PlayerComparisons
International Vice-Captain
Rank these bowlers and feel free to provide your reasoning. Not really sure since they're all so close in my opinion.
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Waqar Younis vs Michael Holding vs Joel Garner
- Thread starter PlayerComparisons
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subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Holding is the best of the three. Was just behind Marshall as WI's attack's main bowler, whereas Garner would do the mop up job.
What does this mean? Garner took more wpm at a technically (if meaninglessly so) better strike rate. More top and tail end wickets than Holding, with Holding taking more middle.
Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
As a former pace bowler at Club level, I was a fan of Holding and rank him above the other two - probably on style rather than stats.
OverratedSanity
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Waqar>Garner>Holding
Waqar was much better to watch, more destructive at his peak. Most of the west indian pacers of the 80s had a much easier job because there were 3 other excellent bowlers to keep up the pressure. Waqar also never had an almighty strop about a mildly dubious decision and kicked the stumps out.
Waqar was much better to watch, more destructive at his peak. Most of the west indian pacers of the 80s had a much easier job because there were 3 other excellent bowlers to keep up the pressure. Waqar also never had an almighty strop about a mildly dubious decision and kicked the stumps out.
Slifer
International Captain
Peak Waqar. Overall, Garner then the other two in whatever order you want. Garner was just more effective imo. Great everywhere he played and vs all comers (barring one home series vs India).
The pitch didn't matter; he could extract unnerving bounce from even the most lifeless wickets. And as we know, when that didn't work he had his unplayable Yorker.
But for his injury, Waqar could've been the goat. But the injury DID happen and he was no where near the same bowler afterwards (ditto Ian Bishop). Therefore we can only look at the overall picture in which case, he's below Garner imo.
I'm not a huge Holding fan tbh. Also, maybe my memory has faded but I don't recall the reasons why Holding missed every single match vs Pakistan. Not that that's a black mark or anything....
The pitch didn't matter; he could extract unnerving bounce from even the most lifeless wickets. And as we know, when that didn't work he had his unplayable Yorker.
But for his injury, Waqar could've been the goat. But the injury DID happen and he was no where near the same bowler afterwards (ditto Ian Bishop). Therefore we can only look at the overall picture in which case, he's below Garner imo.
I'm not a huge Holding fan tbh. Also, maybe my memory has faded but I don't recall the reasons why Holding missed every single match vs Pakistan. Not that that's a black mark or anything....
The Sean
Cricketer Of The Year
I'd probably swap Garner and Holding around but otherwise yeah, this.
Burgey
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Mate, Wasim Akram was no mug. And they had good spinners to keep the pressure on as well.
Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
I still regard "Whispering Death" highly. A true athlete.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Still havent seen a convincing argument for Garner ahead of Holding (aside from raw stats which are comparable as Holding didnt have a weakness and more fifers/tenfers). Strange how nobody docks points from Garner for being unproven in the subcontinent while doing so for Lillee.
I think Holding is being underrated. Three jumbo series hauls in England, India and Australia is impressive. He had pace to perform even on dead tracks. My reading from players at that time tells me Holding was held in slightly higher regard too.
I think Holding is being underrated. Three jumbo series hauls in England, India and Australia is impressive. He had pace to perform even on dead tracks. My reading from players at that time tells me Holding was held in slightly higher regard too.
CodeOfWisden
U19 Vice-Captain
Garner > Holding > Waqar.
This…
grecian
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
What you mean raw stats that suggest Garner was one of the greatest bowlers ever, yeh **** those stats. How are they remotely comparable in any way, other than Holdings wasn't anywhere near as good. The idea you can take almost 3 runs a wicket off a bowler because the other bowler takes more fivefers is so weird, but it got a lot of likes so fair enough Cw obviously the arbiter of all things great.
He admittedly only went on one tour in Asia where he averaged 19, Lillee went on two and I think he averaged close to 70, so again a ****ing lop-sided comparison.
Holding never played in Pakistan, Garner never in India, they were both good when they played, but as ever Joel a bit better.
I do agree with others though, young waqar may have been the greatest bowler I have ever seen, super quick and moved it all over the place.
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subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Holding took 30 wickets in 6 tests @22 in India, Garner took 10 in 3 tests @19 in Pakistan, yet Garner did better somehow?
My sense from reading from their careers was that Holding was the main strike bowler in the late 70s early 80s team until Marshall emerged.