Who is England's greatest bowler of Spin?

[Ymaxxx]

swann was really great to watch i agree as well. The next best in modern era after murali and warne IMO has to be rashid, and ofc Saqlain. Rashid's a bit new but you get the point (he's my favourite). Saqlain on the other hand was ranking no1 in odi rankings at an average of 18 for years over his teammates w's and shoaib! In tests he was a gem too, his last year fkd his stats from 27 to 29 but his sr is nice. Eitherway that chennai test breakthrough saqlain gave and the countless more times he would get sachin out, was always a treat. That 9/80 against windies 97 test where Lara got his stump rooted of the ground from his doosra. I wish he was more economical in tests just like in ODIs. That was his biggest drawback, but to make up for it he seriously did good in racking up most of the wickets by any bowler in the match.

 

[sayon basak]

Jim Laker>Hedley Verity>Derek Underwood>>Graeme Swann>Tony Lock.

 

[Ali TT]

If we're considering limited over stuff, then Adil Rashid has to be in the mention. He's carved out a hugely successful career in ODIs and T20Is, bowling at home in England on wickets designed for ultra-fast scoring.

 

[Coronis]

Ymaxxx saying, "Laker infamous for his 19 wicket haul" is yet another example of someone attempting to belittle one of the finest displays of spin bowling ever.
True, the wicket was one designed to favour England's "Spin Twins" Laker and Lock but consider the following:
While Laker was taking his 19 for 90, Tony Lock took 1-106.
Australia's spinners, Ian Johnson and Richie Benaud, took a combined 6-274 on the same wicket.

Jim Laker was a match winner in England where he claimed 135 wickets @ 18.09. He may have been less effective overseas but his performances in Australia where, on his only tour 'down under', he took 15 wickets at an average of 21.2 are often overlooked. It is his performances in South Africa and West Indies where he was less effective, averaging around the 30 mark in those countries.

I had the pleasure of witnessing both Laker and Underwood in action and both were fine bowlers. Anecdotally Verity is often ranked above both ... with good reason.
As for Swann and Lock, I would rate Johnny Wardle above both.

Not taking anything away from Laker of course, his performance was remarkable, made all the more remarkable by the comparison to Lock, but iirc didn’t the English bowlers get some rain assistance at one point? Just feels a tad harsh to Richie and Johnson

 

[Line and Length]

Not taking anything away from Laker of course, his performance was remarkable, made all the more remarkable by the comparison to Lock, but iirc didn’t the English bowlers get some rain assistance at one point? Just feels a tad harsh to Richie and Johnson

But Lock didn't take advantage. Another attempt to belittle the greatest spin performance in a single Test.

 

[Coronis]

But Lock didn't take advantage. Another attempt to belittle the greatest spin performance in a single Test.

I literally just ****ing said it was so ****ing remarkable because Lock only took one wicket. All I did was point out that bringing up the Australian spinners figures isn’t exactly a fair comparison.

Stop trying to be so offended on Laker’s behalf.

 

[the big bambino]

Ymaxxx saying, "Laker infamous for his 19 wicket haul" is yet another example of someone attempting to belittle one of the finest displays of spin bowling ever.

Let's say your interpretation of his intent is right, he's simply putting the performance in context without belittling it. The pitches that series were tailored for English spinners which is both the truth but no reason to diminish their performances. It's not unusual having pitches suitable for finger spinners but useless for wrist spinners. Ian Johnson grew up in Australia where taking wickets requires reliance on a different set of skills. He was never good in Eng but bowled well on hard surfaces in Aus and WI. The fact that Lock didn't take many at OT is just a quirk of fate. He had his best series against Aus in 1956 because the pitches were so suitable. The fact Laker took so many for so few indicates just how the pitches were made to his liking.

 

[Line and Length]

OK

I apologise for being overly defensive of a player I witnessed first hand.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Jim Laker>Hedley Verity>Derek Underwood>>Graeme Swann>Tony Lock.

Laker>Verity>Underwood>Rhodes>Swann>Blythe>Wardle>Peel>Briggs>Lock>Peate>Appleyard>Titmus>Illingworth>Freeman