6th Greatest Test fast bowler

[Coronis]

Alright so posting this because its been discussed in other threads… in the last two overall bowling ranking threads, the top 5 fast bowlers remained the same. The order of 6-9 varied amongst Trueman, Lillee, Imran and Wasim, whilst 10th was Donald in both. Donald’s rep seems to have gone up recently so I’ve included him.

Feel free to post your full 6-10 order too.

 

[howitzer]

6-12

Imran
Wasim
Lillee
Donald
Lindwall
Trueman
Garner

 

[kyear2]

Don't think it's Garner, but still think he could have been named.

Since it's been impossible not to, this has been front of mind and I believe for me it's now firmly between Donald and Imran and Lillee being firm 8th.

Both have their plus and minuses, with Imran way closer to making my first team than Donald, that's not even up for discussion on account of Imran's mastery of reverse swing.

But if I just had to choose one one them to play away from home vs opponent, destination and era unknown, I think I'm going Donald.

I'm not going to pretend it's definitive, that Imran has flaws and Donald doesn't or that my argument is the only valid one. Either are viable and worthy, and I kinda expect Imran to win this one

 

[kyear2]

Imran / Donald
Lillee
Trueman
Garner / Wasim
Lindwall

 

[Slifer]

Imran / Donald
Lillee
Trueman
Garner / Wasim
Lindwall

Fair rating this.

 

[shortpitched713]

Bowl	Anon List	gftw LL 2022
1	Marshall	Marshall
2	McGrath	McGrath
3	Hadlee	Hadlee
4	Murali	Murali
5	Warne	Warne
6	Ambrose	Ambrose
7	Steyn	Steyn
8	Wasim	Imran
9	Imran	Lillee
10	Lillee	Trueman
11	Trueman	Wasim
12	Donald	Donald
13	Garner	Garner
14	Lindwall	Lindwall
15	Davidson	Holding
16	Waqar	Waqar
17	Holding	Davidson
18	Laker	Laker

The players from 8 to 14 here, should all have been included in the poll. By voting points, they form a fairly tight pack who could all get a significant number of votes for 6th best pacer.

 

[Line and Length]

On the poll of fast bowlers conducted a couple of years back, Imran was rated #6. He was followed by:
Lillee
Trueman
Wasim
Donald
Garner
Lindwall

Obviously Donald's stocks have risen since then but I'm not going to argue against this order.

 

[shortpitched713]

Really wanted to vote Garner, just because I think he very clearly deserves to be in the poll. However, I honestly do think Donald shades him, as the more proficient strike bowler, but very close for value.

My 6-10

Donald
Garner
S. Pollock / Imran

S. Pollock would win on my usual consistency criteria, but it's too hard to ignore the greatest fast bowling peak of all time, by Imran, so I think he should slot in as a co-equal to S.Pollock for the 9/10 slot.

 

[Coronis]

I do love that the people whinging about Garner not being on the poll haven’t voted other because they don’t think its him anyway.

I included the 5 I did because they collectively make up the top 10 in recent ratings. The positions 6-9 have varied on these lists indicating no clear consensus among those players, whilst Donald, despite being ranked 10th on both lists is currently leading in polls based on him vs 2 other players on the list. Stop being babies.

 

[subshakerz]

Ambrose.

 

[kyear2]

I do love that the people whinging about Garner not being on the poll haven’t voted other because they don’t think its him anyway.

I included the 5 I did because they collectively make up the top 10 in recent ratings. The positions 6-9 have varied on these lists indicating no clear consensus among those players, whilst Donald, despite being ranked 10th on both lists is currently leading in polls based on him vs 2 other players on the list. Stop being babies.

