The greatest-ever left-arm finger-spinner

[neville cardus]

This was, fifty years ago, one of the most forcibly-hammered debates in the cricketing world, but, after Yorkshire stopped mass-producing the subject-matter, it faded conspicuously into the background. In true CricketWeb style, however, let's have ourselves a go at reviving it.

 

[Richard]

Rhodes.

Great list apart from the last 3 though - anyone who's not from the subcontinent and didn't play in the uncovered-wickets era can't have any real case TBH. Iqbal Qasim > Tufnell, MSP and Vettori IMO.

The 4 consecutive Yorkshire boys all basically have a case for being as good as one another though really.

EDIT: Wardle, fingerspinner? Thought he bowled both styles.

 

[silentstriker]

I'd go Rhodes, Underwood, Verity, in roughly that order.

 

[silentstriker]

This is just amazing.


And I'll never know how Knott managed to catch the ball.

 

[pasag]

I'd go Rhodes, Underwood, Verity, in roughly that order.

Underwood above Verity?

 

[Richard]

No way was Underwood better than any of Peate, Peel, Rhodes and Verity. He wasn't from Yorkshire!

 

[Richard]

This is just amazing.


And I'll never know how Knott managed to catch the ball.

Look how slowly it comes off the wicket.

It is astonishing though. Be fascinated to know which game that was. I'm presuming it's 1974\75, because all the stuff from 1970\71 I've seen has been in B&W.

 

[silentstriker]

I'd be willing to bet no one playing now could make that catch more than 1/4 times.

 

[silentstriker]

Underwood above Verity?

Yes, no one else I'd rather have on playing on those pitches.

 

[Richard]

I'd be willing to bet no one playing now could make that catch more than 1/4 times.

I'd not be surprised if no-one other than Knott could have made it very often. Including superior wicketkeepers to he.

 

[Neil Pickup]

This is just amazing.


And I'll never know how Knott managed to catch the ball.

Wow. One of our spinners bowled one like that at Honiton in the Devon League this year.

Needless to say, two byes.

 

[Richard]

I bowled one in 2004, and I'm not even a spinner.

Needless to say, I worried about what was in the pitch.

(It hit the stumps though)

 

[Goughy]

Underwood was quality. I never hold too much weight to the comments of individuals but this is what Greg Chappel had to say.

Derek Underwood was one of the most demanding bowlers I have played against under all conditions....he was probably the best bowler that I ever faced.

Underwood has not been given the recognition he deserves.

And he faced some pretty special bowlers.

Debatable whether Underwood was a true LAO. Bowled more cutters than anything else.

Anyway, for me the genius of Verity to claim the above title.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Damn, voted Underwood then saw Wilfred Rhodes. Mine lies with Rhodes.

 

[neville cardus]

Rhodes.

Great list apart from the last 3 though - anyone who's not from the subcontinent and didn't play in the uncovered-wickets era can't have any real case TBH. Iqbal Qasim > Tufnell, MSP and Vettori IMO.

Fair enough (except in Vettori's case); I should've given this more consideration. I doubt, though, that it'll make any difference to the ultimate result.

The 4 consecutive Yorkshire boys all basically have a case for being as good as one another though really.

Those who saw the first three reckoned that Peate was the best.

Wardle, fingerspinner? Thought he bowled both styles.

He did indeed, but that hardly excludes him.

 

[neville cardus]

This is just amazing.
And I'll never know how Knott managed to catch the ball.

At Underwood's speed, that's just incredible.

 

[Richard]

Damn, voted Underwood then saw Wilfred Rhodes. Mine lies with Rhodes.

God-damn-it boy, look before you vote! I've lost count of the times you've said "change my vote". And yes, it's your birthday but that's no excuse!

 

[neville cardus]

No way was Underwood better than any of Peate, Peel, Rhodes and Verity. He wasn't from Yorkshire!

Dickie, laad, there's 'ope for tha yet!

 

[neville cardus]

At Underwood's speed, that's just incredible.

I also quite enjoyed the link on that page to the famous "Colin Cowdrey arse ball".

 

[PhoenixFire]

God-damn-it boy, look before you vote! I've lost count of the times you've said "change my vote". And yes, it's your birthday but that's no excuse!

Yeah I am pretty guilty on that, I don't rate Underwood as highly as Rhodes, but it's not by much.