Dale Steyn vs Allan Donald vs Shaun Pollock

[Altaican]

Sadly since I saw Donald at his peak against Tendulkar and Lara, it’s a non-contest for me. It’s slam dunk Donald. The comparison reminds me a bit of Hadlee vs Marshall. Hadlee was more skillful but I would choose Marshall without even thinking.

 

[Altaican]

To smalishah84 - Sad because certain performances (like for example Viv Richard’s batting) create such an impact that it’s very difficult to be neutral or objective after witnessing them. Hence it’s sad.

 

[trundler]

Steyn
Donald
Pollock
Tayfield

Is my SA bowling attack. Given they'll have Kallis as well that's a ridiculous attack.

And Faulkner probably

 

[smash84]

To smalishah84 - Sad because certain performances (like for example Viv Richard’s batting) create such an impact that it’s very difficult to be neutral or objective after witnessing them. Hence it’s sad.

What are you talking about?

 

[honestbharani]

CW's rating of the greatest fast bowlers of all time -

Dale Steyn - #5
Allan Donald - #13

I would say that is a level above...

 

[stephen]

Honestly though hb, you can throw a net over the top 16, pick any 3 and you'd have a pace attack as good as any in history (though I guess Marshall, Garner and Holding were an actual historical pace attack and often played with Roberts who was ranked 17 - the late 70s and 80s were not a good time to be a batsman facing the West Indies).

 

[Migara]

If I am picking an ATG team and I have only one spot left and I need to pick between Steyn and Donald, I would go with Steyn. But no way there is anything more than a razor thin margin separating the two.

FWIW, I consider below 7 bowlers in the same category and the other 8 just below them.

List 1

Marshall
Hadlee
Mcgrath
Ambrose
Steyn
Garner
Donald

List 2

Lillee
Imran
Akram
Younis
Holding
Roberts
Pollock
Walsh

Imran is clearly List 1

 

[honestbharani]

I am not debating that. But IMO the top 10 fast bowlers of all time is what marks an elite level for a player and only one between Steyn and Donald gets in there and its not White Lightning.

 

[trundler]

10 is an arbitrary number though. Garner over Akram, Donald, Trueman, Imran and Lillee is a very exclusively CW opinion.

 

[harsh.ag]

Donald is a top 10 imo

 

[Slifer]

CW's rating of the greatest fast bowlers of all time -

Dale Steyn - #5
Allan Donald - #13

I would say that is a level above...

Joel Garner was ranked 6th. Really??

 

[h_hurricane]

Imran is clearly List 1

There is a case but it isn't as clear cut. Imran didn't have a truly awesome bowling record anywhere other than Pakistan and SL. Averages 24+ everywhere else. If you see others in List 1, they average in low 20s in more than half the countries they played in which is truly ATGish.

Imran had the most insane peak as a bowler though but I am not a big fan of splitting some one's career to make them appear better.

Imran quite clearly the best cricketer in that group and walks into my ATG XI due to that reason.

 

[h_hurricane]

CW's rating of the greatest fast bowlers of all time -

Dale Steyn - #5
Allan Donald - #13

I would say that is a level above...

So I got my top 6 right except for Mcgrath vs Hadlee which was anyways touch and go.

 

[Engle]

After all the tangibles/statistics have been discussed exhaustively - one must move to the unmeasurable intangibles. Fast bowlers don't operate in a bubble. They role model with great gusto by leading and exhorting, coaxing and cajoling, urging and egging their team, nurture pace partners, provide fear factor, aura etc.

Lillee, Imran need to be higher up on their tiers - Tier 1 for me.

 

[trundler]

Garner really seems to have a much better reputation here than elsewhere. Not one to go for appeals to popularity but Holding seems to be the general choice as #2 after Marshall. IMO something similar to the revisionist Barrington love is going on there. Garner was great and he's in that elite group where there's slim margins between bowlers but him over Donald or Trueman seems hard to justify.

 

[Coronis]

Gun to my head, I’d take Steyn over Donald but in reality, you’re not losing much between the two.

 

[h_hurricane]

Part of the Garner legend is that he was pretty much unhittable. I am not talking about an over or two when someone could slash a few boundaries, but a sustained period of a session or a day. Had that unplayable length from that height. Fast forward him today, and he would be the best in the world. It wasn't his fault that he played alongside Marshall hence was overshadowed.

The killer fact about Garner was that he has pretty much the best touring record for any bowler in last 50 years.

Coming to Imran, yes, there is a case like I said. There are a few minor holes in his away record. When I said holes, they are only relative to the absolute top tier of quicks.

Lillee doesn't have the well rounded record of many other greats mentioned here. Sucked in whatever matches he played in sub continent. Massive peer reputation though.

 

[trundler]

Yeah but Garner took very few 5 wicket hauls or put out memorable spells like.. basically all of his competition on that list. He's possibly the greatest designated third seamer but that's what he was. At no point was he the best bowler in the world. I know it's not his fault that he coexisted with Marshall and Hadlee but surely he loses some points for being less explosive. Garner doesn't have those intangibles that Ambrose and Marshall did imo. Holding too maybe. There's no god-like peak in there. I don't think he's in the top 10. Can't understand why Trueman ranked so low. That strike rate is ridiculous for the era he played in and he seems to have had it all really.

There are a few guys who have a case for being the best ever for different reasons. Marshall, McGrath, Ambrose, Hadlee, Steyn, Akram, Trueman, Lillee — I don't think Garner's in there. Still in that top 16-ish though.

 

[honestbharani]

10 is an arbitrary number though. Garner over Akram, Donald, Trueman, Imran and Lillee is a very exclusively CW opinion.

Any number we pick is arbitrary though. I am just saying that is how I define the levels and why I feel Steyn is a level above Donald as a test match bowler.

 

[Slifer]

Steyn averaged against an ordinary England team, what Donald did vs an atg Australian team. How is Steyn a level above?? Similar averages and wpm. Steyn the better SR but Donalds SR was also phenomenal. And Donald was intimidating as F. Donald was better overseas as well..... Nope sorry not a level above.