DoG's Top 100 Test Bowlers Countdown Thread 100-1

[stephen]

Gough played 12 matches vs NZ/SL/Zim which may have included the 11 that weren't considered quality.

 

[NUFAN]

Yeah I asked the question because it was difficult to get to 44. I understand that the ratings changed in 2000 so a country would have went from quality to non quality during his career.

Crofts 8/29 must have been a brilliant performance.

 

[Days of Grace]

I understand that the ratings changed in 2000 so a country would have went from quality to non quality during his career.

That's not how the team ratings work. The ratings extend from 1877 to the current day. They are not divided by eras. Only runs per wicket, balls per wicket, and runs per ball are separated by era.

Gough's quality opposition opponents:

Australia - 17 matches from 1994 to 2001
Pakistan - 5 matches from 2000-2001
South Africa - 15 matches from 1994 to 2003
West Indies - 7 matches from 1995-2000

Non quality opposition:

New Zealand - 4 matches from 1994-1997
South Africa - 1 match in 1994 (South Africa became quality opposition in the 1994 series in England)
Sri Lanka - 4 matches from 1998-2001
West Indies - 1 match in 2000 (West Indies lost their quality opposiiton status in the 2000 series in England)
Zimbabwe - 4 matches from 1996 to 2000

 

[_00_deathscar]

I don't think he is. He had a very good career and is rated by most as a very good bowler. You can nitpick on good/very good/excellent on either performance or perception, but I think he gets his due.

Same as Gillespie, he's another one who is a fantastic support bowler to a Steyn/McGrath, but fails as a lead bowler himself.

Now the question is, do you really need 2-3 lead bowlers or do you also need a bowler in the team who's happy to 'just support'? That's exactly what Gillespie/Morke were/are. They're happy to play the supporting role, and do it to a very good degree.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Lol.

I honestly don't know why i got the numbers mixed up. I think maybe because I saw Croft/Benjamin as the "4th bowler" of two generations of West Indian quicks. For a long time I always wondered why Croft was so highly rated. I thought it may have been a Botham thing where he was ridiculously awesome for a time and then fell away. I knew he didn't have many tests though.

Anyway, it was a genuine mistake and I'm going to have to dig up some footage now. I'd always rated him below the others, but I'm not sure I should:

Marshall
Ambrose
Garner
Holding
Roberts
Bishop
Walsh
Hall
Croft

Now I don't know whether to bump him up on that list. An average of 23 is significantly better than 30.

Can't speak much about the old lot as I didn't watch cricket in the 70s/80s so only going by perception, so I'd suggest that the generally accepted top 3 is (and in order):
Marshall
Ambrose
Holding

Bishop vs Walsh is an interesting one. Bishop is a case of the Shane Bond's - frighteningly good, could have/should have really been challenging that above 3 - but a career cut short. Still did very well, mind. But Walsh has to get serious points for longevity - something that, perhaps, should be very highly prized in a top fast bowler who doesn't let his average decline rapidly over time. Walsh played nearly four times as many tests as Bishop did, while maintaining a similar average to that of Bishop's, decent enough strike rate and was also consistently pretty damn good away from home. Has to get serious props for that.

 

[ankitj]

Been more than 24 hours since last update on the countdown. I can't bear the wait. :|

 

[Days of Grace]

Current bowler next.

Who will it be?

 

[ankitj]

One of Philander, Rabada, Jadeja, Ashwin, Herath.

 

[Days of Grace]

Yeah, nah. Gotta choose one to be in to win.

 

[ankitj]

Rabada.

 

[trundler]

Philander

 

[Days of Grace]

I’m on a train coming back from a piss up in Tokyo. You are just going to have to wait.

No one will get the next entry, though.

 

[trundler]

Is it Jimmy?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Wagner

 

[smash84]

Shaun Pollock or Fanie DeVilliers, one of the south africans

 

[ankitj]

Shaun Pollock or Fanie DeVilliers, one of the south africans

He said current player.

 

[srbhkshk]

Ashwin.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Rabada or Jadeja imo

 

[harsh.ag]

Hazlewood

 

[smash84]

He said current player.

Oh, then it might be Mitchell starc