Glenn McGrath vs Wasim Akram in ODIs

[Buffet]

I have seen entire career of both bowlers.

McGrath was a gun bowler in both formats, but I will take Wasim over McGrath in the ODI format.

 

[Titan24]

Add the lower order hitting of Wasim to his bowling skills he is an automatic choice in any world xi team.

 

[Titan24]

I guess Mcgrath, Wasim, Ambrose, Marshall, Waqar, Imran, Lilee, Hadlee Steyn have all been top bowlers the world have seen so it’s difficult to compare them.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Even with great world statistics of McGrath, I will say ,Akram was shade better and skillful odi bowler

 

[CadPakFan]

If you went by numbers alone Mcgrath is ahead.

 

[JattMaula]

Akram was game changer.

Plus if he was not morally currupt and had not sold his nation for money he could have had better record.

 

[Oligochaetes]

Am not sure, but I suspect Mcgrath bowled in an era where tail renders were better batsman than in Akrsm era which might tilt the stats in McGraths favor.

I am too lazy to dig at stats, so if anyone has the time, this could be checked?

Also team totals on an average were higher during McGraths era which might make his stats more amazing?

 

[Srtfan]

EVEN McGrath did well infirst ipl after retirement

 

[dauntless]

This is not even a comparison. Wasim is the GOAT!! No need to look at the stats.

 

[Fast Bowler]

Wasim, without hesitation!

McGrath is a legend in his own right but Wasim was better. Stats never tell the complete story. For instance, McGrath was playing with a far better batting unit and the opposition were behind the eight ball. Wasim had to force the issue.

 

[pkckt]

Almost every spell I've watched of Wasim, there has been a minimum of 1 drop catch which kind off underrates him statistically. Pakistani fielding in Wasim's era up until recently has been almost street level.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Wasim.

McGrath was the better test bowler and better overall bowler.

But in ODI's as OP has asked Wasim has the edge by virtue of his ability to have greater variation.

McGrath was supremely good too but Wasim will always hold the clinical edge.

 

[Godhelpma]

Where does go Akram ‘s tally of 502 wickets ?I always used to think some parosis would gave the longevity factor much importance as in the case of tendu they bring “longevity factor “

 

[Bubby]

But he is regarded as that by most. Go beyond an internet forum and just about everyone who played against him says "the best I faced was Akram".

What more should he do?

No way in hell is wasim better than legendary Malcolm Marshall, who not only took wickets but install fear amongst his opponents

 

[cricketjoshila]

The great Wasim Akram


This is like choosing between Viv Richards and Jacques Kallis.

 

[HuzaifaE]

No way in hell is wasim better than legendary Malcolm Marshall, who not only took wickets but install fear amongst his opponents

Yes while batsmen just lined up in droves to face the harmless, unintimidating trundler that was Akram

 

[Bubby]

Yes while batsmen just lined up in droves to face the harmless, unintimidating trundler that was Akram

No I am not saying akram was trundler, he was lively but With Marshall their was fear ,fear of getting injured, infact that was the case with the whole quartet.

 

[Justcrazy]

Akram was better. He had far more varieties .

 

[Romali_rotti]

I would like to see videos of Akram being taken apart like that . I have always believed he was unhittable . Share these links.

Here is a sample:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lakcCRXsrAc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Chrish]

The great Wasim Akram


This is like choosing between Viv Richards and Jacques Kallis.

Kallis is the better Cricketer..

 

[Ab Fan]

Wasim. He is a genius.

Nobody is interested in watching boring robotic players over a genius.

 

[ethan hunt]

Here is a sample:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lakcCRXsrAc" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Lol . That's just a couple of boundaries put together .
I was talking about the kind dished out by razzaq and Afridi to Mcgrath . Something like afridi to kumble or harbhajjan .
I dont remember seeing akram being smashed around like that.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lol . That's just a couple of boundaries put together .
I was talking about the kind dished out by razzaq and Afridi to Mcgrath . Something like afridi to kumble or harbhajjan .
I dont remember seeing akram being smashed around like that.

well in the previous post you said Wasim being taken apart, he went for 3-4 boundaries in that over that imo longgggg before the start of the t20 era is taking apart of a bowler..


Ah well back to the thread, Wasim is great but Mcgrath is better .. Its ok dont be sad just my opinion

 

[big_gamer007]

Kallis is the better Cricketer..

