Do teams make the following trades?

[PlayerComparisons]

I wouldn’t call it a bowler friendly era tbh. Not that I disagree with your main point.

I think he’s talking about the 80s

 

[reyrey]

2000s India switch Dravid for Botham?
Yes. India desperately lacked quality pace bowling options during that decade.

70s/80s England exchanging Botham for Pollock?
No. Pollock had the better Test career, but he probably won't have those iconic series like Botham.

Current India exchanging Bumrah for Sobers?
Yes, but a tough one. Indian team will be in a transition period really soon and I'd rather build a team around Sobers.

2010s Australia exchanging Smith for Ambrose?
No. Australian bowling attack was solid for most of that decade. Batting, not so much.

90s Pakistan exchanging Wasim and Waqar for Murali and Sanga?
No. Pak had a decent batting line up (when not taking bribes) and spin options in the 90s

80s India exchanging Kapil for Walsh?
No. Kapils allround ability was too valuable for 80s India.

 

[reyrey]

Eh think you're downplaying how bad later career Botham was. He averaged 37 in the last 10 years of his career. Basically pre-2016 Ishant Sharma numbers in a bowler friendly era.

Peak Botham would be a no-brainer trade.

Botham batting at 7 would also allow for an extra bowling option.

 

[Coronis]

I think he’s talking about the 80s

So am I

 

[Johan]

So am I

do you consider any era bar 50s and Pre War bowler friendly then?

 

[Coronis]

do you consider any era bar 50s and Pre War bowler friendly then?

50’s, 90’s, 2020’s

 

[subshakerz]

Botham batting at 7 would also allow for an extra bowling option.

Not really unless they play him at 6 but I don't think there is space with Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman.

 

[subshakerz]

Current India exchanging Bumrah for Sobers?
Yes, but a tough one. Indian team will be in a transition period really soon and I'd rather build a team around Sobers.

That's an interesting valid point.

Bumrah has a few short years at best left and likely to have injuries in between.

Sobers can be the nucleus for a side.

 

[Johan]

50’s, 90’s, 2020’s

Hard Disagree on 90s personally but the other two makes sense, goes on to show why Joe Root is such a great Batsmen

 

[Coronis]

Hard Disagree on 90s personally but the other two makes sense, goes on to show why Joe Root is such a great Batsmen

Why disagree on the 90’s? Batsmen averaged a whole run less than in the 80’s.

 

[Johan]

Why disagree on the 90’s? Batsmen averaged a whole run less than in the 80’s.

I don't think it seprates itself from 80s that well and I reckon the diminishing of West Indies contributed quite a bit to the gap, and even then, it's also pretty small of a gap, it doesn't diffrentiate itself like 1950s (27.3 with Windies inflation) and 2020s do ( 26 I think)

 

[capt_Luffy]

Ishant Sharna is a big step up of 2000s Indian pace bowlers.

Zaheer was there and Irphan was fine back then. And not overall Ishant Sharma, OS said pre 2016 Ishant

 

[Coronis]

I don't think it seprates itself from 80s that well and I reckon the diminishing of West Indies contributed quite a bit to the gap, and even then, it's also pretty small of a gap, it doesn't diffrentiate itself like 1950s (27.3 with Windies inflation) and 2020s do ( 26 I think)

Batting averages by decade… ascending, post WWI… overall average is 30.54

1950’s - 27.38
2020’s - 28.68
1990’s - 29.45
1980’s - 30.45
1970’s - 30.76
1960’s - 30.81
1930’s - 31.12
2010’s - 31.12
1920’s - 31.88
2000’s - 32.02
1940’s - 34.26

Its actually the biggest gap between two decades outside 50’s-20’s and 00’s-40’s.

 

[DrWolverine]

Best batsman in this decade

 

[Coronis]

Best batsman in this decade
View attachment 45814

Zak Crawley - above average batsman.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Quality of batting has been really poor in the 2020s

 

[DrWolverine]

T20s impact is one of the reasons

 

[reyrey]

Not really unless they play him at 6 but I don't think there is space with Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Laxman.

Dravid wouldn't be available though. The team would look something like this.

Gambhir
Shewag
Ganguly
Tendulkar
Laxman
Dhoni
Botham
Irfan
Kumble
Zak
Sree/Habhajan

 

[kyear2]

Maybe for the 80s WI where Walsh is just a 4th seamer, Kapil would be a better bowler in those pitches and a bowling AR.

Not sure when Kapil was ever a better bowler than Walsh, even when he was the 4th seamer.

Or where Kapil had an advantage over him. Courtney played just as long with much better results, like muchhhh better. So you can't even say longevity.

One is a borderline ATG bowler, just in the outside, but close. The other isn't in the vicinity. Hence I'm not picking a clearly inferior bowling for lower order batting.

 

[kyear2]

I think all of this is pretty debatable.. And I don't agree with the Steyn one

I was very particular to say Steyn, on his day.

And to be clear, which part is debatable? That the top 3 are better? Everything is debatable I guess.

Marshall was faster, could swing the ball just as much, had variety, control and the added dimension that he could intimidate or hurt you.

Hadlee could swing it as well, had immaculate control and could do it all day, and did, for years.

McGrath wasn't as pretty, but hardly anyone had the control or impact he had at the top of an innings.

And all 5 I would argue, in general faced more capable and discipled batsmen that are playing now.

Steyn also had way less favorable conditions away from home.

Bumrah is special, no doubt. These guys were as well.