start date
UncleTheOne
U19 Captain
Not only that, he's left out the great Curtly Ambrose and still including Shoaib! Curtly is my all time fav, very few got away from the great man.Sanz said:Of all the people you raise that question ?? Someone who has put Shoaib Akhtar ahead of Joel Garner, Andy Roberts and Dennis Lillee ?
But on Glenn, have any batsman really mastered him to an extent? Also is there a country where he has found it tough going in their conditions?
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Not really. A few batsmen have broken even with him, though. Lara and Tendulkar are obvious examples of players he's had a fairly even run against, but some of the other great batsmen of the era like Dravid, Inzy and so on have struggled consistently against McGrath, for one reason or another.UncleTheOne said:
Opposition-wise, he averages between 18 and 23 against India, England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, 15 against Zimbabwe, 27 against South Africa and 25 against New Zealand and Bangladesh. South Africa is obviously the notable one there, and he had a relatively poor time against them early in his career, before getting on top after 2000 or so.
In terms of countries he has played in, he falls in the 18-23 average range in Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies. The countries in which he has comparitively poor records are Sri Lanka and Pakistan. You could perhaps read something into that, but it's a pretty limited sample. 5 tests in Pakistan for an average of 31, and 4 tests in Sri Lanka for an average of 29. He's not toured either country since the pre-2000 period.
Hodgo7
School Boy/Girl Captain
Fraz - Shoaib doesn't belong on that list yet mate. Maybe in 4-6 years but he needs to be on the pitch more before he can be held in the same regard as the bowlers you mentioned.
McGrath is one of the best bowlers of all-time. Like somebody mentioned, he might not be a tearaway quick like Ambrose or Waqar but he had a record comparable with most quick bowlers. One of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. I played cricket against his cousin back home (Dubbo, Australia) and his Mum lived around the corner from me. If he was out he was always willing to have a chat about cricket.
McGrath is one of the best bowlers of all-time. Like somebody mentioned, he might not be a tearaway quick like Ambrose or Waqar but he had a record comparable with most quick bowlers. One of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. I played cricket against his cousin back home (Dubbo, Australia) and his Mum lived around the corner from me. If he was out he was always willing to have a chat about cricket.
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
FRAZ said:
Ability to stay healthy for longer than 12 minutes, for one.
deeps
International 12th Man
What does it matter if he has an awesome bouncer/inswinger or whatever. He can't consistently perform at the top level, and never has done.
Be it because of injury or other reasons, he has never sustained top form.
Thus he shouldn't be world classs.
He is a bit like a fast bowler version of Shahid Afridi. When in form, they can ABSOLUTELY demolish anything. But sadly, they are both highly inconsistent.
Be it because of injury or other reasons, he has never sustained top form.
Thus he shouldn't be world classs.
He is a bit like a fast bowler version of Shahid Afridi. When in form, they can ABSOLUTELY demolish anything. But sadly, they are both highly inconsistent.
Point taken .Xuhaib said:
How important has Shoaib been ?
I mean some people when cannot find any of his class then start bashing his fitness. Let us take a look at the fast bowlers around ...
Windies have any of his class ? Nope
Zims ? Nope
Lankans ? (Although a decent pacer i.e. Vaas) but Nope
Kiwis ? Nope
Safs ? (Three decent ones but none as venomous as Shoaib)
Aus ? Some greats are there . Mcgrath already in my list and Lee hmmm he is a great bowler but Shoaib edges pass him just by an inch or so )
English? Decent fasties they have but Shoaib better than any of theirs . Example the last English series and which was on the flat track
Bangs ? May be
Now I mean involving personal jelousy towards a person will always result stupid things . Now I respect all the oldies and the greats ,And I respect for what they have don during their respective times but Shoaib is much much better bowler than most of the people listed in the list that I made.
May be Walsh was a good bowler or Ambrose was a great bowler but I still took Shoaib ahead of them because the striking ability that Shoaib has , None other has ...So......