Haha no.. All rounders are blessed with many facets of the game however Viv was so far ahead as a batsman than kallis for his time that kallis bowling is neutralised..

It’s like saying Stuart binny is better than inzimam just because he can bowl and bat and field..

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Kallis is the better Cricketer..

No, he isn't.
Vivian r\Richards is better than any allrounder cricket has ever produced except arguably Garfield Sobers.
On topic,Wasim was marginally better than mcgrath in odis,just due to longevity.

 

[ethan hunt]

well in the previous post you said Wasim being taken apart, he went for 3-4 boundaries in that over that imo longgggg before the start of the t20 era is taking apart of a bowler..


Ah well back to the thread, Wasim is great but Mcgrath is better .. Its ok dont be sad just my opinion

They are two different overs though . You can clearly see the scorecard . Wasim has owned India so badly that 2 boundaries are considered a thrashing now ?
Well you cant go wrong with either . I am just glad i had the sheer thrill of watching wasim bowl as a pakistani fan . I will pick him everyday over Mcgrath .

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Haha no.. All rounders are blessed with many facets of the game however Viv was so far ahead as a batsman than kallis for his time that kallis bowling is neutralised..

It¡¯s like saying Stuart binny is better than inzimam just because he can bowl and bat and field..

There is huge difference between Binny and Inzi , Viv is clear cut better than Kallis in odi but in test it is not straightforward. Viv played many great inning in test but he was not the best .
I read some where that in his last 78 test match ( huge sample) he averaged only 42.
So I can see a case for Kallis being better in test, I am not saying he is better but there is a case for him as a all rounder against batsman who was averaging 42or 43 in 78 test.
Edit : viv played 121 test so last 78 test match means his 2/3 career.

 

[Ab Fan]

Haha no.. All rounders are blessed with many facets of the game however Viv was so far ahead as a batsman than kallis for his time that kallis bowling is neutralised..

It’s like saying Stuart binny is better than inzimam just because he can bowl and bat and field..

Lol..anything but Binny.

Kallis as a cricketer will get a 9.5 out of 10 IMO. Viv as a cricketer will be a 9.5-10.

However, Inzy will still be a 7.5 while Binny will be a 5.

 

[Romali_rotti]

They are two different overs though . You can clearly see the scorecard . Wasim has owned India so badly that 2 boundaries are considered a thrashing now ?
Well you cant go wrong with either . I am just glad i had the sheer thrill of watching wasim bowl as a pakistani fan . I will pick him everyday over Mcgrath .

I dont know how Wasim has owned India so bad ? His test avg indicates no ownage even in ODIs also, I believe Mcgrath has owned India in both test & ODIs on an ongoing basis... I agree Wasim is a beast overall, he is a better cricketer than Mcgrath due to his batting but as a bowler Mcgrath is the top dog...

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

They are two different overs though . You can clearly see the scorecard . Wasim has owned India so badly that 2 boundaries are considered a thrashing now ?
Well you cant go wrong with either . I am just glad i had the sheer thrill of watching wasim bowl as a pakistani fan . I will pick him everyday over Mcgrath .

In odi ( not in test) Wasim > any fast bowler for me, but he underachieved big time like Sachin in test or ABD in test matches.
Akram not having 4 wickets per match in test and less than 1.5 in odi is unbelievable for such a talent, if I am not wrong he was never no. 1 bowler in test match ranking. McGrath, Donald, Waqar, Murli, Shane, Akhtar, Lee all having more than 1.5 wickets or in some cases having better average or strike rate. So I can under stand someone selecting another bowler
There are few matches I remember where Akram got some beating ,one is against Australia where Waqar saved Pak big time but intially I think Australia made 100 run under 12 over, another is against England where England chased down 310 , one more against Australia where Australia made 340 odd runs.
I don't remember exact date.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

I think it was very difficult to hit Akram in comparison to other fast bowlers.

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

I think Donald is very underrated in odi, him wasting so many years in county because of ban, and still finishing with such great number.
I always said if donald was allowed to play in his initial years he could have been the best or second best in odi

 

[barah_admi]

Skill wise he is the best I already said.. Batsmen who faced him would never have had faced anything like him before however he wasn’t as consistent as McGrath or Marshall or even Ambrose and Steyn.. But he was a better bowler than all of them..

Anyways he can’t do anything now, he will always be remembered as one of the best however my point is he had the potential of being remembered by everyone as The Best.

