Jacques Kallis vs Malcolm Marshall

[shortpitched713]

Also Marshall is more than a handy tailender. He's a better bat than Warne for sure, and some people use that as a tiebreak between him and Murali.

 

[subshakerz]

Also Marshall is more than a handy tailender. He's a better bat than Warne for sure, and some people use that as a tiebreak between him and Murali.

If you really think it is that close then just pick your favorite bowler.

 

[shortpitched713]

The difference between Warne and Murali as bats is enough to determine the actual outcome of matches. Unless you're the greatest bowling tailender of all time (McGrath to lock up the 11 spot), you're always in danger of having your cheese taken by a comparable bowler who can do a much better job with the bat.

If the comparison for example was between Tendulkar and Allan Donald, I'd have to give it to Tendulkar, as although imo Donald is barely a step down from Marshall as a bowler, he's a significant step down from him as a bat. I think it's fair to make such distinctions based on meaningful secondary skills.

 

[subshakerz]

The difference between Warne and Murali as bats is enough to determine the actual outcome of matches. Unless you're the greatest bowling tailender of all time (McGrath to lock up the 11 spot), you're always in danger of having your cheese taken by a comparable bowler who can do a much better job with the bat.

If the comparison for example was between Tendulkar and Allan Donald, I'd have to give it to Tendulkar, as although imo Donald is barely a step down from Marshall as a bowler, he's a significant step down from him as a bat. I think it's fair to make such distinctions based on meaningful secondary skills.

Assumption. Reality is that even though they seem close, there would be enough distance between Murali and Warne as bowlers to make that difference. We just haven't analysed it enough to determine the best way to measure that value.

 

[shortpitched713]

That's just dogmatic thinking. Yeah, I know some of us can be guilty of taking it too far by picking a Garner or Ambrose for their batting at 9 over a true tailender, but what you're describing is the opposite extreme. If they're the same as bowlers, and there is an obvious difference in them as batsmen like with Warne and Murali, why not take the better bat? (Not saying I'm doing it, in this case, btw).

 

[subshakerz]

That's just dogmatic thinking. Yeah, I know some of us can be guilty of taking it too far by picking a Garner or Ambrose for their batting at 9 over a true tailender, but what you're describing is the opposite extreme. If they're the same as bowlers, and there is an obvious difference in them as batsmen like with Warne and Murali, why not take the better bat? (Not saying I'm doing it, in this case, btw).

No two bowlers are the same and Murali and Warne have significant statistical and gameplay differences. Just rounding them off to be the same and giving Warne the nod based on tailend runs is lazy thinking frankly that doesn't want to commit to a deeper analysis.

 

[shortpitched713]

No two bowlers are the same and Murali and Warne have significant statistical and gameplay differences. Just rounding them off to be the same and giving Warne the nod based on tailend runs is lazy thinking frankly that doesn't want to commit to a deeper analysis.

Or sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and the variance is just us reading the tea leaves of randomness.

 

[subshakerz]

Or sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and the variance is just us reading the tea leaves of randomness.

I can accept someone saying it is hard to compare Warne and Murali. I can't accept someone saying they are virtually the same quality bowler. Seems like a copout.

 

[Prince EWS]

Marshall is the better bowler IMO but who is the better cricketer?

Big call.

 

[Coronis]

Assumption. Reality is that even though they seem close, there would be enough distance between Murali and Warne as bowlers to make that difference. We just haven't analysed it enough to determine the best way to measure that value.

Agreed, Murali and Warne haven’t been analysed against each other enough. You should make a thread.

 

[Saket1209]

They do but generally not their job. They set games up for the bowlers to win.

Yeah I agree to this