James Anderson vs Andy Roberts

[PlayerComparisons]

Two bowlers that average around 26

 

[BazBall21]

Probably being harsh on Jimmy at this point given the sheer extent of his longevity, but I just think Andy was a slightly better bowler.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

It has to be Anderson , the question is who is the greater Test bowler ..

Anderson has triple the amount of Test wickets that Roberts managed , he's had the greater career surely .

 

[Adorable Asshole]

Don't know who's greater but would rather face Jimmy than Andy.

 

[kyear2]

Greater Jimmy, better Andy

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Greater Jimmy, better Andy

Agreed

 

[Slifer]

Jimmy, considering his unprecedented body of work is greater. But better, no way.

 

[number11]

This is ridiculous. Andy Roberts was far superior. Much more difficult in most conditions, much quicker and more devastating.

 

[The Sean]

This is ridiculous. Andy Roberts was far superior. Much more difficult in most conditions, much quicker and more devastating.

To use language like "far superior" feels like seriously over-rating Roberts or under-rating Anderson. Roberts definitely quicker, though Anderson much more durable. Not sure how you quantify being more devastating.

 

[Aidan11]

I've gone for Anderson even though he has never knocked any of Ian Botham's teeth out.

 

[Chin Music]

Really tough to compare given the range of opponents and the time they played against them. They played nothing like the number of tests back in Roberts day, let alone the number of opponents such as Sri Lanka & South Africa, never mind Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Roberts record is excellent for the era. Don't really remember him bowling so can't truly judge.

 

[Coronis]

All I know is Andy Roberts doesn’t average 38 at home and 34 away against the team he played the most.

 

[The Sean]

Notwithstanding the comparison to Roberts, or anyone else, I can't get on board with this perception of Jimmeh as little more than Captain Longevity. We all know about the specific shortcomings and holes in his record, but during a period of nearly 13 years (almost as long as Lillee's whole career, and far longer than that of Roberts) from mid-2010 he took over 500 wickets at 23. That number included more than 200 wickets outside of England at an average in the high 25s, which is hardly a disgrace for a man with a reputation for struggling away from home.

Even more remarkably, over a period of eight-and-a-half years to early 2023, Anderson took 318 wickets at 20.77, including 123 wickets at 22.66 in places that weren't England. His away performances of course were often less about big hauls and more about building pressure through economy and support, but they are still incredible numbers over a sustained period of time.

I really do think he gets underrated and underappreciated here. This particular comparison is just one case in point. Whatever you think about Roberts being faster (he was), or cooler (he was), or being capable of things Anderson isn't (he was, but the reverse is also true), in my opinion there is no way when looking at their two careers that Roberts was a greater Test bowler than Anderson.

 

[trundler]

His away performances of course were often less about big hauls and more about building pressure through economy and support

I think this is inherently inferior to taking big hauls. Anderson's away record in his last X many years puts him on par with Pollock or Walsh who are held in high regard by everyone including me but I just tend to think a Steyn in Australia or Imran in WI record is more likely to win matches and series than picking up 3 WPM at a better average. This is just my preference.

 

[honestbharani]

It really depends on the rest of the team, tbh. Ashwin till 2015-16 was always expected to be the lead bowler even when overseas and went nowhere by trying to be both the container and the attacker in the bowling group. But once Bhuvi-Shami partnership formed and Ishant had his resurrection and especially after Bumrah became a test bowler, suddenly the container role with the odd important wicket was good enough for the side.

I feel its the same with Anderson. If he had a great bowling group around him, the steady controlling role he could play overseas was immense. But when the attack around him wasn't that good, you could clearly see it did not mean much at all. There is nothing wrong with placing bowlers who could be attack leaders and win games overseas above Jimmy. At the same time, its not like he was useless away from home. At the end of the day, its a team game and players need to perform the roles that will help their team the most. Ticking one of those two boxes is still a win for Jimmy IMO. And you know I am hardly a fan of the guy.

 

[ataraxia]

All I know is Andy Roberts doesn’t average 38 at home and 34 away against the team he played the most.

well done, impressive bait, you made one average into two averages! Now it looks really bad!

 

[Prince EWS]

All I know is Andy Roberts doesn’t average 38 at home and 34 away against the team he played the most.

Yes this is a great point. Imagine how much better Anderson's record would be if he didn't have to play such a disproportionate amount of his games against his worst matchup.

 

[BazBall21]

Yes this is a great point. Imagine how much better Anderson's record would be if he didn't have to play such a disproportionate amount of his games against his worst matchup.

I tend to say that about Gooch too funnily enough.

 

[sayon basak]

Surprising results.

 

[Rob Wesley]

I will pick Anderson because from 01 Jan 2010 onwards, he picked 556 wickets at avg of 24 where his away average was 27 and home average was 22.

Longevity can’t be understated as it is never easy to replace a 25-26 averaging fast bowler with another one who could replicate the same. West Indies had Courtney Walsh whose value was noticed after he retired as Windies couldn’t find a pacer anywhere as good as him post his retirement.