He's the most skilled but he isn't as consistent as McGrath? What makes you say that? Consistency is almost impossible gauge at that level. All the great bowlers are consistent, that's on of their attributes, you can't be great without it. You are g oing round in circles.

Let me just as you simply, who do you think was a better bowler, Akram or McGrath?

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

He's the most skilled but he isn't as consistent as McGrath? What makes you say that? Consistency is almost impossible gauge at that level. All the great bowlers are consistent, that's on of their attributes, you can't be great without it. You are g oing round in circles.

Let me just as you simply, who do you think was a better bowler, Akram or McGrath?

I think big_gamer007 is confusing test with odi. There can never be a fast bowler as consistent as Akram for such longevity in odi, if I am not wrong he never gave 70 runs in 10'overs, worst is something like 58 in 8 overs.

 

[Majid Khan]

Like comparing a robot with a human genius.

Like comparing an accountant with an artist.

Like comparing a dictionary with Shakespeare’s fine literature.

Yes, that’s like comparing Glenn McGrath with Wasim Akrams

While you can measure the efficiency and performance of a machine/robot in numerical terms, you can only admire and appreciate the fine talents of an artist.

 

[big_gamer007]

He's the most skilled but he isn't as consistent as McGrath? What makes you say that? Consistency is almost impossible gauge at that level. All the great bowlers are consistent, that's on of their attributes, you can't be great without it. You are g oing round in circles.

Let me just as you simply, who do you think was a better bowler, Akram or McGrath?

Akram but I still say he underachieved.. and I am talking about overall across formats not just ODI or just Tests.. Even McGrath would say Akram was the better bowler and probably if Marshall was alive he might say that as well..

 

[big_gamer007]

Like comparing a robot with a human genius.

Like comparing an accountant with an artist.

Like comparing a dictionary with Shakespeare’s fine literature.

Yes, that’s like comparing Glenn McGrath with Wasim Akrams

While you can measure the efficiency and performance of a machine/robot in numerical terms, you can only admire and appreciate the fine talents of an artist.

Exactly thanks for putting that so beautifully..
[MENTION=146504]barah_admi[/MENTION] this post sums it up.

 

[big_gamer007]

I think big_gamer007 is confusing test with odi. There can never be a fast bowler as consistent as Akram for such longevity in odi, if I am not wrong he never gave 70 runs in 10'overs, worst is something like 58 in 8 overs.

I was talking across formats, Wasim was just freakishly talented.. Probably the most talented bowler to have ever played for all his talent he should have been rated like Bradman in tests or Viv in ODI’s - Unanimous choice as best ever.

But he is rated as Sachin across formats agreed by Most as he best batsmen/bowler but with fair share of people countering the argument with stats.

 

[barah_admi]

Exactly thanks for putting that so beautifully..
[MENTION=146504]barah_admi[/MENTION] this post sums it up.

I was talking across formats, Wasim was just freakishly talented.. Probably the most talented bowler to have ever played for all his talent he should have been rated like Bradman in tests or Viv in ODI’s - Unanimous choice as best ever.

But he is rated as Sachin across formats agreed by Most as he best batsmen/bowler but with fair share of people countering the argument with stats.

Like I said, the Sky panel unanimously agreed Wasim was the best ever.

I mean, historically, in publications such as Wisden and some others, it has always been difficult for those who were not English or Aussie to get their fair due. I personally do not hold Bradman as the best ever, regardless of stats.

Akram is labelled time and time again the best bowler ever, that should be enough.

 

[SL_Fan]

50/50 for me. Wasim had that x-factor could make things happen out of nowhere. Whereas McGrath was hella consistent across the board only rarely had a bad game. Them two bowling in tandem now that would have been quite something.

 

[hk031992]

Yes yes. A bowler who averages less, bowled with a better economy, took more top order wickets, and bowled FAR better across multiple WCs is through some contorted logic inferior to Akram. LMAO!

he did not bowl "far" better across wc's, in fact he didn't bowl better at all. He had a much better team, that is about it. McGrath cannot ever do what Akram did in 92, he could have played 10 world cups and still could never do that.

 

[hk031992]

This is the most delusional post I have read in a while, you can pick akram over mcgrath no issues but to say mcgrath was a failure when when needed is the most ridiculous trash ever posted anywhere on the internet

Delusional? I backed up my claims with examples. In world cup games when Aus were in trouble, it was always the other bowlers who stepped up. Warne did in 99 semi final, Lee in 03 semi final.

