Days of Grace
International Captain
I will post the top two together.
Who will be no.1?
Who will be no.1?
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DoG's Top 100 Test Bowlers Countdown Thread 100-1
- Thread starter Days of Grace
- Start date
Borges
International Regular
Murali, if i have to venture a guess. Barnes on quality alone, I would think.
ankitj
Hall of Fame Member
At this point I think it could be either Barnes or Murali. Barnes adds uncertainty because of unique stats. Against any other bowler I would have rather easily backed Murali to be ahead in this analysis.
OverratedSanity
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Murali
Starfighter
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I think Murali's weight of career will be greater than any difference in quality that may exist.
Days of Grace
International Captain
3 Sir RJ Hadlee 964
4 DW Steyn 945
5 SK Warne 934
6 GD McGrath 930
7 MD Marshall 926
8 Imran Khan 906
9 DK Lillee 875
10 Waqar Younis 875
11 AA Donald 874
12 CEL Ambrose 870
13 WJ O'Reilly 856
14 FS Trueman 850
15 CV Grimmett 846
16 R Ashwin 844
17 K Rabada 835
18 JM Anderson 834
19 A Kumble 831
20 Wasim Akram 828
21 SM Pollock 827
22 J Garner 823
23 AK Davidson 820
24 CA Walsh 819
25 HMRKB Herath 814
26 VD Philander 806
27 JC Laker 798
28 Shoaib Akhtar 797
29 MA Holding 787
30 RA Jadeja 785
31 AV Bedser 784
32 HJ Tayfield 783
33 IT Botham 778
34 RJ Harris 774
35 GA Lohmann 774
36 Fazal Mahmood 772
37 M Ntini 755
38 MG Johnson 753
39 RGD Willis 749
40 Mohammad Asif 749
41 RR Lindwall 748
42 JA Snow 744
43 PM Pollock 743
44 AME Roberts 740
45 IR Bishop 738
46 CEH Croft 732
47 D Gough 731
48 DL Underwood 729
49 Yasir Shah 729
50 WW Hall 728
51 SCJ Broad 728
52 BS Chandrasekhar 728
53 N Kapil Dev 726
54 CJ McDermott 726
55 AR Caddick 725
56 JR Thomson 724
57 ARC Fraser 722
58 H Trumble 720
59 M Morkel 719
60 Harbhajan Singh 719
61 GP Swann 717
62 NAT Adcock 716
63 LR Gibbs 715
64 Mohammad Abbas 715
65 Saeed Ajmal 715
66 R Benaud 715
67 CTB Turner 708
68 MA Starc 708
69 JH Wardle 701
70 TM Alderman 700
71 JB Statham 700
72 GD McKenzie 700
73 SR Clark 699
74 JN Gillespie 698
75 MW Tate 694
76 FH Tyson 694
77 KR Miller 694
78 B Lee 685
79 MG Hughes 684
80 SCG MacGill 683
81 GF Lawson 682
82 Saqlain Mushtaq 681
83 BS Bedi 681
84 CL Cairns 674
85 TA Boult 672
86 JR Hazlewood 672
87 HH Streak 671
88 MJ Hoggard 670
89 WA Johnston 670
90 Z Khan 668
91 H Verity 667
92 N Wagner 667
93 SE Bond 665
94 WPUJC Vaas 663
95 PM Siddle 659
96 BA Reid 656
97 NM Lyon 655
98 GAR Lock 655
99 EAS Prasanna 655
100 Danish Kaneria 654
4 DW Steyn 945
5 SK Warne 934
6 GD McGrath 930
7 MD Marshall 926
8 Imran Khan 906
9 DK Lillee 875
10 Waqar Younis 875
11 AA Donald 874
12 CEL Ambrose 870
13 WJ O'Reilly 856
14 FS Trueman 850
15 CV Grimmett 846
16 R Ashwin 844
17 K Rabada 835
18 JM Anderson 834
19 A Kumble 831
20 Wasim Akram 828
21 SM Pollock 827
22 J Garner 823
23 AK Davidson 820
24 CA Walsh 819
25 HMRKB Herath 814
26 VD Philander 806
27 JC Laker 798
28 Shoaib Akhtar 797
29 MA Holding 787
30 RA Jadeja 785
31 AV Bedser 784
32 HJ Tayfield 783
33 IT Botham 778
34 RJ Harris 774
35 GA Lohmann 774
36 Fazal Mahmood 772
37 M Ntini 755
38 MG Johnson 753
39 RGD Willis 749
40 Mohammad Asif 749
41 RR Lindwall 748
42 JA Snow 744
43 PM Pollock 743
44 AME Roberts 740
45 IR Bishop 738
46 CEH Croft 732
47 D Gough 731
48 DL Underwood 729
49 Yasir Shah 729
50 WW Hall 728
51 SCJ Broad 728
52 BS Chandrasekhar 728
53 N Kapil Dev 726
54 CJ McDermott 726
