Top 5 modern day greats

[silentstriker]

So important that you'd place 5 quicks among the 5 greats of the modern era? You under-rate batsmen so much, its bordering on the trollish.

If you read my post, I explain the reasoning. It does not mean I think Walsh is better than Tendulkar. It means I think that as a bowler, he brings more to a team than a batsman. And if I were to build a team, I would pick bowlers first. And if I want to win Test matches, I'd focus on the bowling first. You don't have to agree with me on that.

You even have Kumble confessing that a major reason for his success overseas in the 2000's is that he now had a good cushion of runs to bowl with compared to the 90's.

If you've watched Kumble as a bowler, he improved leaps and bounds post that time. And yes, I did not say you can win without batsmen! You are implying that I think batsmen don't bring anything. I said if I had a choice between a good bowler and a good batsman, and even a good bowler and a great batsman for my team, I'd go for the bowler. That's all. That doesn't mean batsman aren't important, but I like to build my team with bowlers first. I don't see why that is a big deal - you can build yours with whoever you want.

 

[grant28]

This is way too hard for me to decide on, I guess if I had to pick 5, it would 5 out of the following:

Lara
Tendulakar
Ponting
Gilchrist
Pollock
McGrath
Warne
Muralitharan

But let's face it, they're all modern day greats and all great cricketers!

 

[Uppercut]

GI Joe, don't you at least think the difference a top-class bowler makes over an average one is greater than the difference a top-class batsman makes over an average one? Surely, McGrath and Warne were more crucial to Australia's success than Ponting and Hayden? Their current form is almost putting that beyond doubt. Or look at the West Indies when Lara was playing, and try to name me a side in history that has had as poor a record with a bowler that good playing for them. There'll be very, very few.

Batsmen are absolutely crucial to a side's success, there's no doubt about that, but mediocre batsmen+world-class bowlers is better than mediocre bowlers+world class batsmen. Therefore, i conclude that the top-class bowlers on the list- Warne, Murali, Akram, Ambrose, McGrath- improve a mediocre side moreso than the top-class batsmen. Don't agree?

 

[G.I.Joe]

GI Joe, don't you at least think the difference a top-class bowler makes over an average one is greater than the difference a top-class batsman makes over an average one? Surely, McGrath and Warne were more crucial to Australia's success than Ponting and Hayden? Their current form is almost putting that beyond doubt. Or look at the West Indies when Lara was playing, and try to name me a side in history that has had as poor a record with a bowler that good playing for them. There'll be very, very few.

Batsmen are absolutely crucial to a side's success, there's no doubt about that, but mediocre batsmen+world-class bowlers is better than mediocre bowlers+world class batsmen. Therefore, i conclude that the top-class bowlers on the list- Warne, Murali, Akram, Ambrose, McGrath- improve a mediocre side moreso than the top-class batsmen. Don't agree?

I look at it this way. If a team of 11 Ponting's played a team of 11 McGrath's, I wouldn't put my money on the McGrath's.

 

[SJS]

I look at it this way. If a team of 11 Ponting's played a team of 11 McGrath's, I wouldn't put my money on the McGrath's.

Not to mention that 11 Pollocks would make mincemeat of 11 McGraths .... and so on ....

 

[steve132]

Lara
McGrath
Murali
Tendulkar
Warne

 

[Xuhaib]

So important that you'd place 5 quicks among the 5 greats of the modern era? You under-rate batsmen so much, its bordering on the trollish. Pakistan losing to Australia 3-0 in '99 is a prime example. You even have Kumble confessing that a major reason for his success overseas in the 2000's is that he now had a good cushion of runs to bowl with compared to the 90's.

Bad example by 99 Wasim & especially Waqar were on a decline while Shoaib despite a great WC was still learning to bowl in test matches and they were beaten by an even better bowling attack.

 

[archie mac]

I made a mistake and voted Lara, I wanted McGrath as he is the best fast bowler of his era but I am fine with Lara.

Warne & Murali - not likely to see another spin bowler in their caliber for a long time.
Gilchrst - walks into any all-time XI as wicket-keeper.
Lara & Ponting - the best batsmen of this modern era.

Batsman/wicket keeper

 

[zaremba]

I look at it this way. If a team of 11 Ponting's played a team of 11 McGrath's, I wouldn't put my money on the McGrath's.

Reminds me of the old classic:

Who would win a fight to the death between a duck the size of a horse and 100 horses the size of ducks?

 

[gwo]

Look, I'm not a massive Ponting fan but he's better than Kallis.

Basically you want the top 5 cricketers of the last 19 years, right?

Lara
Tendulkar
Warne
Muralitharan
McGrath

Ponting, Gilchrist, Kallis incredibly unlucky. Not to mention about 10 others who are right up there.

Pretty much summarises my thoughts.

 

[Matt79]

Reminds me of the old classic:

Who would win a fight to the death between a duck the size of a horse and 100 horses the size of ducks?

My money is on the big duck. Deserves its own thread tbh

 

[Indipper]

My money is on the big duck. Deserves its own thread tbh

Nah, a horse isn't that much bigger than a duck. Not big enough to make up for those numbers.

 

[Perm]

Nah, a horse isn't that much bigger than a duck. Not big enough to make up for those numbers.

What kind of monster ducks do they have in Germany?

 

[Indipper]

What kind of monster ducks do they have in Germany?

A duck that's standing up is more or less the size of a cat. Do you wanna fight a hundred cats with hooves?

Also, get in the Rugby Draft Thread before there is bloodshed over your players.

 

[thierry henry]

Lara
Tendulkar
McGrath
Murali
Kallis

 

[Sanz]

Much Harder than one would have thought. My Final Five :-

Wasim,
Sachin,
Lara,
Mcgrath,
Murali.

 

[silentstriker]

Surpised with so many more votes for Ponting than Waugh. It looks like he might have passed Waugh in the minds of many.

 

[stephen]

Lara
Tendulkar
McGrath
Murali
Kallis

Much Harder than one would have thought. My Final Five :-

Wasim,
Sachin,
Lara,
Mcgrath,
Murali.

lol at people without Warne in their list.

 

[Sanz]

lol at people without Warne in their list.

I like Warne, perhaps one of his biggest fan, loved to watch him and along with Wasim he is probably the most entertaining cricketer of his generation, but almost every time I watched him bowl in India, he was taken to cleaners even by the nonames of Domestic Cricket.

That said, I am sorry if it hurts your feeling, but I have the right to have my opinion and its not like the players I have picked have any less credentials than Warne. I already said it was a tough choice.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Voted for 5 Aussies because I'm biased.