And for all those I could name probably 50 or 60 examples to the contrary.
And that's before you even get into why some of those cases are not so simple as they seem. Kumble\Warne and McGrath\Walsh, for example, relative to pitch-conditions.
Okay, some Math 101 for you then : Correlation to a theory is not dependent on simply plotting 50% or more values within the pattern - its about both the weight given to the sample points ( in this case, not all sample points are equal) as well as having a lot more than just 50%.
I can say with complete confidence that your theory of correlation is false given the # of high profile cases i've listed- in a list that is in no way exhaustive. The fact that there are so many cases i've listed at casual glance certainly blows away your 'very rarely' qualifier to it. It throws up enough cases- and enough high profile ones ( bear in mind, i checked only the high profile ones- i suspect for every 1 you can find in your corner, i can match it too, for i certainly didn't have to look long or hard for that list of examples) to definitely put it, at the very least a 50-50 coin toss.
And i am not going to argue over you on this either - if you feel that you have a better understanding of correlations, sure go ahead- but you'd be wrong.
I don't exactly want to discuss statistics with you in a long tedious exercise that'd only show you in too much detail on how you are in error.
Just because you yourself made the conversion from lazy to hard-working doesn't mean that many do. Don't project your prejudices onto others.
A skill can be honed through practice, not learnt. Work ethic is not rated as skill by anyone i know- and i'd suspect people who consider work ethic as a skill are definately in the minority.
There are many of that opinion.
I am not one of them and you arn't convincing me based on supposition either.
The bottomline for me is that Barry Richards was an accomplished county player who didn't get much chances. He could've been a flop like Hick or been another Tendulkar. Fact however, is that he is unproven at the highest level and i consider it unfair to lump unproven people along with categorically proven ones based on supposition.
Anyways,this is very very OT.