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Best bowler to play less than 30 Tests

Shane Bond , Ryan Harris & Asif.

The three I agree with fully. Asif especially as he had the tools and the repeatable action to have a 90-100 test career.

Bond's action took too much of a toll on his body and Harris came into the scene too late to play substantial tests. Asif had everything to be taking 400+ wickets in test cricket and threw it down the drain
 
Yesteryear names probably would have played a lot more than 30 tests had they been playing now. Names like Colin Croft , Syd Barnes etc. Croft didn't play those many matches because there were better bowlers than him for the windies lineup.

In principles of fairness , I think we need to be looking at 90s and onwards.
 
Not the best but indian domestic legend only got to play 1 test match despite having 504 wickets at 22.
 
Back in the day Shabbir ahmed was real good but had a shady action so got banned. Played only ten test matches.
 
sithb said:
Yesteryear names probably would have played a lot more than 30 tests had they been playing now. Names like Colin Croft , Syd Barnes etc. Croft didn't play those many matches because there were better bowlers than him for the windies lineup.

In principles of fairness , I think we need to be looking at 90s and onwards.
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Yeah but feel free to point out names that somehow aren’t talked much from 70s,80s or 90s due to not playing enough tests but had quality.
 
JibranAnsari said:
Not the best but indian domestic legend only got to play 1 test match despite having 504 wickets at 22.
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History is full of those. For example , there was badrinath who came into the reckoning as well. His only fault was that he peaked when the likes of Dravid , Tendulkar etc were still playing.

Same goes for Australia with Hodge. West Indies when they kept developing pacers in their prime.
 
If we look at the modern day, i think shane bond followed by mohammad asif and kyle abbot.
 
JibranAnsari said:
If we look at the modern day, i think shane bond followed by mohammad asif and kyle abbot.
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Asif first. He would have been comfortably rated alongside Steyn and Bumrah had he had a full career. The other two have had substantial careers.

Bond for his lack of longevity loses out.

Abbott and Harris never got to play those many test matches.
 
Also we as fans are often guilty of misjudging players , especially when the players are bit-part for quite a chunk of their careers.

Likes of Croft would have made the starting lineup of all the other teams for example.
 
From the ones I have seen Asif, Bond and Ryan Harris are at the top of the list. They weren't just good bowlers they were entertaining bowler.

Stuart Clark was also a pretty decent bowler that found it difficult to get into the Aussie side bcause of the players in his way. In any other era he would have played more.

James Pattinson, he was the next big thing but unfortunately succumbed to injuries.

If I had to pick a best, based on what we seen and what could have been I'd opt for Bond.
 
I'm gonna add Simon Jones to the list.

His display of reverse-swing bowling in the 2005 Ashes mesmerized everyone, but sadly he struggled with persistent injuries, which ended his career prematurely.

But when you think back to the 2005 Ashes, I think he is one of the characters that always stands out.
 
The bowlers mentioned in OP are undeniable, so I am going to move past them and mention someone who will surprise many... and that is Junaid Khan. He has been forgotten but he had the drive and skillset to be great. Let's not forget he spearheaded the attack in our UAE fortress years, and bowled some very memorable spells against Sri Lanka who were a great team at the time with Mahela, Sanga and Angelo leading them.

He had decent pace and could move the ball. Also had the drive for test cricket which is lacking in most of our bowlers today. Misbah would run him for long spells in the UAE heat. I believe he was emerging cricketer of the year in 2013.

His foot or leg injury in 2014 made him into a shadow of what he was before but he's someone who I believe had the tools and determination to have had an above average career had the injuries not occurred. Obviously would not have taken as many wickets as Asif, Bond, Harris, etc., but I think he could have gotten 300+ which is something we might never have again.
 
It has to be Mohammad Asif who only played 23 Test matches but he only has himself to blame for not playing more tests.
 
SYdeny Barnes?? 27 test?

Have not seen him obviously but heard that he was one of the greatest ones
 
30 tests is not a benchmark. Had Mendis retired after the first few tests we would have had thread for him like would he have broken Shane Warne’s record.

50 tests especially for a bowler should be a minimum criteria to judge .

Lot of bowlers get found out or lose form and fitness the longer they play.

More than batsman longevity is an extremely important criteria for a bowler.
 
From Pakistan I would put Salem Jaffer on the list.
He didn't have a great 14 tests but oodles of potential but in the end Wasim (also a left armer) and the emergence
of Waqar & Aqib meant he disappeared in to the wilderness.
 
Local.Dada said:
30 tests is not a benchmark. Had Mendis retired after the first few tests we would have had thread for him like would he have broken Shane Warne’s record.

50 tests especially for a bowler should be a minimum criteria to judge .

Lot of bowlers get found out or lose form and fitness the longer they play.

More than batsman longevity is an extremely important criteria for a bowler.
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No it’s not
Impact in winning games and series etc is what matters

No need to play like 100 plus tests.

Play for 10 years and that is plenty. Win series for your team especially away from home.
 
The last few decases - Asif, Harris , Bond and kyle come in my mind.

Bond was probably best of this lot.
 
kron said:
No it’s not
Impact in winning games and series etc is what matters

No need to play like 100 plus tests.

Play for 10 years and that is plenty. Win series for your team especially away from home.
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So many third rate overseas spinners come to India and do well and create impact, no one remembers them the next series.

The name of the game is to perform well over an extended period of time.

Mendis, Doherty must be greater than Warne, Murali than as no one had an impact on great Indian batting line ups in subcontinent condition those days.
 
Local.Dada said:
So many third rate overseas spinners come to India and do well and create impact, no one remembers them the next series.

The name of the game is to perform well over an extended period of time.

Mendis, Doherty must be greater than Warne, Murali than as no one had an impact on great Indian batting line ups in subcontinent condition those days.
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Impact everywhere in most places

Not just India alone

Against top sides

Performance Vs top teams especially away from home is what matters

No point in extending your career only to keep losing most away series like Anderson
 
Local.Dada said:
So many third rate overseas spinners come to India and do well and create impact, no one remembers them the next series.

The name of the game is to perform well over an extended period of time.

Mendis, Doherty must be greater than Warne, Murali than as no one had an impact on great Indian batting line ups in subcontinent condition those days.
Click to expand...
Anderson must be a better bowler than bumrah Rabada and Cummins cause he got 700 wickets
 
IMMY69 said:
From Pakistan I would put Salem Jaffer on the list.
He didn't have a great 14 tests but oodles of potential but in the end Wasim (also a left armer) and the emergence
of Waqar & Aqib meant he disappeared in to the wilderness.
Click to expand...
His last over in the 87 World Cup sealed his fate. But even without that, he was fairly mediocre
 
kron said:
Anderson must be a better bowler than bumrah Rabada and Cummins cause he got 700 wickets
Click to expand...
Bumrah, Rabada, Cummins have all played 50+ tests. Also they play all 3 formats so that evens out as Anderson used to play only 1 format for later decade of his career.

30 tests is too less. 50 is my minimum criteria. There is no standard rule. That’s just my benchmark. You can have a different one 👍
 
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