55 AR Caddick 725
56 JR Thomson 724
57 ARC Fraser 722
58 H Trumble 720
59 M Morkel 719
60 Harbhajan Singh 719
61 GP Swann 717
62 NAT Adcock 716
63 LR Gibbs 715
64 Mohammad Abbas 715
65 Saeed Ajmal 715
66 R Benaud 715
67 CTB Turner 708
68 MA Starc 708
69 JH Wardle 701
70 TM Alderman 700
71 JB Statham 700
72 GD McKenzie 700
73 SR Clark 699
74 JN Gillespie 698
75 MW Tate 694
76 FH Tyson 694
77 KR Miller 694
78 B Lee 685
79 MG Hughes 684
80 SCG MacGill 683
81 GF Lawson 682
82 Saqlain Mushtaq 681
83 BS Bedi 681
84 CL Cairns 674
85 TA Boult 672
86 JR Hazlewood 672
87 HH Streak 671
88 MJ Hoggard 670
89 WA Johnston 670
90 Z Khan 668
91 H Verity 667
92 N Wagner 667
93 SE Bond 665
94 WPUJC Vaas 663
95 PM Siddle 659
96 BA Reid 656
97 NM Lyon 655
98 GAR Lock 655
99 EAS Prasanna 655
100 Danish Kaneria 654
Pap Finn Keighl
International Debutant
Hadlee is 3rd in my list too.
Barnes
Akram
Hadlee
Barnes
Akram
Hadlee
harsh.ag
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Big jump in points from Steyn to Hadlee. Love it.
There is always a nagging feeling that McGrath was slightly better than him. Simply because Oz pitches were much more batting friendly, esp in the 2000s. But impossible to know really. They both did so well everywhere.
There is always a nagging feeling that McGrath was slightly better than him. Simply because Oz pitches were much more batting friendly, esp in the 2000s. But impossible to know really. They both did so well everywhere.
Days of Grace
International Captain
No.2
Sydney Barnes (England) 967
Quality Points: 891
Career Points: 76
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NJGLkiioiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf9nsdFMguw
Career: 1901-1914
Wickets: 189
Gold Performances: 4
5/44 vs. Australia at Melbourne 1911/12 (15.75)
8/29 vs. South Africa at The Oval 1912 (16.91)
8/56 vs. South Africa at Johannesburg 1913 (16.99)
9/103 vs. South Africa at Johannesburg 1913 (17.00)
Silver Performances: 15
Bronze Performances: 5
Overall Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 20.25 (16.43) 50.92 (41.66) 8.19 (rank 1)
50 Innings Peak Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings (1901-1914): 20.25 50.92 8.19 (rank 7)
Non-Home Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 21.89 53.77 8.17 (rank 2)
Quality Opposition Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 25.42 63.38 6.34 (rank 21)
The best bowler of all-time? Certainly, Sydney Barnes has a great case as he has the highest quality points of any bowler to have played the game. Very little footage is available of him (I have posted a link of the only YouTube footage I know to exist). His adjusted averages and strike-rates across all criteria are very good, but are still comparable to other great bowlers. His average against Australia is nothing special. But what separates Barnes from the rest is the sheer impact he made on the matches he played in. He averaged a neat 7 wickets a match and achieved a medal performance in 24 out of the 50 innings he bowled in. As a point of comparison, 36% of Don Bradman's innings were medal-worthy. A difficult character, he played in less than half of England's test matches between 1901 and the Great War. He also missed the last test match of the South African series in 1913/14 because of a financial disagreement. If he did play, he would possibly have reached 50 wickets in the series, and 200 wickets overall. In 28 tests. There is only one bowler that can close to being as prolific as SF Barnes. And he is no.1.
