Being a successful fast bowler is much more difficult than being a successful spinner

[Proactive_]

With Anderson ripping through the WI batting line up, I can't help but notice the usual remarks on social media (mostly from the fans of a certain contemporary dust bowl bully spinner) about how Anderson is nothing different from the subcontinent HTB spinners.

Notwithstanding the fact that it is untrue by any stretch of imagination owing to the fact that Anderson averages a healthy 30 in Asia and overall 33 away from home; the reasoning that a successful fast bowlers should be placed in the same echelon as successful spinners is an absolutely unreasonable proposition.

Firstly, the biggest prerequisite to be a fast bowler is to have and more importantly maintain a certain level of athleticism and fitness to be on top of their game for prolonged periods of time, nothing of that sort with spinners where you can look like Jabba the Hutt and still be bowling spin for your team like Ramesh Powar et al.

Secondly, fast bowlers have to deal with injuries on a consistent basis and have to keep redeveloping their techniques and tactics of bowling with each injury. On many occasions fast bowlers lose their pace permanently yet they have to find a way to be effective despite one of their main weapons being taken away from them.

Thirdly, their shelf life is much lesser than the spinners and a fast bowler performing consistently for 10 years and 400 odd wickets is any day better than a spinner performing for 15 years and 700 odd wickets.

In that regard, Anderson's performances in his career are extraordinary. He has taken close to 500 wickets in a near 14 year career and has helped his team win Test matches in every country. Hardly comparable with certain HTB dust bowl bullies who might be getting record fifers and ten fors but yet are as meek as a lamb to the slaughter as soon as they face a hint of unfavourable conditions.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Because no matter how you look at it an average of 30 is as mediocre as they come and especially for someone who's played this long.

There is a reason why all bowling greats are categorized by a <25 bowling average over the course of their careers.

 

[Proactive_]

Because no matter how you look at it an average of 30 is as mediocre as they come and especially for someone who's played this long.

There is a reason why all bowling greats are categorized by a <25 bowling average over the course of their careers.

You also got to account for that the past 7-8 years have been unequivocally favourable to batsman in many regards. Australia which used to be the true test of skill against pace and bounce is a glorified highway for the past 5 years or so. In such conditions and everything stacked against the fast bowlers, an average of 30-35 in this era with around 3.5-4 wickets/ test is more than respectable.

 

[aloo paratha]

I made a point in another thread about Anderson, that nobody can bowl like him even in green conditions, but many spinners in the world can do what Ashwin can do on dust bowls. Anderson is a rare talent, not an ATG but a very good bowler.