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Is there a difference between a greater cricketer and a better cricketer?

Bolo.

International Captain
Without starting WW3 this statement is garbage and you know it
Nope. He is the highest wicket taker by a big margin, and it didn't come from spamming tests. Highest WPM by a huge margin, and best average of any bowler remotely in his wicket class. Best peak. Best at consistently destroying opposition.

Whatever advantages he had over other bowlers, that is still the greatest career in most of the measures I consider critical. And whether or not you consider them important, most people do. The fact that I'm applying them to a particular bowler doesn't somehow make them controversial.
Hasn't Warne been given the nod as the slightly better bowler? @Migara
You won't get a proper consensus on this. I think Murali is a smidge better, but have no issues with anyone thinking the opposite.
 

Slifer

International Captain
I was thinking this recently given the ' 'greatest ever' rankings outside our forum tend to be all over the place.

Is it fair to say that a cricketer can be technically better based on career output, but somehow not greater? So Warne is seen unanimously as a greater cricketer than McGrath but McGrath is a better bowler?

Is greatness in cricket intrinsically linked to things such as contribution to the game, legacy, flair and box office value (along with career output) and is that equation necessarily bad and should it be reflect in our analysis too?
Yes because Imran is a better cricketer than Sachin, Hobbs etc but they are rated greater cricketers.
 

Coronis

International Coach
Bumrah's 5 tests vs NZ
Played 5, lost 5. 9 wickets @ 45.44

Waqar's 1st 5 tests vs NZ.
Played 5, won 5. 44 wickets @ 10.84


I still think Bumrah will end up being one of the very best though.
The near symmetry of those numbers is quite astounding
 

Coronis

International Coach
Based on everything I can barely seperate Murali and Warne by a hair’s breadth. It somewhat amuses me when people claim that one was clearly better than the other. But again that’s just me.
 

capt_Luffy

Cricketer Of The Year
Based on everything I can barely seperate Murali and Warne by a hair’s breadth. It somewhat amuses me when people claim that one was clearly better than the other. But again that’s just me.
Imo Murali was better just because he was the Greatest home bowler of All Time, by a really big margin. Ofcourse their home conditions aren't comparable, but this just puts Murali firmly ahead in my mind. Not a big gap, but Murali ahead.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Based on everything I can barely seperate Murali and Warne by a hair’s breadth. It somewhat amuses me when people claim that one was clearly better than the other. But again that’s just me.
Aus record is a clear stat distinction between them for me. I have no confidence Murali would have succeeded there.
 

Kirkut

International Regular
I was thinking this recently given the ' 'greatest ever' rankings outside our forum tend to be all over the place.

Is it fair to say that a cricketer can be technically better based on career output, but somehow not greater? So Warne is seen unanimously as a greater cricketer than McGrath but McGrath is a better bowler?

Is greatness in cricket intrinsically linked to things such as contribution to the game, legacy, flair and box office value (along with career output) and is that equation necessarily bad and should it be reflect in our analysis too?
I think VVS Laxman can be a relevant example here.

He is a part of cricketing folklore given his performances in big games, but a total dud against the moving ball.
 

Kirkut

International Regular
Bumrah's 5 tests vs NZ
Played 5, lost 5. 9 wickets @ 45.44

Waqar's 1st 5 tests vs NZ.
Played 5, won 5. 44 wickets @ 10.84


I still think Bumrah will end up being one of the very best though.
Nice nit-picking, you can have a gala time given India's recent performance against NZ.

How about we compare their numbers against Australia, England both home and away?
 

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