McGrath & Lillee vs Donald & Steyn vs Imran & Akram

[DrWolverine]

In an all time great team, they will be picked for their teams but which combo do you think is better?

 

[Prince EWS]

Deifnitely Imran and Akram for me here.

 

[ankitj]

Very difficult. All 3 are pretty even.

 

[ankitj]

Deifnitely Imran and Akram for me here.

Please explain.

 

[subshakerz]

Imran and Wasim slightly.

The left right bowling combo. Plus Imran with his natural inswing and Wasim with the bowl going away from the right hander would contrast nicely. And Imran being captain and mentor means they would gel very well. It would almost be like a Wasim Waqar ++

Lillee is just unproven in the SC which holds that combo back.

Steyn and Donald is close and the most deadly at home but I have the feeling that Donald will be overshadowed by Steyn away from home like he was with Pollock. I also think this attack is most likely to have a random bad day.

 

[Johan]

Steyn and Donald for me, the team would lose very quick wickets.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

While on quality Steyn and Donald are equal to(or a bit better, since I rate Steyn as only behind Marshall) than Immy+ Akram, but the latter duo complement each other better

 

[subshakerz]

While on quality Steyn and Donald are equal to(or a bit better, since I rate Steyn as only behind Marshall) than Immy+ Akram, but the latter duo complement each other better

Yes. We should try to keep the context of their playing styles in mind.

Donald functioned well in a lineup where he had full freedom to attack and even get occasionally hit given that the rest of the lineup kept it tight, especially Pollock. Steyn too to an extent with Philander at the other end keeping pressure up.

Steyn being kinda scattergun may not gel as well if Donald is in constant attack mode at the other end. Against better batting lineups, they may entirely lose rhythm.

Wasim and Imran already bowled together and their styles contrast well. I think McGrath and Lillee are arguably an even better match in styles but Lillee suffers from a questionmark in the SC.

 

[kyear2]

McGrath and Lillee, but only slightly before Steyn and Donald.

If we're ranking them as new ball bowlers, the Pakistani duo comes out at the bottom of the list. Not to mention that among all of the ATG bowlers, Wasim was the least effective at dismissing top order bats. Meaning there's a better chance of the top order potentially settling in, building a platform and getting settled.

They were also the least effective away from home.

McGrath had a knack for removing top order bats, while keeping the scoring rate down, and Lillee would be free to cut loose, knowing the other end is locked down.

Steyn and Donald would have the best chance of demolishing a top order, but also equally more likely to get tapped a bit more as well.

As far as top end quality, I have McGrath and Steyn a little higher than the others, who literally all make up the next tier.

So the Aussie pair, but the SA combo just behind, and so close I could change my mind.

 

[Jumno]

It's a tough one, very tough.

Imran and Wasim for sheer pace, skill, intelligence. Scare the life out of the opposition.

 

[Mike5181]

1. McGrath
2. Steyn
3. Akram
4. Donald
5. Imran
6. Lillee

If I ranked them like that I think Steyn/Donald are slightly ahead of the other duos.

 

[subshakerz]

They were also the least effective away from home.

McGrath had a knack for removing top order bats, while keeping the scoring rate down, and Lillee would be free to cut loose, knowing the other end is locked down. .

What about Lillee in SC?

 

[kyear2]

What about Lillee in SC?

Yeah, he's mostly unproven over there, doesn't mean he couldn't.

Kinda hard to judge a guy of his quality on 3 matches, but the Pakistan record doesn't flatter him. Would still back a pre injury Lillee to put in credible performance in India etc...

 

[Prince EWS]

Please explain.

I don't rate Donald or especially Lillee in the same class as the other bowlers here.

 

[HouHsiaoHsien]

Out of the bowlers here: McGrath=Steyn>=Imran>Akram>Donald>Lillee

 

[kyear2]

I don't rate Donald or especially Lillee in the same class as the other bowlers here.

Lillee I'm aware you have your issues with, why not Donald though? He was superb almost everywhere, absolute rapid and I feel a tad underrated when he played.

 

[kyear2]

Out of the bowlers here: McGrath=Steyn>=Imran>Akram>Donald>Lillee

Ummm

McGrath > Steyn > Imran ~ Donald ~ Wasim ~ Lillee.

Re the Lillee situation, it's hard to figure out how he played that long and played so few matches outside of Australia and England. Coincidentally read an article just yesterday that spoke to exactly that.
But somehow we have to think that he was too much quality to have been a total disaster over there. Especially when you have guys like Viv who said he was the 2nd best he's seen and best he's faced in tests.

 

[subshakerz]

Lillee I'm aware you have your issues with, why not Donald though? He was superb almost everywhere, absolute rapid and I feel a tad underrated when he played.

Donald had a habit of failing at the key moments. Not quite the matchwinner away as the others.

 

[kyear2]

Donald had a habit of failing at the key moments. Not quite the matchwinner away as the others.

Saw him destroy us often enough, feel like the SA guys are really underrated around here.

 

[subshakerz]

Yeah, he's mostly unproven over there, doesn't mean he couldn't.

Kinda hard to judge a guy of his quality on 3 matches, but the Pakistan record doesn't flatter him. Would still back a pre injury Lillee to put in credible performance in India etc...

That's fine I guess. I don't judge him on a single tour of Pakistan but it's a pretty big hole.

What was Lillee's WSC record in WI though?