CW's Ranking of Pace Bowlers (Tests)

[honestbharani]

Steyn

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

Akram

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I always rate rare commodities higher - left handlers, atg openers, atg keepers and atg spinners.

We have 100s of atgs and atvgs in other categories.

So if someone is born right handed (something they have no control over), they have to learn how to bowl with their left arm to be rated as high as Akram since producing better results with their right arm won't cut it? I can understand the other 3 since you can actually choose to be an opener, keeper, or spinner lol.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Steyn

Might as well skip to #6. That's when it should get interesting

 

[Coronis]

Steyn

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

It's complete bs this WPM argument because others like Imran and Akram literally have lower WPM. In Imran's case, it's understandable because in quite a few matches he played primarily as a batsman. My theory is, that his decline in wpm, coincided with the decline with the WI as a whole and especially the batting. There would be numerous tests/series where WI would bat so poorly he'd only have a shot at a teams line up for one innings. Examples 2000 series in England. Ambrose and co had a shot at 79 wickets for the series, where as England's bowlers had a shot at 87 of WIs wickets. In RSA in 1998 Rsa had a shot at 100 wi wickets, Ambrose and co had a shot at 79 south african. In both contests, it wasn't as if the WI bowling didn't hold it's own but they were severely let down by the batting who couldn't put up enough decent scores to defend.

Anyway, Ambrose has the 3rd best average of any bowler with 200 plus wickets, best of any with 400.

Nice try.

Its not just WPM, his WPI too is the lowest among top ATGs.

When low WPM used against Akram, it was a legitimate argument. But then people started checking actual stats and found out Akram's low wpm is the result of unusual long career, otherwise he was averaging like 4.5 wpm...that means, If there is any Top ATG to be blamed for low WPM.. its Ambrose.
Suddenly low wpm is not a bad mark and can be excused due to various cherry picked reasons.
Mcgrath had more competition yet his WPM is good.
Akram had far more competition, extra long career and bad fielders still averaged better WPI than Ambrose. Imagine Ambrose in that situation.. WPM will be even lower.. 3.5 May be.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Steyn

 

[ataraxia]

Barnes

 

[CricAddict]

So if someone is born right handed (something they have no control over), they have to learn how to bowl with their left arm to be rated as high as Akram since producing better results with their right arm won't cut it? I can understand the other 3 since you can actually choose to be an opener, keeper, or spinner lol.

It is the corollary. When an art/sport is more difficult to master because of something they have no control over but they still master it, then I give them more credit for it.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

It is the corollary. When an art/sport is more difficult to master because of something they have no control over but they still master it, then I give them more credit for it.

I guess if you truly believe that left arm bowling is more difficult to master than right arm bowling, then that's fine.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Part of the advantage that Akram has is that there are so few high quality left arm bowlers that batsman face. Even Alan Mullally took wickets.

 

[gftw]

Steyn - 9
Lillee - 2
Akram - 1
Barnes - 1 (I'm not sure if we should include Barnes. I'd prefer to just leave him out, but if the majority want to include him that's fine.)

The List
1. Malcolm Marshall
2. Glenn Mcgrath
3. Richard Hadlee
4. Curtly Ambrose
5. Dale Steyn

The vote for the #6 test pace bowler of all-time begins now.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Lillee

 

[ataraxia]

Let's leave Barnes out.

Imran

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Imran

 

[Line and Length]

Lillee

 

[Slifer]

Imran. Best Pakistani pace bowler ever.

 

[mr_mister]

Barnes. Do not see a convincing argument about leaving him out, unless people want to vote for him in a spinner thread

 

[gftw]

I do plan on starting a spinners thread eventually once I end the batsmen one, so y'all can save Barnes for that thread if you want.

 

[Line and Length]

Imran. Best Pakistani pace bowler ever.

I won't argue with that statement. Will bear in mind once Lillee makes the list.