The biggest downside of being a sole grinder, imo, is the fact that bowling always works in pairs. Doesn't matter how good you ball if the other end ball **** and giveaway free runs. The pressure needs to be created from both ends, otherwise taking wickets might turn into a nightmare.
Sure, but the competition for taking wickets increases whilst bowling with ATGs. So there are two sides to it. I go Steyn in the end cause of a more complete record.
I am yeah, there are definitely two sides; I just think that the downsides are by far more; especially since most people puts tons more importance in avg than wpm
Could be, but Steyn’s record is clearly better than Murali’s(Murali’s bad record in Ind and Aus, and extensive wicket taking against Bang ans Zim) and he was able to bowl well without support as well, such as his superhuman feats in India. So there’s too noticeable a gap there as well
And it’s not necessary that their average or record will improve beyond a point. For example a bowler ineffective in certain conditions may not improve a lot, even in the presence of bowlers effective in those conditions
Honestly, yeah Steyn didn't struggled anyway near Murali in any country; but his record isn't anything outstanding in Australia, England and UAE as well; and his away record except of India isn't really very special. Murali also averages under 20 in England and New Zealand, and really only averages more than 27 in India and Australia. But yeah, definitely a point in Steyn's favour is that he wasn't awful anywhere like Murali was.
Steyn’s record in Aus is quite good in context. Even I used to think it’s quite poor, but when looked at in context of the era he bowled, plus the fact that he delivered some of the most important spells of SA history in Aus, his record there is quite good. So in Ind, Aus, at home, Pak, Wi, Bang he has great records. In NZ, he has goodish record and Eng, UAE is mediocre but not bad.
Yeah Minnows boost his record definitely. But on removing BanZim; Murali averages around 24.8 and Steyn 23.6; not too huge a difference.
Murali’s away record suffers a big hit tho without Bang/Zim.
Actually Murali averages in Zimbabwe around the same his total away average is; and well, he only played 4 games in Bangladesh. Steyn's away average gets a stronger boost from BanZim than Murali. Also, they both have played around equal percentage of their games in home, where Murali's average is around 2 runs better than Steyn.
My bad there. Anyways Steyn’s record overall more impressive and complete than Murali’s.
No points in dissecting that. That's a fact, his record is more complete. Impressive, well that's I think here is somewhat subjective.
Broad and Anderson averaged 50 odd in those games that Steyn played in England
More like a year