There's a lot of doubt. Take Warne away completely and McGrath doesn't come out even an iota worse off
even just looking at his stats in the games Warne didn't play his average is virtually the same.
Similar to your reasoning for not rating Wasim & Imran, looks to me like you've clearly decided which ones you like and come up with reasons to justify it as an afterthought, rather than the opposite as you claim. Though tbf most people are probably doing the same thing but they're just more subtle about it.
There is no personnel preference what so ever when I pick these players. I just go based on logics that makes sense to me.They can go wrong too
and if proven wrong I wholeheartedly accept that too. I went thru with a bit deeper analysis of Mcgrath's bowling and I was a bit wrong it seems.
Mcgrath with or with out Warne was more or less as effective. But still there is no doubt that Mcgrath benefitted a bit from being a part of a great team. Again when ever Warne was not there, Macgill almost ensured that his absence was not felt though Macgill was at least a level below Warne.
W.R.T those 3 PAK bowlers, it was quite a lot easier to decide though. No stats analysis was required. Just going thru the testimonies of various game associated personalities was enough. So again no personnel like or dislike here too.
All in all , my TOP 10 gets a bit updated like the below.
1.Curtley Ambrose - Nasty, fastness, adequate longevity, great record against the best team of his era, uniform record in all countries and yet a mammoth average of 20.99 ...such a complete fast bowler.
2. Richard Hadlee - lone warrior, great longevity, well rounded record in all nations
3. Glenn Mcgrath - Mammoth longevity, uniform record
4. Dale Steyn - great longevity, performed in a relatively batting friendly era
5. Shaun Pollock - great longevity , well rounded record in all nations, was well below his standard against best team of his era.
6. Allan Donald - well rounded record in all nations , lacks adequate longevity
7. Malcolm Marshall - statistically has the best average, posses a uniform record etc , but being in the company of other 3 great fast bowlers helped him a lot.
8. Joel Garner - one of the greatest averages ever for a fast bowler , such amazing uniformity , but lacks adequate longevity . Also being a part of such a strong bowling unit helped him a lot.
9. Courtney Walsh - such amazing longevity & uniform record, was below par against the best team of his era though.
10. James Anderson - completely turned it upside down in this relatively batting friendly era ,has a stretch of 460 wkts @23.93
11. Bob Willis - had enough longevity for the era he played in, had great uniformity, but was below par against the best team of his era.