McGrath had the final in 96, semi final in 99, and semi final in 03 to show that he could dominate a game when his team posted a low total. He was economical in 96 but couldn't buy a wicket, mediocre in 99 semi, and good in 03 semi final. Not a failure. But not great either.

Put Wasim in a team like Aus and he does even better
Put McGrath in a team like Pak and his average goes up 3-5 points very easily and probably more so

There is no contest here in ODI. Akram's performance in the 1992 final easily makes him a better odi bowler.

 

[Monsee]

Where does go Akram ‘s tally of 502 wickets ?I always used to think some parosis would gave the longevity factor much importance as in the case of tendu they bring “longevity factor “

OP already filtered that down, blamed PP posters of evident Oncoming) bias and then asked the question...what did you expect, the thread was already filtered down for the taking?

Akram is only the best when he is compared to another Pak bowler especially Imran, when it is an Indian or non-Indian or even from their most hated rivals aka Aussies, who the hec.k is Akram then?

 

[hk031992]

Yeah funny how the longevity factor is thrown out the window when its a Pakistani player who has longevity on his side.

 

[Bilal7]

Akram and McGrath are the best of the ODI format. I will have both in my all-time XI but if I had to go with one, it would be Wasim. A slightly better bowler due to his versatility; McGrath was not a very effective death bowler, for example, and neither did he have many matches where he defended small targets.

Wasim was deadly and super effective at any stage of a match. Add in his handy batting ability and captaincy experience and any person wanting to make a rational decision will pick the Pakistani.

 

[sshakir411]

McGrath is mostly number 1 for Indians and that's because they've never had a bowler who can bowl 150kph and has played more than 5 years. They only know from what little they know of phaast bowling...so forgive them.

Wasim is rated as the number 1 by all his contemporaries - from Alan Donald, to Alan Border, to Ganguly, and many others. Wasim was once in a generation kind of bowler - maybe not the most consistent but hands down the most skillful. No one can move the ball both ways at will till today.

 

[giri26]

Wasim for me in the shorter formats. He was brilliant with the new ball and was lethal with the old ball. So Akram for me in ODI's

 

[Bhaijaan]

It's very ignorant of anyone to say McGrath wasn't a skillful bowler. He is the prototype of the perfect fast bowler literally. Tall, decent pace, phenomenal control, supreme fitness, moved the ball just enough to get the edge and lbw. Exaggerated movement is overrated. You don't need to move the ball so much that it beats everything and becomes predictable after a while.

You have to hit up Youtube again to see how stupid McGrath made batsmen look with little to no movement just by putting 6 balls on the same damn patch and moving one or two the other ways just a little to deceive and bamboozle the batsmen, the best of them.

In my times, McGrath towered over the rest as the lead fast bowler in world cricket. He was the nightmare for batting line ups.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

It's very ignorant of anyone to say McGrath wasn't a skillful bowler. He is the prototype of the perfect fast bowler literally. Tall, decent pace, phenomenal control, supreme fitness, moved the ball just enough to get the edge and lbw. Exaggerated movement is overrated. You don't need to move the ball so much that it beats everything and becomes predictable after a while.

You have to hit up Youtube again to see how stupid McGrath made batsmen look with little to no movement just by putting 6 balls on the same damn patch and moving one or two the other ways just a little to deceive and bamboozle the batsmen, the best of them.

In my times, McGrath towered over the rest as the lead fast bowler in world cricket. He was the nightmare for batting line ups.

Yes he had the ability to bore the batsmen into submission.

But Wasim was more exciting.

I dont mind any Indian picking McGrath because its not much to choose.

But anyone who wants to see exciting bowling should favor Wasim.

 

[sshakir411]

I was expecting to hear things along the lines of " but but but but Pakistan batting no good"...so no surprises there..this thread isn't about batting or how many great Pakistani batsmen have existed in history. If that's what you guys want to discuss then start a new thread.

Also I find it funny that Indians say McGrath bowled with 'decent pace' and then claim him to be a leading fast bowler. McGrath was hardly considered a fast bowler in Australia...he was a seamer..who bowled with immense control and accuracy. Indians saying he was a better bowler than Wasim sound like Pakistanis who say Inzi was better than Sachin.

