Otherwise mediocre players who were aesthetic af

[a massive zebra]

Bit harsh to call Phil Edmonds mediocre. His Test bowling average was less than two runs higher than Abdul Qadir who is widely considered the best spinner of that generation. Furthermore, he was based in a country that is less favourable to spin.

 

[kevinw]

Emburey's a great choice, and Edmonds was a virtual mirror image too. Both classic English spinners - also in the sense of being extra selectable due to being able to hold a bat. Always thought Taylor was ugly though, too 'elbowy', but YMMV.

England should be embarrassed that they chose him twice after rebel tours.

 

[Silver Silva]

I don't know if you class a talent like Upul Tharanga as mediocre but he definitely was aesthetic ..
This was one of the best knocks I have ever seen ..
Give it a watch if you have time

 

[SteveNZ]

Mohammad Sami had one of the most glorious bowling actions

This is about the best answer, I reckon. Beautiful hustling action, bowled heat, never really took wickets. Even his bowl cut looked good bouncing up and down as he ran in...just never made any impact once the ball was released.

 

[Starfighter]

Bit harsh to call Phil Edmonds mediocre. His Test bowling average was less than two runs higher than Abdul Qadir who was widely considered the best spinner of that generation, and he was based in a country that is less favourable to spin.

Mate I don't rate Qadir at all away from friendly umpires.

Averaging 34 is mediocre in the proper meaning of the word.

 

[a massive zebra]

Mate I don't rate Qadir at all away from friendly umpires.

Averaging 34 is mediocre in the proper meaning of the word.

Irrespective of your own personal opinion, Qadir is highly rated amongst the cricket world as a whole.

Very few non Asian spinners averaged better than 34 during Edmonds era, so if he was mediocre then there basically were not any top class spinners in his era.

 

[Starfighter]

so if he was mediocre then there basically were not any top class spinners in his era.

I don't think it's an unpopular opinion that the eighties was a poor era for spin bowling. It's also objectively true, the average for spinners in that decade is higher than any except the overall batting friendly forties.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Leon Garrick

 

[Aritro]

This thread screams Mohammad Ashraful

Yeah I came in here to say this. Yep. I do love tiny men who rifle the ball to the boundary with perfect timing.

 

[Chubb]

He’s been mentioned already but Daren Ganga was a beautiful batsman, just rarely scored any runs.

 

[peterhrt]

Irrespective of your own personal opinion, Qadir is highly rated amongst the cricket world as a whole.

Very few non Asian spinners averaged better than 34 during Edmonds era, so if he was mediocre then there basically were not any top class spinners in his era.

Qadir is difficult to assess.

English batsmen couldn't read him and rated him highly. Gooch said he was more difficult to face than Warne with a lot more variety. Benaud said he was the most talented leg-spinner for twenty years, which presumably included Chandra, Intikhab and himself. Qadir also did well against the strong West Indian team of the time.

But an away average of 47 takes some explaining away. Qadir (and Imran) claimed umpires outside Pakistan couldn't read him either and turned down countless lbw appeals that would have hit the stumps. Indian batsmen, used to spin, had no trouble against him.

Tributes ranged from genius to con artist (which was part of his act and meant as a compliment).

 

[Migara]

Aravinda de Silva and Virender Shewag. ATG off spin bowling actions, but were ordinary with the ball.

 

[Migara]

John Emburey too while we're on the topic of **** offies. Peter Taylor had a nice rhythmic action too.

Powar was few classes above Emburey and Taylor TBH. He had Kumble to compete with. Any other team not having Murali, Warne or Kumble would have picked him as their leading spinner.

 

[Gob]

Ian Bell

 

[Chin Music]

Ian Bell

I found him frustrating as hell but there is no way that he can be called mediocre having an average of 41. Moderately underachieving yes, mediocre definitely not.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Moeen Ali

 

[Chin Music]

Moeen Ali

That's more true. Ordinary bowling and batting record but quite a bit of style with both his bowling action and his batting shot play.

 

[Beamer]

Darren Ganga was very classy but also very crappy.

Shamarh Brooks is similar tbh. Laguid as can be but just not very good.

 

[andruid]

Harbajan Singh's action was nicr

 

[Ali TT]

Harbajan Singh's action was nicr

Again not mediocre.