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Why McGrath is the best
- Thread starter silentstriker
- Start date
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Shoaib gets injured far too often but honestly, can he be any more under rated around here? I am not saying he is better than the golden oldies or anything, but he is really the second best (possibly the best, depending on how McGrath's come back shapes up) fast bowler in the world when he is not injured.
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Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Yeah I agree, Shoaib cops way too much flak. That being said, anyone who does include Shoaib in a list of the top 5 greatest fast bowlers ever should expect plenty of criticism, because its a silly call.
Shoaib is still 2nd best fast bowler in the world though. I'd have him marginally better than Freddy, and behind McGrath.
Shoaib is still 2nd best fast bowler in the world though. I'd have him marginally better than Freddy, and behind McGrath.
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
McGrath can safely claim the greatest pace bowler ever tag, but not the bestfast bowler ever.
SJS
Hall of Fame Member
Oh I am not saying that he shouldnt be second on that list or first as you are saying. But just the point about bowling standards.honestbharani said:
We have seen on other threads batsmen being castigated because they did not fare well against, not just good fast bowling, but the greatest, unending army of fast bowlers ever collected by a country - namely West indies. Hence Zaheer is not rated highy because he did not average THAT high against West Indian army, or Botham and others.
But so many modern day batsmen make their countries all time lists for most people although all they ahve to face is one ageing MacGrath, when fit, or one erratic Shoaib when fit and willing, or a couple of nice guys from india, an ageing pollock from South Africa with an enthusiastic Ntini.
Not just West Indies, almost all the attacks in the world were better than they are today. So why do we not discount the mid fifty averages of today's "mini-Bradmen" ??
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Everything you said there is true, but I think you'll find that people do often dismiss these batsman. No one (or not many) claim Smith, Sehwag or Inzy are all time greats. Hayden gets questioned a hell of a lot too. Hell even Kallis, Ponting and Dravid are often stuck with the query "would they be this good in another era?"SJS said:
Shoaib is not that bad either to be considered as substandard bowler. He has a good line and length and he does not give many extras either (now a days) . He is a threatening fast bowler . If English and Indians find him hard then what else can I say . In Australia against Australia there were times when Shoaib all by himself rock'd the top order of Australia but due to the lack of support from the other end just nothing much could happen . He challenges the batsmen . In some people's books Ganguly is like some thing especial but while facing Shoaib I never saw him being comfortable. He is a gem of a bowler and the only one who can challenge a batsman like the great Windians of their time used to do . I mean what is the problem with his length and considering a fact that some of his balls that beat the batsman often beat the keeper too and he gets free extra runs to his name too but I still consider Shoaib as the best ODI bowler in the world and just 2nd to Mcgrath in the tests ..
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If I have ever seen any bowler who can beat the bat on the off stump more often after Craig Mcdermott and Glen Mcgrath then that is Shoaib .
Shoaib's yorkers are third in the list after Waqar and Wasim .
In the current bunch his bouncers have done so many damages for example Lara , Tendulkar ,Great Gary and many others. His short pitch stuff is not very good and he lacks in-swing otherwise he is a top notch bowler and he is one of my favorites .
Shoaib's yorkers are third in the list after Waqar and Wasim .
In the current bunch his bouncers have done so many damages for example Lara , Tendulkar ,Great Gary and many others. His short pitch stuff is not very good and he lacks in-swing otherwise he is a top notch bowler and he is one of my favorites .
archie mac
International Coach
All time, I don't think soMister Wright said:
I would like to wait until his career is over
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
archie mac said:All time, I don't think so
Can you name some that are better?
silentstriker
The Wheel is Forever
Sanz said:
Purely as a bowler? I have to disagree, even though Hadlee is in my top five.
Top_Cat
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He's 37 and has 542 Test wickets.I think you have a fair chance that any rating you make now will not deviate significantly.
Me personally, I'd rate him as at least equal to Hadlee, Marshall, Ambrose. etc. As far as I'm concerned he's in the very top echelon and I don't think there's any way that group can be separated.
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