No.1
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) 1092
Quality Points: 871
Career Points: 221
[
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-3SqsJvyGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh3jMGpkPgw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN_rIFYbovI
Career: 1992-2010
Wickets: 795
Gold Performances: 13
9/65 vs. England at The Oval 1998 (19.27)
6/87 vs. South Africa at Galle 2000 (16.11)
7/84 vs. South Africa at Galle 2000 (15.79)
6/39 vs. South Africa at Durban 2000 (17.55)
8/87 vs. India at Colombo (SSC) 2001 (18.42)
5/13 vs. Bangladesh at Colombo (SSC) 2001 (16.20)
9/51 vs. Zimbabwe at Kandy 2002 (19.43)
7/46 vs. England at Galle 2003 (16.01)
8/46 vs. West Indies at Kandy 2005 (16.76)
8/70 vs. England at Nottingham 2006 (19.46)
7/97 vs. South Africa at Colombo (PSS) (16.39)
6/55 vs. England at Kandy 2007 (16.12)
6/26 vs. India at Colombo (SSC) 2008 (18.56)
Silver Performances: 28
Bronze Performances: 27
Overall Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 21.38 (22.67) 56.24 (54.99) 7.34 (rank 2)
50 Innings Peak Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings (2003-2007): 16.65 42.00 8.62 (rank 1)
Non-Home Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 25.75 62.45 6.40 (rank 20)
Quality Opposition Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 22.97 58.61 7.57 (rank 4)
So we have finally arrived at no.1. Muttiah Muralitharan. Ranked 2nd in quality points and 1st in career points. And that is the essence of Murali: Sustained greatness. After a relatively ordinary start to his career (where he suffered the ignominy of being called for throwing in Australia), Murali finally achieved his first gold performance at The Oval in 1998, in his 42nd test. From that point onward he took 608 wickets in 91 matches (19.63 53.66 7.82). In his peak 50 innings, he took 201 wickets. That's 4 wickets an innings. Most bowlers would be very happy to take 4 wickets a match.
He may not have achieved outstanding success overseas, but one cannot deny how prolific he was at home, where he made Sri Lanka almost unbeatable. In a sense, he is the spin-bowling version of Sir Richard Hadlee. And like Hadlee, he made Sri Lanka a top ranking nation through his sheer wicket-taking prowess. He stands at the top of Everest in terms of wickets and I highly doubt if anyone will come close to his achievement. Just as I am highly skeptical of anyone coming anywhere near his 1092 overall points. 125 points ahead of 2nd place. Sustained greatness.
Sydney Barnes (England) 967
Quality Points: 891
Career Points: 76
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NJGLkiioiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf9nsdFMguw
Career: 1901-1914
Wickets: 189
Gold Performances: 4
5/44 vs. Australia at Melbourne 1911/12 (15.75)
8/29 vs. South Africa at The Oval 1912 (16.91)
8/56 vs. South Africa at Johannesburg 1913 (16.99)
9/103 vs. South Africa at Johannesburg 1913 (17.00)
Silver Performances: 15
Bronze Performances: 5
Overall Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 20.25 (16.43) 50.92 (41.66) 8.19 (rank 1)
50 Innings Peak Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings (1901-1914): 20.25 50.92 8.19 (rank 7)
Non-Home Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 21.89 53.77 8.17 (rank 2)
Quality Opposition Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 25.42 63.38 6.34 (rank 21)
The best bowler of all-time? Certainly, Sydney Barnes has a great case as he has the highest quality points of any bowler to have played the game. Very little footage is available of him (I have posted a link of the only YouTube footage I know to exist). His adjusted averages and strike-rates across all criteria are very good, but are still comparable to other great bowlers. His average against Australia is nothing special. But what separates Barnes from the rest is the sheer impact he made on the matches he played in. He averaged a neat 7 wickets a match and achieved a medal performance in 24 out of the 50 innings he bowled in. As a point of comparison, 36% of Don Bradman's innings were medal-worthy. A difficult character, he played in less than half of England's test matches between 1901 and the Great War. He also missed the last test match of the South African series in 1913/14 because of a financial disagreement. If he did play, he would possibly have reached 50 wickets in the series, and 200 wickets overall. In 28 tests. There is only one bowler that can close to being as prolific as SF Barnes. And he is no.1.
