Imran Khan vs Wasim Akram

[DrWolverine]

Better test bowler

 

[DrWolverine]

Both in the same tier as fast bowlers imo

 

[subshakerz]

Imran easily.

 

[Randomfan]

IK over Wasim.

Taken together - Wasim does not have a great record against better teams.

 

[Johan]

Imran Khan

 

[govinda indian fan]

If we go by peer rating wasim>>imran

 

[DrWolverine]

Peer rating : Akram > Every fast bowler

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Akram easily

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Imran easily. Probably, just about. Maybe.

 

[Johan]

on a serious note, not exactly sure how Wasim got six votes against a strictly superior variant of himself.

 

[kyear2]

Both in the same tier as fast bowlers imo

Same tier, Imran slightly better. Wasim in my AT team though for various particle reasons and multiple intangibles.

 

[Coronis]

on a serious note, not exactly sure how Wasim got six votes against a strictly superior variant of himself.

Left arm variety

 

[kyear2]

Left arm variety

Wasim was better with the old ball.

With or without reverse swing.

He could move the old or the new ball both ways.

Like Punter played on a bit too long, but in service of those teams.

And some how has managed to make the main 2 AT XIs that matter.

Don't think he's that easy to dismiss

 

[ankitj]

Both in the same tier as fast bowlers imo

No. Imran in a higher tier compared to Akram.

 

[subshakerz]

Wasim was better with the old ball.

With or without reverse swing.

He could move the old or the new ball both ways.

Like Punter played on a bit too long, but in service of those teams.

And some how has managed to make the main 2 AT XIs that matter.

Don't think he's that easy to dismiss

Wasim was more skilled with the old ball but Imran was more destructive with it.

 

[DrWolverine]

For all his unbelievable talent, he was an underperformer

 

[subshakerz]

For all his unbelievable talent, he was an underperformer

Only slightly. Let me explain.

During his peak from 90 to 97, Wasim took 240 wickets in 48 tests @20 which is as good as any top tier pacer. Especially impressive vs Australia.

However like Imran, Wasim stats suffered slightly due to a longer than normal teen career and then diabetes in 98 lessening his pace.

However, I think compared to Imran, Wasim wasn't the type to regularly raise his game for ultimate challenges as such and make his mark on great victories. He let offfield issues affect his bowling, quite obvious in WI in 93 and in Aus in 99.

And though Wasim had all the incredible swing tools, he wasnt a thinking mans bowler who would build a plan based on reading a batsmen to trap them with his swing. Batsmen who felt Wasim was more awkward would then just play him out out of respect.

 

[govinda indian fan]

Only slightly. Let me explain.

During his peak from 90 to 97, Wasim took 240 wickets in 48 tests @20 which is as good as any top tier pacer. Especially impressive vs Australia.

However like Imran, Wasim stats suffered slightly due to a longer than normal teen career and then diabetes in 98 lessening his pace.

However, I think compared to Imran, Wasim wasn't the type to regularly raise his game for ultimate challenges as such and make his mark on great victories. He let offfield issues affect his bowling, quite obvious in WI in 93 and in Aus in 99.

And though Wasim had all the incredible swing tools, he was a thinking mans bowler who would build a plan based on reading a batsmen to trap them with his swing. Batsmen who felt Wasim was more awkward would then just play him out out of respect.

Can you plz explain off Field issues during 99 tour

 

[subshakerz]

Can you plz explain off Field issues during 99 tour

After the 99 WC final loss, his heart wasn't in captaincy. In fact even at the match ceremony he expressed doubt about his future.

On the 99 tour, Wasim clearly wasn't giving his all as a bowler on flatter pitches. He went into robo mode as a bowler. He had problems as captain with some of the seniors. Waqar especially. In fact when Waqar took Ponting's wicket with a jaffa in the 2nd test, you can see in the video him avoiding Wasim in the celebration. I think this all contributed to Wasim losing the plot in the 2nd innings as Australia recovered from 126-5 to chase 369, Wasim lost his cool as Gilly counterattacked, his bowling fell apart and it was clear he was done as captain as he couldn't take the pressure.

That's another reason why I rate Imran higher. He rose to high pressure situations (in tests) and thrived off of them while Wasim blew hot and cold.

 

[Randomfan]

Only slightly. Let me explain.

During his peak from 90 to 97, Wasim took 240 wickets in 48 tests @20 which is as good as any top tier pacer. Especially impressive vs Australia.

However like Imran, Wasim stats suffered slightly due to a longer than normal teen career and then diabetes in 98 lessening his pace.

Was he? I think he underachieved even during his peak. He had diverse skill set to do better.




Wasim's away output against better teams during his peak: Apart from Aus, his performance is not really going toe to toe with top tier pacers.




Here is best bowler of that period, Ambrose, away against better teams.





You may call slight underachievement but I will not call it slight. I think he was far more skilful to not have better output. You may be correct about him not able to use his skills to take wickets. Anyway, he was fun to watch due to ability to bowl all kinds of deliveries.


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Added late:

Thinking more on this, he did have very good output against better team at home during his peak. His average was 20.xx. So may be he underachieved slightly and not by a big margin during his peak. I just feel that Wasim had lots of skills and my memory was batsmen mostly having harder time to face him. It did not result in wickets proportionately.