James Anderson vs Kagiso Rabada

[PlayerComparisons]

Two very fit bowlers

 

[Johan]

Anderson quite easily right now

 

[sayon basak]

Two very fit bowlers

This is close imo. Rabada might be the only of the 3 present pacers who is rated below Anderson here on CW.

 

[Johan]

Cummins is below too but that's a chat for another time.

 

[sayon basak]

Here's their head 2 head performance:-

 

[sayon basak]

Cummins is below too but that's a chat for another time.

You rate Bumrah ahead of Anderson? Wow

 

[Johan]

You rate Bumrah ahead of Anderson? Wow

Hey, Root scored 3 hundreds at 94 average in a pace friendly series in England against Bumrah and Shami, it might not advance the Anderson agenda but it advances the Root agenda

but yeah Bumrah > Anderson > Cummins > Rabada is where I'm at now, Cummins fell in my eyes in last 2 years

 

[capt_Luffy]

Here's their head 2 head performance:-
View attachment 41968

This one's interesting. Usually an average difference of 4 runs should give Andy the edge in a head to head; but I will take an additional WPM of freaking 2.5 any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

 

[Johan]

Rabada is a freak strike bowler

 

[Bolo.]

Hey, Root scored 3 hundreds at 94 average in a pace friendly series in England against Bumrah and Shami, it might not advance the Anderson agenda but it advances the Root agenda

but yeah Bumrah > Anderson > Cummins > Rabada is where I'm at now, Cummins fell in my eyes in last 2 years

I reckon Anderson and Bumrah should be on opposite ends of that scale. Anderson is the worst bowler, with the best career, and Bumrah the reverse.

 

[Johan]

I reckon Anderson and Bumrah should be on opposite ends of that scale. Anderson is the worst bowler, with the best career, and Bumrah the reverse.

I don't know

like by raw skill I can see it but Rabada and cummins have been very unimpressive outside their natural habitat tbh (aus/Sa) so I don't know if I think Rabada is better, I def think Cummins more skillful but kinda feel like he won't have a superior career

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Cummins and Bumrah are much better than Anderson on flat pitches. Rabada has a higher ceiling than Anderson but not as consistent/accurate.

 

[Johan]

Swinging/Seaming Pitches (Eng/NZ/WI) – Anderson

Asian wickets (UAE/Ind/SL) – Anderson

Flat wickets (Pakistan) – Cummins

Bouncy wickets (Australia/South Africa) – Cummins

Bumrah better than either

 

[Bolo.]

I don't know

like by raw skill I can see it but Rabada and cummins have been very unimpressive outside their natural habitat tbh (aus/Sa) so I don't know if I think Rabada is better, I def think Cummins more skillful but kinda feel like he won't have a superior career

Career to date:
Anderson>Cummins>Rabada>Bumrah

Quality:
Bumrah>Cummins>Rabada>Anderson (swap the last 2 if you want).

Expected career at end:
Not sure, but not expecting Bumrah to end up with too many.

 

[Johan]

Career to date:
Anderson>Cummins>Rabada>Bumrah

Quality:
Bumrah>Cummins>Rabada>Anderson (swap the last 2 if you want).

Expected career at end:
Not sure, but not expecting Bumrah to end up with too many.

Completely agree, would just move Jimmy over Rabada in quality zone.

Jimmy or cummins would end with the best career.

 

[sayon basak]

I reckon Anderson and Bumrah should be on opposite ends of that scale. Anderson is the worst bowler, with the best career, and Bumrah the reverse.

I don't think Bumrah will be stuck to "worst career" in a few years.

 

[GIMH]

Cummins was absolutely **** in the 2023 Ashes and I am going to judge his whole career on that. He's terrible. FACT

 

[Bolo.]

I don't think Bumrah will be stuck to "worst career" in a few years.

Hopefully not, but IDK how well his body will hold up. He is a long way back on wickets.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Steyn’s WPM: 4.72
Rabada’s WPM: 4.67
McGrath’s WPM: 4.54
Bumrah’s WPM: 4.47
Cummins’ WPM: 4.34

Pollock’s WPM: 3.90
Anderson’s WPM: 3.74

I expect Cummins’ to go up over the next few years. His mothers death affected his form last year.

 

[Coronis]

Steyn’s WPM: 4.72
Rabada’s WPM: 4.67
McGrath’s WPM: 4.54
Bumrah’s WPM: 4.47
Cummins’ WPM: 4.34

Pollock’s WPM: 3.90
Anderson’s WPM: 3.74

I expect Cummins’ to go up over the next few years. His mothers death affected his form last year.

Unsurprisingly, Pollock and Anderson have the highest SR’s here. McGrath’s is also significantly higher, but he bowled a lot more comparatively.

Overs per match (decimals are number of balls 1-5)

McGrath - 39.2
Pollock - 37.3
Anderson - 35.3
Cummins - 33.5
Steyn - 33.2
Bumrah - 32.4
Rabada - 30.4