No.1
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) 1092
Quality Points: 871
Career Points: 221
[
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-3SqsJvyGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh3jMGpkPgw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN_rIFYbovI
Career: 1992-2010
Wickets: 795
Gold Performances: 13
9/65 vs. England at The Oval 1998 (19.27)
6/87 vs. South Africa at Galle 2000 (16.11)
7/84 vs. South Africa at Galle 2000 (15.79)
6/39 vs. South Africa at Durban 2000 (17.55)
8/87 vs. India at Colombo (SSC) 2001 (18.42)
5/13 vs. Bangladesh at Colombo (SSC) 2001 (16.20)
9/51 vs. Zimbabwe at Kandy 2002 (19.43)
7/46 vs. England at Galle 2003 (16.01)
8/46 vs. West Indies at Kandy 2005 (16.76)
8/70 vs. England at Nottingham 2006 (19.46)
7/97 vs. South Africa at Colombo (PSS) (16.39)
6/55 vs. England at Kandy 2007 (16.12)
6/26 vs. India at Colombo (SSC) 2008 (18.56)
Silver Performances: 28
Bronze Performances: 27
Overall Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 21.38 (22.67) 56.24 (54.99) 7.34 (rank 2)
50 Innings Peak Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings (2003-2007): 16.65 42.00 8.62 (rank 1)
Non-Home Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 25.75 62.45 6.40 (rank 20)
Quality Opposition Average/Strike-Rate/Points Per Innings: 22.97 58.61 7.57 (rank 4)
So we have finally arrived at no.1. Muttiah Muralitharan. Ranked 2nd in quality points and 1st in career points. And that is the essence of Murali: Sustained greatness. After a relatively ordinary start to his career (where he suffered the ignominy of being called for throwing in Australia), Murali finally achieved his first gold performance at The Oval in 1998, in his 42nd test. From that point onward he took 608 wickets in 91 matches (19.63 53.66 7.82). In his peak 50 innings, he took 201 wickets. That's 4 wickets an innings. Most bowlers would be very happy to take 4 wickets a match.
He may not have achieved outstanding success overseas, but one cannot deny how prolific he was at home, where he made Sri Lanka almost unbeatable. In a sense, he is the spin-bowling version of Sir Richard Hadlee. And like Hadlee, he made Sri Lanka a top ranking nation through his sheer wicket-taking prowess. He stands at the top of Everest in terms of wickets and I highly doubt if anyone will come close to his achievement. Just as I am highly skeptical of anyone coming anywhere near his 1092 overall points. 125 points ahead of 2nd place. Sustained greatness.
Last edited:
Starfighter
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I was right.
Days of Grace
International Captain
I want to thank all my fellow posters at Cricketweb for your invaluable support and feedback during this presentation of my research. I have spent a great deal of time developing and revising and when I see that this thread has gone past 100 pages I realize that it has been well worth the effort.
I look forward to posting the test batting list next year. And once again I call upon your feedback, both in terms of reviewing the top 100 bowlers and with suggestions for the batting list.
Thank you again.
I look forward to posting the test batting list next year. And once again I call upon your feedback, both in terms of reviewing the top 100 bowlers and with suggestions for the batting list.
Thank you again.
ankitj
Hall of Fame Member
Updated again. Top 4 in the list are top 4 on quality points alone too!
Last edited:
harsh.ag
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Monumental work, DoG. Thank you for all the write-ups and the transparency wrt the methodology. And for the constant give and take of feedback.
It would really top it off if you could make an appearance on the CW podcast discussing the whole thing with Marco/Howe.
It would really top it off if you could make an appearance on the CW podcast discussing the whole thing with Marco/Howe.