Dale Steyn vs Muralitharan

[subshakerz]

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.

Yes. Murali would have a lot more ordinary returns like 74-1 rather than 150-5 he ended up with.

 

[CodeOfWisden]

No comparison here, Murali is the greatest bowler of all time.

Spinners averaging 29-30 are worth their weight in Gold and here we have a 22 averaging spinner, Malcolm Marshall is the only one who comes close.

 

[Johan]

No comparison here, Murali is the greatest bowler of all time.

Spinners averaging 29-30 are worth their weight in Gold and here we have a 22 averaging spinner, Malcolm Marshall is the only one who comes close.

Why?

 

[capt_Luffy]

Why?

I will say in general a spinner can be expected to average around 3 runs more than a pacer (not in SC though) and still being equally valuable. I think the best advantage a spinner have over a pacer is the ability to bowl spells double the length of a pacer.

 

[Johan]

I will say in general a spinner can be expected to average around 3 runs more than a pacer (not in SC though) and still being equally valuable. I think the best advantage a spinner have over a pacer is the ability to bowl spells double the length of a pacer.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

On balance it will be Steyn. On volume it's Murali. I still think @HouHsiaoHsien you are slightly underestimating the downside of bowling for a weak line-up, it by and large engulfs any upsides.

I value a balanced record more. But it is very close and I very very marginally go for Steyn.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Actually between Steyn, Hadlee, Mcgrath and Murali, it is deadly close

 

[capt_Luffy]

Actually between Steyn, Hadlee, Mcgrath and Murali, it is deadly close

Imo Marshall also belongs with that group not in one ahead, due to longevity.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Actually between Steyn, Hadlee, Mcgrath and Murali, it is deadly close

Interesting. I feel like Steyn keeps sneaking up in rankings because of how explosive and ***y he was, and obviously the stats help too, but always reckoned him half a rung below McGrath, Hadlee, and Marshall in terms of bowling nous. Why do you think he's right alongside the other two you mentioned?

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Imo Marshall also belongs with that group not in one ahead, due to longevity.

He’s in that group, but slightly ahead of them

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Interesting. I feel like Steyn keeps sneaking up in rankings because of how explosive and ***y he was, and obviously the stats help too, but always reckoned him half a rung below McGrath, Hadlee, and Marshall in terms of bowling nous. Why do you think he's right alongside the other two you mentioned?

Even Hadlee and Mcgrath have weak spots in their record. I was never satisfied by the latter in the SC. Has a great record in India only there, but even there not even one fifer. Steyn ran through even better India lineups. Steyn mostly only in England and SL, but even in those countries, he had standout series where SA won away series(and in England he was ten times better than Broad/Anderson). Steyn has an ATG record in India and near ATG record in Aus, the two most vital places to tour, and additionally amazing at home. So not only an all conditions bowler, but a standout performer in so many important away wins for SA. Plus the SR and WPM at peak helps too.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Steyn was virtually as good as McGrath. The latter had a better career overall but Steyn had a special destructive quality that I prefer strike bowlers to have.

 

[subshakerz]

Actually between Steyn, Hadlee, Mcgrath and Murali, it is deadly close

It ain't because Murali sucks in India and z
Australia

 

[subshakerz]

Steyn was virtually as good as McGrath. The latter had a better career overall but Steyn had a special destructive quality that I prefer strike bowlers to have.

Two very different bowlers. But Steyn was a phenomenal matchwinner tho I prefer the consistency of McGrath

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

It ain't because Murali sucks in India and z
Australia

But his volume of wickets at peak is something the other three aren’t close to. Plus he had a decent series in India in between and did well vs them at home.

 

[subshakerz]

But his volume of wickets at peak is something the other three aren’t close to. Plus he had a decent series in India in between and did well vs them at home.

True. But he had the same limitation of all spinners, notably less effective in 1st innings when the match is being set up.

 

[capt_Luffy]

True. But he had the same limitation of all spinners, notably less effective in 1st innings when the match is being set up.

And he had the same advantages, the Greatest of them all in the 4th innings when matches are actually won and can bowl for crazy long ass spells.

 

[subshakerz]

And he had the same advantages, the Greatest of them all in the 4th innings when matches are actually won and can bowl for crazy long ass spells.

Sure but in the context of the game, 1st innings are far more important to set up the game. By the 4th innings, it's either a defendable score or not.

McGrath was excellent in all innings.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Sure but in the context of the game, 1st innings are far more important to set up the game. By the 4th innings, it's either a defendable score or not.

McGrath was excellent in all innings.

That's too gross an oversimplification and I don't agree with. A target of the range of the 100-250 can be chaseable or not largely dependent on bowling attacks. One with Murali having a much better go.

 

[kyear2]

Interesting. I feel like Steyn keeps sneaking up in rankings because of how explosive and ***y he was, and obviously the stats help too, but always reckoned him half a rung below McGrath, Hadlee, and Marshall in terms of bowling nous. Why do you think he's right alongside the other two you mentioned?

Tend to agree with this.