Peak Shoaib vs Peak Johnson

[subshakerz]

Yes. He played 33 tests in a decade. You couldn’t keep him on the pitch. Johnson can dominate entire series

We are talking at their best. Best for me counts as a single spell.

 

[Victor Ian]

We are talking at their best. Best for me counts as a single spell.

single spell might be too small a window. why not take it further to a single ball? i agree with the general point you are making though... that staying on the field is irrelevant as we are not comparing them on their absence. i am considering a window of a series. what is shoab's best series?

 

[subshakerz]

single spell might be too small a window. why not take it further to a single ball? i agree with the general point you are making though... that staying on the field is irrelevant as we are not comparing them on their absence. i am considering a window of a series. what is shoab's best series?

His best series IMO is against England in Pakistan in 2005. Dead wickets, top team and he largely won them the series.

 

[Kirkut]

However, I will say Johnson on the right pitch was more destructive than Shoaib. He has several 7fers against reasonably good batting lineups.

Johnson would be more lethal on pacy wickets of Durban or Perth or Barbados. That slingy fast left arm action is harder to read. Always got this feeling that Johnson's short ball was more deadly even though he appeared slower on the speed gun.

On any other pitch, its Akhtar. Full, fast, lbw or bowled.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Shoaib Akthar was a chucker and a drug cheat so I can't vote for him unfortunately

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Peak Shoaib Akhtar vs Peak AB de Villiers would be fun

 

[ataraxia]

Peak Shoaib Akhtar vs Peak AB de Villiers would be fun

Yes, it would be fun, in a game of cricket.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Peak Shoaib Akhtar vs Peak AB de Villiers would be fun

Would’ve loved to see how Kohli, ABD, Smith would’ve played peak Akhtar.

 

[subshakerz]

Would’ve loved to see how Kohli, ABD, Smith would’ve played peak Akhtar.

I think they would all do well. Smith only not sure.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Peak Johnson was the best I have seen over a prolonged period. Frighteningly quick and destructive. Always felt with Shoaib he would break down injured at any time, never thought Johnson would.

I'd go as far as to say Johnson at his peak was up there with the likes of Ambrose and Marshall as the best ever, couldn't say that about Shoaib.

 

[Victor Ian]

was johnson jibbed of all time greatness by rhino, who had those dodgy knees and probably got to bowl the short destructive spells while johnson had to take up the workhorse role?

 

[subshakerz]

Peak Johnson was the best I have seen over a prolonged period. Frighteningly quick and destructive. Always felt with Shoaib he would break down injured at any time, never thought Johnson would.

I'd go as far as to say Johnson at his peak was up there with the likes of Ambrose and Marshall as the best ever, couldn't say that about Shoaib.

Johnson on his day would run through an entire lineup regardless of quality with more stamina than than Shoaib who you used had to survive a hostile spell. If it wasn't for the pitch factor I would give this to Johnson.

 

[Migara]

You can face peak Johnson and still not only survive, but score runs. KP showed it. But when Shoaib is on song (and his fielders catch them) there is nothing you can do as a batsman. You know what is coming but still cannot do a thing. Other than for a peak Viv or a peak Ponting would have been a nightmare to any batter in the world.

 

[ma1978]

You can face peak Johnson and still not only survive, but score runs. KP showed it. But when Shoaib is on song (and his fielders catch them) there is nothing you can do as a batsman. You know what is coming but still cannot do a thing. Other than for a peak Viv or a peak Ponting would have been a nightmare to any batter in the world.

if he was so good, why does his record not reflect this. He had no single series where he was at that level. And plenty of bowlers have had better test matches. His overall career is good but not even Ian Bishop good.

 

[subshakerz]

if he was so good, why does his record not reflect this. He had no single series where he was at that level. And plenty of bowlers have had better test matches. His overall career is good but not even Ian Bishop good.

He was against NZ around 2002/2003.

I would also say his series against England on batting wickets in Pakistan in 2005 was top drawer.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

if he was so good, why does his record not reflect this. He had no single series where he was at that level. And plenty of bowlers have had better test matches. His overall career is good but not even Ian Bishop good.

Shoaib's record is pretty gun as is, especially when you account for him playing in a high-scoring era.

He rarely dominated whole series though because he was rarely fit to bowl for 2 matches in succession. (Which is why I'd probably go Johnson for this question because he was able to string Tests together at his peak.)

 

[subshakerz]

This is awesome stuff.

 

[BazBall21]

Johnson was a monster in the southern hemisphere. Shoaib was a monster in the subcontinent. The tie breaker is one was a lot more reliable to stay on the park. Johnson was pretty durable for an express pace bowler.

 

[subshakerz]

Johnson was a monster in the southern hemisphere. Shoaib was a monster in the subcontinent. The tie breaker is one was a lot more reliable to stay on the park. Johnson was pretty durable for an express pace bowler.

Yeah but the question was 'at their best'. How do we interpret that?

 

[BazBall21]

Yeah but the question was 'at their best'. How do we interpret that?

Tbf Johnson at his best smashed two very good batting lineups.