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Greatest Pakistani fast bowler - Wasim or Imran?

Greatest Pakistani fast bowler?


  • Total voters
    102

Sanz

Hall of Fame Member
IIRC - Imran Retired after the 1987 Reliance World Cup and came out of retirement in Early 1988 after President/General Zia Ul Haq requested him to reconsider the decision.
 

ret

International Debutant
Imran lost his pace and sharpness because of the injuries. When he came back after his injuries he played more as a batsman. He was just a support bowler in the presence of Wasim, Waqar, Aaqib and Mushtaq.
why would a support bowler open the bowling and bowl tons of overs :wacko:

i am going to give you each of the first test he played from 85-90

85 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63412.html

86 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63429.html

87 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63452.html

88 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63481.html

89 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63501.html

90 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63520.html


clearly, Imran doesn't seem to agree with you that he is not one of the strike bowlers till 1990

and as I said, post 1990, i do understand that it would have been difficult on him coming back from retirement in that test series against SL
 

ret

International Debutant
There was enough to see from the India Pakistan games itself .
from what i heard, only the semi-final and the final of the 1983 WC were telecasted live .... so i m eager to know that did they telecast 1983 and earlier series against Pak?
 

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
from what i heard, only the semi-final and the final of the 1983 WC were telecasted live .... so i m eager to know that did they telecast 1983 and earlier series against Pak?
What are you talking we saw all Test matches live. By the way, I never EVER rate cricketers on how they perform in the limited overs game unless we are rating cricketer's for their rating ONLY in the smaller version of the game.
 
why would a support bowler open the bowling and bowl tons of overs :wacko:

i am going to give you each of the first test he played from 85-90

85 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63412.html

86 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63429.html

87 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63452.html

88 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63481.html

89 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63501.html

90 - http://content-www.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/match/63520.html


clearly, Imran doesn't seem to agree with you that he is not one of the strike bowlers till 1990

and as I said, post 1990, i do understand that it would have been difficult on him coming back from retirement in that test series against SL

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Little and bookish knowledge is sometimes so embarassing. He used to bowl mostly as first change when Wasim, Waqar and Aaqib all 3 were available. He opened the bowling only when either Aaqib or Wasim were not available. You might have read it somewhere, but i have seen the entire career of Imran with my eyes. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 
What are you talking we saw all Test matches live. By the way, I never EVER rate cricketers on how they perform in the limited overs game unless we are rating cricketer's for their rating ONLY in the smaller version of the game.
SJS this is the problem with the people who got the knowledge from either cricket magazines or websites. After reading the articles on net they think that they are more knowledgeful. I agree with you what you said. I don't comment on anything merely on the basis of my bookish knowledge. First see with your own eyes and then comment. I don't know when this internet generation will understand this reality.:cool:
 

SJS

Hall of Fame Member
SJS this is the problem with the people who got the knowledge from either cricket magazines or websites. After reading the articles on net they think that they are more knowledgeful. I agree with you what you said. I don't comment on anything merely on the basis of my bookish knowledge. First see with your own eyes and then comment. I don't know when this internet generation will understand this reality.:cool:
Well if you have never seen them, as with cricketers before your times, you do have to rely on the word of those who have. So if one reads enough, and of good writers, you are bound to form a fairly reasonable informed opinion which is still better than going by pure stats. Mind you, the writers, the good ones, if they have seen a cricketer are not going to completely ignore the actual achievements of the cricketer. So the statistics/achievements will come into it in a more objective kind of way becuse they are being considered by someone who has also, in addition, seen the cricketer.

Relying purely on statistics is not a great way of understanding a cricketer's merits, of your own times or earlier. If that was so, we would need no more cricket literature about individual cricketers. All we need is a good software and all of us can be the greatest cricket pundits of the planet, all six billion of us :)
 
Last edited:

ret

International Debutant
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Little and bookish knowledge is sometimes so embarassing. He used to bowl mostly as first change when Wasim, Waqar and Aaqib all 3 were available. He opened the bowling only when either Aaqib or Wasim were not available. You might have read it somewhere, but i have seen the entire career of Imran with my eyes. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
^ :laugh:

Imran does open the bowling in the presence of all the bowlers that you mentioned, thats why I gave those links to show that Imran has been one of the strike bowlers unlike your claim that he was merely a support bowler .... again bowling first change doesn't mean that he is not a strike bowler :wacko:

you are free to show us the periods where Imran played as a support bowler. the only period i think where he played as a support bowler is in the test series against SL when he came back from retirement
 

smash84

The Tiger King
I think Imran was a better test match bowler than Wasim.

Wasim definitely more talented and gifted with the ball but that did not always translate into performances with the ball. Also Wasim for some reason never did very well against England except maybe one series.
 

vcs

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Interesting.. Wasim leading the poll. I think Imran would comfortably win if you redid it now.
 

Fusion

Global Moderator
dude Imran has one of the most complete bowling records of all. He averages less than 30 in all countries that he has bowled in.

Imran also has a better SR, Econ Rate, and averages sub 30 against all teams.

Here are the records

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo
Agreed. Imran is the best Test bowler Pakistan ever produced. Heck, Imran has a legitimate claim to be included in the top 5 bowlers of all-time.

<Just ignore my vote for Akram in the poll. I must have been smoking the good stuff that day> :ph34r:
 

Sanz

Hall of Fame Member
Akram is the best Pakistani bowler, IMO he is the best fast bowler ever to play the game.
 

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