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Dale Steyn vs Muralitharan

Better bowler

  • Steyn

    Votes: 16 38.1%
  • Murali

    Votes: 26 61.9%

  • Total voters
    42

HouHsiaoHsien

International Debutant
McGraths in SA is better.

First was his early career series.

Then two quality series in 96 and 2001 against pretty decent SA sides where he consistently bowled tight and strangled them really.

Steyn in Aus in 2008 and 2012 was pretty poor outside of the Melbourne 2008 Perth 2012 tests.
Nah dude. Steyn in Australia is near ATG given you contextualise the era. 2008 he was the standout performer, and 2012 he had a great performance too. I’m not including his last match since he barely played in that one. WPM of 5+, a fantastic SR and great average for the era
 

HouHsiaoHsien

International Debutant
None of McGrath’s series performances in SA come close to Steyn in Aus 2008, because of how important the latter series was for SA, and because of the strength of the opposition faced, and cause Steyn was out and out the best performer.
 

kyear2

International Coach
Nah dude. Steyn in Australia is near ATG given you contextualise the era. 2008 he was the standout performer, and 2012 he had a great performance too. I’m not including his last match since he barely played in that one. WPM of 5+, a fantastic SR and great average for the era
I just can't agree, it was good, but can't say ATG. Not to. Mention he wasn't much better in SA either, and ok much more helpful wickets.
 

smash84

The Tiger King
I just can't agree, it was good, but can't say ATG. Not to. Mention he wasn't much better in SA either, and ok much more helpful wickets.
Yes, not according to your definition of ATG.

Didn't you say Ambrose was ATG in some place because he took 14 wickets in 4 matches somewhere?

But of course. match winning 5fers and 10fers at a slightly higher average are not ATG....WTF? :wacko:
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
Yes, not according to your definition of ATG.

Didn't you say Ambrose was ATG in some place because he took 14 wickets in 4 matches somewhere?

But of course. match winning 5fers and 10fers at a slightly higher average are not ATG....WTF? :wacko:
I mean, remember the golden average of 25??
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
Seriously, as OS mentioned earlier in the thread, why are certain standards applied to certain players and not to others?
I will be completely honest here, we all do this to an extent; you, me, every sports fan. We judge players we like more favourably than the ones we despise and many a times overlook their weaknesses which we wouldn't for others. It's kinda human nature. It's just that Subs and Kyear sometimes pushes the boundaries with it.
 

smash84

The Tiger King
I will be completely honest here, we all do this to an extent; you, me, every sports fan. We judge players we like more favourably than the ones we despise and many a times overlook their weaknesses which we wouldn't for others. It's kinda human nature. It's just that Subs and Kyear sometimes pushes the boundaries with it.
You're being very charitable here.
 

kyear2

International Coach
I will be completely honest here, we all do this to an extent; you, me, every sports fan. We judge players we like more favourably than the ones we despise and many a times overlook their weaknesses which we wouldn't for others. It's kinda human nature. It's just that Subs and Kyear sometimes pushes the boundaries with it.
We're talking about averaging over 30 vs England and 27 vs Australia.

Where's the double standard?

You can say he out performed the Brits, doesn't make it ATG in my opinion.

And in no way am I putting down Steyn, I rate him the exact place you do, if not higher.

But some people look for things to pick at.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Nah dude. Steyn in Australia is near ATG given you contextualise the era. 2008 he was the standout performer, and 2012 he had a great performance too. I’m not including his last match since he barely played in that one. WPM of 5+, a fantastic SR and great average for the era
I consider Steyn in Australia as good/very good. I think that's fair. Just saying we should count the other performances too. ATG means exceptional.

We're talking about averaging over 30 vs England and 27 vs Australia.

Where's the double standard?

You can say he out performed the Brits, doesn't make it ATG in my opinion.

And in no way am I putting down Steyn, I rate him the exact place you do, if not higher.

But some people look for things to pick at.
Neither performance is ATG. However, in Australia it's still impressive. In England, it is good at best because he did win a couple of key games awhile getting smacked quite a bit more.

We can contextualise those games but the problem is that folks here don't contextualise that for other bowlers in other era.

However, they are right to say your definition of ATG is too myopic and average-focused. I would rather take Steyn in Aus over Ambrose in SA that you consider 'ATG'.
 
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subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
None of McGrath’s series performances in SA come close to Steyn in Aus 2008, because of how important the latter series was for SA, and because of the strength of the opposition faced, and cause Steyn was out and out the best performer.
Sure maybe 2008 but not 2012.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
That’s not what world class is. Stop using words without knowing there meaning.
Are you even following the conversation? We are comparing pacers and spinners, that's the context. So Murali in the first innings is worldclass by spin standards, not pace standards.
 
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subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Yes. And a pacer averaging 26 in the first innings would be world class. You seem to completely misunderstand the term.
Not according to me over a career. That's too high. We wouldn't entertain someone averaging 26 in the top 15 pacers.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
World class doesn’t mean ATG you ****ing moron. That was my whole point if you could read.

Tell me more about how Bumrah isn’t world class in the first innings. It’ll give us all confidence heading into B/G
I agree, worldclass isn't ATG. Your problem is you are cribby and don't bother to give your definitions first to help for better understanding.

Worldclass refers to premium international standard. An ATG maintains worldclass standards long enough that he builds his reputation as one.

You have your own definitions, which is fine.

And Bumrah doesn't need to be worldclass in every metric to be worldclass overall. And if he maintain his worldclass performance long enough he will end up as a minimum ATVG or ATG.

So yes, for a pacer over a career, 26 is below worldclass standards.
 

OverratedSanity

Request Your Custom Title Now!
We're talking about averaging over 30 vs England and 27 vs Australia.

Where's the double standard?
I'll lay it our for you clearly.


In 15 games vs Australia, Steyn picked up 70 wickets and averaged 27.

In 17 games vs South Africa, McGrath picked up 57 wickets and averaged 27.

Steyn vs Australia has been regularly brought up as an apparently weak or less than great spot on his record (not just by you). McGrath vs South Africa is almost never brought up as a weak spot on his record despite being worse statistically. Very clear double standard there. Aspects of some players' records are glossed over because people have already decided for other reasons that they're better.
 

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