Kapil Dev vs Kumar Sangakkara

[BazBall21]

Craig McDermott was a better bowler than Kapil Dev

 

[Migara]

Kapil was a good bowler and a decent bat with great longevity.

exactly

 

[Migara]

And averaged only 40 with bat when he was WK.

and 69 when he did not. That is well passed Tendulkar.

 

[kyear2]

How are Willis and Walsh not better bowlers than Kapil?

I'm guessing he will argue different eras.

 

[kyear2]

Craig McDermott was a better bowler than Kapil Dev

He has become a bit if a forgotten figure and a little underrated. Him and Big Merv were a good attack.

 

[BazBall21]

I'm guessing he will argue different eras.

Roberts and Willis were the same era

 

[Coronis]

Botham?

Craig McDermott was a better bowler than Kapil Dev

Off the top of my head… Marshall, Hadlee, Imran, Garner, Lillee, Holding, Roberts, Wasim, Ambrose, Walsh, Alderman, Willis, Qasim…

Probably forgot someone in there, and thats before you get into bowlers who are comparable to him..

 

[Coronis]

I'm guessing he will argue different eras.

Which would be silly imo. Walsh debuted in 84 so played an entire decade alongside Kapil, no possible argument there. Willis played 6 years and almost 50 tests (a majority of his career). Easily same era imo but one could try to clutch at straws.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

How are Willis and Walsh not better bowlers than Kapil?

Walsh not same era IMO

 

[BazBall21]

Walsh not same era IMO

Walsh played plenty of games during Kapil's time and Willis is virtually an identical contemporary of Roberts who was included.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Willis was better than Dev but probably not by a lot. He bowled a metric ton of no-balls that didnt count against his personal stats at the time. His average would shoot up to over 28 if they were actually counted properly IIRC. It brings their records closer together than one would think.

 

[BazBall21]

Willis was better than Dev but probably not by a lot. He bowled a metric ton of no-balls that didnt count against his personal stats at the time. His average would shoot up to over 28 if they were actually counted properly IIRC. It brings their records closer together than one would think.

I agree that not including no balls gives his record a notable boost, but I still think Willis was the better bowler and anyone who says otherwise is wrong.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Anderson is rightfully criticised for a poor record away from home, but Kapil gets away with it. As a bowler he was a plucky trier who punched above his weight in the Windies and Australia, but he averaged about 40 in NZ and England.