ataraxia
International Coach
I was tempted to say 80s Imran was McGrath + Greenidge
(the problem being that he was better than McGrath with ball and worse than Greenidge with bat)
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
Greatest Test XI
- Thread starter kyear2
- Start date
(the problem being that he was better than McGrath with ball and worse than Greenidge with bat)
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Man, Imran wasn't a better ball than McGrath, don't ride him so hard....I was tempted to say 80s Imran was McGrath + Greenidge
bagapath
International Captain
Not a preposterous claim. He produced match winning bowling performances in Australia England and West Indies. Destroyed India at home like no fast bowler has done before or since in one series against anyone anywhere. Took more fivers more frequently than McGrath. His bowling average against everyone everywhere is terrific or at worst respectable. Imran and Hadlee could easily be the top contenders to take the new ball for any All Time XI bar none.
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
I didn't said Imran isn't an ATG bowler let alone player; I said he isn't a better bowler than McGrath. McGrath's Home-Away record is much more consistent than Imran's, who averages 27.5 with the bowl away barring Sri Lanka. I am not saying that's a bad record, just McGrath's is much more compact, and that's without mentioning the longevity. I would probably rank McGrath as the 3rd Greatest bowler of All Time, Imran would just miss out my Top 10.
bagapath
International Captain
Cool. Personally I can't come up with ten fast bowlers in history who were better than Imran. He and McGrath - in my mind - are in the same cluster. I can choose either of them over the other on any given day. This despite McGrath averaging 35 versus Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and 31 versus Pakistan in Pakistan and Imran not having any such gaping holes in his resume.
Kenneth Viljoen
International Regular
You're forgetting Alvin Kallicharran , he was a master of spin bowling he'd take Warne to the cleaners
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
McGrath averages 29 versus Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. Imran also averages over 28 in both Australia and India. As I said, Imran doesn't have any holes, but his overall away average isn't impressive enough to, imo, call him superior to McGrath. And I don't have ten pacers above him, but bowlers: Barnes, Marshall, McGrath, Hadlee, Warne, Muralitharan, Ambrose, Steyn, Lillee, O'Reilly and Akram (11 actually).
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
If Alvin could survive McGrath then....
OverratedSanity
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Hmmm, looks like I should pin that long post I made exposing with facts and logic how the "Imran isn't great overseas" is a myth.
bagapath
International Captain
Imran was kick ass overseas. Won matches in England West Indies and Australia with his bowling. You should look at his match by match performances. Then you will probably agree with me that he was second to none.
bagapath
International Captain
No, he averages 35.66 versus Sri Lanka in Sril Lanka
You are probably confused by the stats from the neutral test he played against Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
That is 30+ average in two test playing countries. Not very pretty, eh?
Last edited:
Kenneth Viljoen
International Regular
Alvin Kallicharran is a very underrated player, he did alright against Australia averaged 42 against them , and he dominated India's spin bowlers in the 70's..
His weakness was swing bowling conditions but on fast pitches or spinning pitches he was a joy to watch.
trundler
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Fun fact:
Imran in his last 5 Test series took only 28 wkts @ 33.53 while he concentrated on his batting. Basically a Kallis at the end of his career
capt_Luffy
Cricketer Of The Year
Then he played only 3 Test matches against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka? I would call it too small of a sample size to really count against him. Matter of fact, he also averaged just above 21 against India in India and under 20 against England in England. His overall away bowling average is less than that of his home.
Kenneth Viljoen
International Regular
Context is important..
Pakistan made some of the flattest pitches in test history when Mcgrath toured Pakistan..
I remember 1998 Peshaswar , Mark Taylor got a triple hundred when really he could have broken Lara's record if he wanted to ..
3 innings in the match , two declarations
Last edited:
TheJediBrah
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Reminds me of the famous robelinda youtube video of McGrath hitting Inzy plumb on the pads 2 balls in a row both given not out. "The day McGrath discovered Pakistan home umpires" or something like that. Sadly probably deleted now
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Garner and Trueman?
bagapath
International Captain
I wanted you to know the right stats, that's all
35.66 in Srilanka versus Sri Lanka. 31 in Pakistan versus Pakistan. Nothing to be proud of.
As I was saying, Imran has no such gaping holes... small or big... in his resume.
Last edited:
bagapath
International Captain
Pakistan had flat pitches throughout the 1970s and 80s... When Imran was at his peak...
If you take that into context his record in Pakistan is nothing short of magical...
Two of his worst series - the 87 series in India and the 89-90 series in Pakistan against India - were played on roads with 8 of the nine tests ending in draws and the one result coming on a minefield where the ball turned square from day one.