kyear2
Hall of Fame Member
I have major issues with Laker and Grum, but most of them are what keeps them from the top 3 and ATG status, and less applicable here I guess. So I withdraw my earlier Grimmett objections.
So with regards to your question, I went back and read the original comments and mine as well.
First thing is I need to be asleep at 1am, especially when sick and drugged up on sinus meds.
Next one is that I genuinely don't know, and is not something that I ever cared enough to take exception with. He had some success against us and wasn't seen as the worst spinner around these parts.
But I'll start at the beginning and cover the statements first.
As I said the first time, I don't think the Bird statement was correct as from everything I've read he rated Gibbs and Warne higher.
Richie ranking him 3rd was him tripling over his feet not to choose Murali, and wanting to select a leggie. I've spoken to this countless times and have always found it silly, hilarious and intellectually dishonest, but silly.
Gooch was the only one that's a bit off base, and tbh, he's basing it on his own experiences and from what I can glean he basically said Qadir was more difficult to face than Warne. That's not too far off saying Wasim was more difficult to face than McGrath, Pigeon was still better.
No issue with CMJ's statement at all. Seems fair to me.
Imran was talking about taking more wickets, not in any way being better. A captain pushing his players legacy.
Having heard Bumble's explanation I have no issue with it. He wants to be entertained and to watch attacking cricketers, all matches back.
Marsh called him the best leggie he faced, don't see what's wrong with that. Likely true.
O'Reilly called him a great bowler which he arguably was and Berry basically said that spell was peak leg spin.
First off, none of those statements were in any way comparable to the ones I listed for Barry, not remotely close. Not in scope nor weight.
My original post also said the same, basically after 3rd it's a free for all, which is true. In no way is that saying he's 4th or a candidate for same.
I've said for me when I was thinking about it last week, I narrowed my choices to between Gibbs and Tayfield, I'm pretty much the same place now.
I recall a few months back I had him as my spinner of choice for a Pakistani All time XI, and you said that his selection was in no way viable. Think that was basically the only discussion I've ever had with regards to Qadir and the extent to which I thought about him.
So while the phrasing was clumsy, I didn't say he was a candidate for 4th, I don't think he's a candidate for 4th, but also I wouldn't care or be distressed if someone said that he was. For me it really is a free for all after the top 3, that's honestly how I see it.
But yeah If I could be a little cheeky, but kinda serious at the same time, I would have a greater issue with someone placing Sutcliffe in an AT XI than someone ranking Qadir in the top 5.
And yes, part of that is because I generally have even less regard for spinners, especially those outside the top 3, than @Johan
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