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Battle of The Spinners
- Thread starter chaminda_00
- Start date
PhoenixFire
International Coach
Tiger
a massive zebra
International Captain
O'Reilly by a mile. Grimmett is overrated like many other Australian bowlers.
O'Reilly was almost universally recognised as the best of the two by contemporaries, and Grimmett was far less successful against the very best team of the time, England.
O'Reilly v England 19 7864 2587 102 7/54 25.36 1.97 77.0 8 3
Grimmett v England 22 9164 3439 106 6/37 32.44 2.25 86.4 11 2
This is what a leading 1930s journalist said shortly before he died in the early 80s:
``Grimmett was a short man who bowled with a low action, halfway to roundarm, which helped conceal the googly as you don't have to bend the wrist so far with a low action. He gave the ball plenty of air and spun it a lot, getting a great deal of movement off the pitch. However, his Test figures may be flattering as I think that, like Titch Freeman, he took advantage of the weaker teams and tail-enders contributed a lot to the total of his victims.''
``O'Reilly was unquestionably the greater bowler, and I am sure was the more feared by top class batsmen. He bowled a genuine medium pace, with an occasional fast-medium. He didn't turn the ball as much as Grimmett, but enough to beat the bat. His long loping run-up and general demeanour were the very picture of hostility, though he never descended to the level of bad temper and abuse of Lillee or Holding. Laker may have been the best spinner of all on a wicket that suited him but not otherwise.''
O'Reilly was almost universally recognised as the best of the two by contemporaries, and Grimmett was far less successful against the very best team of the time, England.
O'Reilly v England 19 7864 2587 102 7/54 25.36 1.97 77.0 8 3
Grimmett v England 22 9164 3439 106 6/37 32.44 2.25 86.4 11 2
This is what a leading 1930s journalist said shortly before he died in the early 80s:
``Grimmett was a short man who bowled with a low action, halfway to roundarm, which helped conceal the googly as you don't have to bend the wrist so far with a low action. He gave the ball plenty of air and spun it a lot, getting a great deal of movement off the pitch. However, his Test figures may be flattering as I think that, like Titch Freeman, he took advantage of the weaker teams and tail-enders contributed a lot to the total of his victims.''
``O'Reilly was unquestionably the greater bowler, and I am sure was the more feared by top class batsmen. He bowled a genuine medium pace, with an occasional fast-medium. He didn't turn the ball as much as Grimmett, but enough to beat the bat. His long loping run-up and general demeanour were the very picture of hostility, though he never descended to the level of bad temper and abuse of Lillee or Holding. Laker may have been the best spinner of all on a wicket that suited him but not otherwise.''
Last edited:
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
O'Reilly
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Sorry about the delay guys, lets finish this off well.
Semi Final One
Anil Kumble (LS)
111 Tests, 538 wkts @ 28.59, 33 5-fers, 8 10-fers, 65.09 SR, 2.63 ER
Bill O'Reilly (LS)
27 Tests, 144 wkts @ 22.59, 11 5-fers, 3 10-fers, 69.81 SR, 1.94 ER
Semi Final One
Anil Kumble (LS)
111 Tests, 538 wkts @ 28.59, 33 5-fers, 8 10-fers, 65.09 SR, 2.63 ER
Bill O'Reilly (LS)
27 Tests, 144 wkts @ 22.59, 11 5-fers, 3 10-fers, 69.81 SR, 1.94 ER
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Kumble deserves love.
SirBloody Idiot
Cricketer Of The Year
Tiger.
shortpitched713
International Captain
Kumble.
cricketboy29
International Regular
I'd have to say Reilly as well. Kumble's good, but not that good.