Ian Botham v Shaun Pollock

[BazBall21]

So Kapil v Pollock proved a total walkover, what about Botham v Pollock?

 

[Slifer]

Much tougher comparison. Pollock the better bowler (imo) and Ian the better batsman. On paper Pollock's looks to have the bigger advantage due to his bowling .....Will stew on this for a bit....

 

[Migara]

Still Pollock. There is nothing between Kapil and Botham to separate.

 

[BazBall21]

Botham>Kapil

 

[Migara]

Botham>Kapil

Nah

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Botham>Kapil

Kapil > Botham >> Pollock

 

[Calm_profit]

Classic cricketweb involving a player who is not even in the discussion.

 

[trundler]

Pretty CW result but Botham's number of fifers and centuries sways it for me. Both were rather underwhelming for a third of their careers though Botham was the pits towards the end but his peak with bat and ball simultaneously is unmatched. Pollock batted #8 more than anywhere else and his average flatters his output quite a bit. Looked good tho.

 

[Calm_profit]

I think Pollock's bowling average was something 20 after 300 wickets

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/46774.html?class=1;spanmax1=10+Oct+2003;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling

.
But Bothams 5 fers are unmatched so botham for me.

 

[BazBall21]

Pretty CW result but Botham's number of fifers and centuries sways it for me. Both were rather underwhelming for a third of their careers though Botham was the pits towards the end but his peak with bat and ball simultaneously is unmatched. Pollock batted #9 more than anywhere else and his average flatters his output quite a bit. Looked good tho.

Agree on Pollock’s batting. Flattering average relative to output, but he looked decent from what I’ve seen.

 

[Dendarii]

It was ODIs and just three matches, but Pollock once played a series purely as a batsman and averaged over 100.

Afro-Asia Cup, 2007 - Africa XI Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com

Read about Records, / , Afro-Asia Cup, 2007 - Africa XI, / , Batting and bowling averages Cricket Team Records only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Check the Stats & Records of Records, / , Afro-Asia Cup, 2007 - Africa XI, / , Batting and bowling averages Players in ✓ Wicket keeper ✓ Batting ✓ Bowling

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[Migara]

Kapil > Botham >> Pollock

Nah

 

[Migara]

Pretty CW result but Botham's number of fifers and centuries sways it for me. Both were rather underwhelming for a third of their careers though Botham was the pits towards the end but his peak with bat and ball simultaneously is unmatched. Pollock batted #8 more than anywhere else and his average flatters his output quite a bit. Looked good tho.

I would take Pollock the bowler over Botham the all rounder every day of the week.

 

[trundler]

I would take Pollock the bowler over Botham the all rounder every day of the week.

I think you're conflating his ODI and test legacy. He stopped being a primary threat from ~2002ish. Lost a lot of effectiveness as he lost pace. He basically devolved into Vaas by the end of his career. He was still very economical so still gun in ODIs but very underwhelming in tests. 2 fifers in his last 5 years. Now he didn't fall off a cliff like Botham did in his last 35 odd tests but no way I'd take Pollock ahead of Botham for most of their careers. Pollock was amazing for a long time but he did resort to bowling dry a lot of times when pitches didn't suit him and SA pitches are notoriously spicy. This is reflected in his stats too. Him being a gun #8 makes it close but I wouldn't take him on bowling alone at all.

 

[subshakerz]

I think you're conflating his ODI and test legacy. He stopped being a primary threat from ~2002ish. Lost a lot of effectiveness as he lost pace. He basically devolved into Vaas by the end of his career. He was still very economical so still gun in ODIs but very underwhelming in tests. 2 fifers in his last 5 years. Now he didn't fall off a cliff like Botham did in his last 35 odd tests but no way I'd take Pollock ahead of Botham for most of their careers. Pollock was amazing for a long time but he did resort to bowling dry a lot of times when pitches didn't suit him and SA pitches are notoriously spicy. This is reflected in his stats too. Him being a gun #8 makes it close but I wouldn't take him on bowling alone at all.

Pollock was worldclass level until 2003, around 70 percent of his career. His last five years he only played 30 tests and even then he was never completely crap like Botham towards the end but quite respectable.

Pollock has a very good record in the SC. Helped win matches in Pakistan, India and SL. He took a 7fer in Australia on a road.

Pollock as a bowler was a great even if he never scored a run. When you add his batting record I take him over Botham who in the final analysis was basically a decent batsman and decent bowler combo. In the end, if you are not worldclass in one discipline, you should be rated behind other allrounders who are.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Stats wise over an entire career - Pollock easily, but Botham's presence and x-factor were something else. Even with a beer gut and a blond mullet (and years past his best) he smashed the Aussies for 138 at the Gabba in 86/87 to set up a surprise Ashes' series win.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Pollock was worldclass level until 2003, around 70 percent of his career. His last five years he only played 30 tests and even then he was never completely crap like Botham towards the end but quite respectable.

Pollock has a very good record in the SC. Helped win matches in Pakistan, India and SL. He took a 7fer in Australia on a road.

Pollock as a bowler was a great even if he never scored a run. When you add his batting record I take him over Botham who in the final analysis was basically a decent batsman and decent bowler combo. In the end, if you are not worldclass in one discipline, you should be rated behind other allrounders who are.

Botham took his 1st 200 wickets at 21. The trouble is that he took the rest at about 35/36.

 

[subshakerz]

Botham took his 1st 200 wickets at 21. The trouble is that he took the rest at about 35/36.

His 200th wicket came in his 41st test and his bowling peak stopped soon after.

So basically he ranged from decent to poor for 60 percent of his tests or 10 years out of 15 he played. In other words, for most of his career, he wasnt a worldclass player or even a particularly quality one.

 

[Bolo.]

Botham took his 1st 200 wickets at 21. The trouble is that he took the rest at about 35/36.

Pollock took his first 300@20

 

[Coronis]

His 200th wicket came in his 41st test and his bowling peak stopped soon after.

So basically he ranged from decent to poor for 60 percent of his tests or 10 years out of 15 he played. In other words, for most of his career, he wasnt a worldclass player or even a particularly quality one.

“We shouldn’t downgrade a player for playing past his peak”