Who is whining, all he said is that he wanted to vote for Garner and I acknowledged that he wouldn't have won. No one is being babies or criticizing the list.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Imran and Ambrose are tied for 5th in my rankings. Probably Ambrose, but I'm a bit biased here maybe. Very close with Donald, who's been quite underrated here till recently

 

[subshakerz]

My list:

1. Marshall - Most skilled and wellrounded record, with standout series almost everywhere.

2. McGrath - A few blemishes but over 110 tests of continued worldclass longevity performance.

3. Hadlee - near immaculate record but not quite as long a career of peak like McGrath or as effective on dead pitches like Marshall

4. Imran - Not quite as well rounded in terms of averages but standout performances and series across the globe/conditions. Rose to the occasion.

5. Steyn - Uber matchwinner across the globe, high averages here or there and not quite as consistent and quite hittable compared to Imran

6. Ambrose - Consistent and awesome in his conditions, but low impact latter career half

7. Lillee - Awesome rep, terrific wickettaker and big match player, but lack of performances away in WI and SC

8. Wasim - Several gaps in terms of wickettaking record but overall an effective matchwinner across conditions and very high rep

9. Donald - Low rep and weakness against Australia but impressive otherwise in terms of consistency, lacks some big performances

10. Trueman - Great rep but highly imbalanced record of performances tilted towards home

 

[ankitj]

Good to see Donald's stocks rising. He was just sensational and tended to get underrated for just being from an SA generation that were overshadowed by Aussies (same thing happens with Kallis and Pollock).

My vote for Trueman in this one. He played in the decades that are considered the most boring and bowlers tended to have poorer SRs (even if good averages). In that era Trueman struck at under 50 balls per wicket. In comparison Lindwall, Davidson, Miller, Hall, Statham all had much poorer SRs (Hall has the best SR among them at 54). Basically he struck at the rate that became the benchmark for standout ATGs only in 1980s.

Trueman also took 4.5wpm which was unusual for other greats of his time. Lindwall took under 4 wpm and Davidson only about 4.2wpm. Again, his rate of picking wickets was equivalent to ATG bowlers in the most bowler friendly eras.

Basically his record stood out from other contemporaries as much Steyn's did from his.

 

[h_hurricane]

I know different people have different list, but I will go with the below for my top 10. So Garner is my 6th.

1. Malcolm Marshall
2. Richard Hadlee
3. Glenn Mcgrath
4. Curtly Ambrose
5. Dale Steyn
6. Joel Garner
7. Allan Donald
8. Imran Khan
9. Dennis Lillee
10.Wasim Akram

Have only considered bowlers post 1970.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Other (Mcgrath )

Akram, Marshall, Hadlee, Lillee and Steyn Top 5 without considering Barnes.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Other (Mcgrath )

Akram, Marshall, Hadlee, Lillee and Steyn Top 5 without considering Barnes.

What about Ambrose?

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Marshall
McGrath
Hadlee
Ambrose
Imran
Steyn
Akram
Lillee
Trueman
Donald
Garner
Lindwall
Holding
Waqar
Davidson

Cummins and Bumrah can end up top 10 maybe.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

What about Ambrose?

7. Trueman
8. Donald
9. Imran
10. Davidson / Ambrose

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

Bowl	Anon List	gftw LL 2022
1	Marshall	Marshall
2	McGrath	McGrath
3	Hadlee	Hadlee
4	Murali	Murali
5	Warne	Warne
6	Ambrose	Ambrose
7	Steyn	Steyn
8	Wasim	Imran
9	Imran	Lillee
10	Lillee	Trueman
11	Trueman	Wasim
12	Donald	Donald
13	Garner	Garner
14	Lindwall	Lindwall
15	Davidson	Holding
16	Waqar	Waqar
17	Holding	Davidson
18	Laker	Laker

The players from 8 to 14 here, should all have been included in the poll. By voting points, they form a fairly tight pack who could all get a significant number of votes for 6th best pacer.

With O’Reilly and ofc Barnes somewhere there we have CW’s top 20. Barnes most probably in the 10 and I would think Tiger would be at least ahead and rightfully so of Trueman, Lindwall etc. Grimmett may arguably beat Laker for 20th spot as well.