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

[Starfighter]

Barnes was a definitely a pace bowler, but medium rather than fast.

 

[bagapath]

so the top 6 will be...

murali
hadlee
mcgrath
barnes
warne
steyn ?

quite surprised to see marshall so low... but I have not seen such a detailed effort on bowling statistics ever... so I will assume that numbers won't lie... and take the rankings with a very very small pinch of salt... great job DoG...

 

[harsh.ag]

The rankings reiterate what has been CW wisdom for a while - Marshall, McGrath, Hadlee, Steyn are the four greatest pacers of all time.

Barnes in a category of his own, as usual.

 

[ankitj]

Remaining 9 will probably be in this order:

1. Murali 2. McGrath 3. Hadlee 4. Barnes 5. Warne
6. Marshall 7. Steyn 8. Lillee 9. Imran

I did say Marshall will miss out on top 5. Not enough longevity. Still thought he will be above Steyn who should certainly be next.

 

[ankitj]

The rankings reiterate what has been CW wisdom for a while - Marshall, McGrath, Hadlee, Steyn are the four greatest pacers of all time.

Barnes in a category of his own, as usual.

Ambrose is rated in that group, was in fact #3 in the fast bowlers ranking based on cw votes.

 

[trundler]

I knew Marshall would be behind McGrath and Hadlee owing to era adjustment and PPIN respectively. Knew Steyn would get a huge SR boost also. Didn't think he'd feature behind inherently inferior spinners though. I've seldom seen a stats analysis that puts him at the very top. Near it sure, but not at the top. Still, bowling with a hand broken and running through a lineup? GOAT.

 

[trundler]

We need kyear2 or Ed to post a write-up on Macko.

 

[bagapath]

I did say Marshall will miss out on top 5. Not enough longevity. Still thought he will be above Steyn who should certainly be next.

Not sure of this observation

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

Retired as the third highest wicket taker over a 13 year career

Sharing the spoils with two other ATGs in most of the matches, sometimes even three bonafide champs, must have played a part in lowering his points.

 

[Days of Grace]

Marshall beats McGrath on quality but is behind on career points.

I actually want a curve for career length and wickets where the gap between 200 and 100 wickets is larger than, say, 200 and 400. But I don’t know how to do that on Excel.

 

[trundler]

That means McGrath is next.

 

[bagapath]

Marshall beats McGrath on quality but is behind on career points.

I actually want a curve for career length and wickets where the gap between 200 and 100 wickets is larger than, say, 200 and 400. But I don’t know how to do that on Excel.

all said and done, murali has more than twice as many wickets in his kitty as lillee or marshall and that should count big time in his favour. the leap from 300 to 500 is tougher than then the jump from 100 to 200 because this is where fitness, longevity and adapting to a new generation of players and evolving strategies come in to play and redefines greatness itself.

 

[ankitj]

Not sure of this observation

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

Retired as the third highest wicket taker over a 13 year career

Sharing the spoils with two other ATGs in most of the matches, sometimes even three bonafide champs, must have played a part in lowering his points.

Fair callout. This is one improvement that can likely be made in methodology. Average number of tests a good/great player plays has been on the rise since start of test cricket. To adjust for that probably longevity points awarded to someone who had highest longevity in say 1950 to 1970 should be same as those awarded to someone who topped longevity in 1990 to 2010 period. After all, former did the best that was possible for that age. In effect two players in same percentile of longevity in their respective eras should get same points.

 

[Burgey]

That means McGrath is next.

Steyn will be before McGrath. Possibly Barnes too.

 

[a massive zebra]

Marshall beats McGrath on quality but is behind on career points.

I actually want a curve for career length and wickets where the gap between 200 and 100 wickets is larger than, say, 200 and 400. But I don’t know how to do that on Excel.

Hi Days of Grace I spent several years working as a database administrator, data analyst and data modeller so I'm pretty nifty with programs like Excel and SQL. If you send me an email explaining what you want to do and attach a copy of your excel file, I may be able to help. My email address is chrislaw28@hotmail.com.

 

[StephenZA]

Steyn will be before McGrath. Possibly Barnes too.

Else Burgey will make sure the internet burns to the ground....

 

[harsh.ag]

Steyn's got SR in his favour but McGrath has a slightly more complete record and more wickets.

 

[trundler]

McGrath would get 120 or so career points. Steyn would be in the region of 110. Both would have to have quality points in the 810s. Murali ought to be #1.

 

[Burgey]

Else Burgey will make sure the internet burns to the ground....

I don’t know why you’d think that tbh.

 

[Burgey]

We need the rest of the Imran v Lillee video where DK knocks Pakistan over for about 80 and makes Imran look a bit silly.

Edit: found. https://youtu.be/ssseOBhCb7I

 

[Burgey]

Completely unrelated, but I didn’t realise Rob had uploaded footage of Colin Croft running through the umpire in NZ:

https://youtu.be/lOscUoF7ytg