 

[Mercurial]

Glenn McGrath is better than Akram in the ODI format, but if I had to select one for my ODI XI, then I will choose Akram, as he can bat as well.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

I was expecting to hear things along the lines of " but but but but Pakistan batting no good"...so no surprises there..this thread isn't about batting or how many great Pakistani batsmen have existed in history. If that's what you guys want to discuss then start a new thread.

Also I find it funny that Indians say McGrath bowled with 'decent pace' and then claim him to be a leading fast bowler. McGrath was hardly considered a fast bowler in Australia...he was a seamer..who bowled with immense control and accuracy. Indians saying he was a better bowler than Wasim sound like Pakistanis who say Inzi was better than Sachin.

Untrue.

The difference between Mcgrath and Wasim is not as much as the difference between Inzimam and Sachin.

Both MCGRATH AND WASIM are GOAT while Sachin is also GOAT but Inzimam is not even ATG.

 

[zulfiqar]

I would like the author of the OP to include include Man of the Match awards as well. Looking at posted stats it seems that in an average game each player gives away 39-40 runs accross 10 overs and takes a wicket every 34 (McGrath) -37 (Wasim) deliveries. These are almost identical #s so personal preference and deeper stat digging might reveal a better picture.

Subjectively, I think that both bowlers were very consistent in ODIs. It was rare to see either get hit for 60+ runs and also rare to not see them taking wickets. In WC tournaments McGrath was objectively better, but Wasim is not shy of WC performances as is evident in the '92 WC Final.

If there's anything I would contribute to the topic it is that McGrath probably took more top order wickets, often initiating a strangehold that the opposition could never get out of. He often just ran through the entire top order alone! Wasim was a much better finisher and either won you the game in the death overs or changed the course of it in his 2nd/3rd spells. Though both were opening bowlers, Wasim has a few glittering spells that came later in the innings. I would suspect that this reason alone has meant that Wasim probably has a higher MoM/game ratio than McGrath - though I'm not sure until someone provides those #s.

For me it's Wasim in ODIs because he was dangerous at any stage of the match and was a Tier 1 opening bowler as well. I would gladly take that over giving away an extra run or two per wicket in an ODI game!

 

[Bhaijaan]

Untrue.

The difference between Mcgrath and Wasim is not as much as the difference between Inzimam and Sachin.

Both MCGRATH AND WASIM are GOAT while Sachin is also GOAT but Inzimam is not even ATG.

Given how much we Indians love Wasim, if we still pick McGrath over him it tells you how phenomenal he was. Its just a primary difference between bowlers and batsman. For batsmen quality of runs and how you do it can mean a lot, for bowlers like you said boring batsmen out to get them out means just as much as blowing their stumps away.

Besides its just ignorance to say McGrath's boring. For people who genuinely understood bowling McGrath was a joy to watch.

I don't know who even came up with this. The only good bowler is a wicket taking bowler. McGrath's stats are phenomenal.

Things need to add up. If Wasim's skills really were that effective how come he got outperformed by McGrath? So more people got put by getting bored of McGrath's line length than Wasim's skillful bowling? It's stupid to even think like that.

Wasim did have more tricks but McGrath did way more with his skill set everywhere he went.

 

[Ab Fan]

Hard to understand the obsession with Indian fans. Indians have huge respect for Wasim Akram and he is one of the most loved Pakistani cricketer in the country alongside Saed Anwar.

In contrast, Pakistanis degrade their own great cricketer, Younis Khan, without whom they would have been sitting outside top 8 in ICC test ranking.

 

[notAgainPlease]

These T20 batsmen will roast McGrath .. not so sure if they could dominate Wasim though ..

 

[giri26]

These T20 batsmen will roast McGrath .. not so sure if they could dominate Wasim though ..

How? An Ageing McGrath bowled brilliantly in the first season of IPL. This was a year after his retirement. He still has a decent T20 record considering he played all the T20 games after his retirement in 2007.

 

[Srtfan]

Check McGrath record in First ipl,very ecnomical even after retirement

 

[Srtfan]

[MENTION=129948]Bilal7[/MENTION]. In 2004 tour Australia had lee, Gillespie & macgil,macgil is better spinner than any Pakistani spinner who played test match.

 

[Srtfan]

In first ipl McGrath did lot better than prime asif,asif er more than 9 and McGrath er less than 7 its 6.61 .

 

[pillionrider]

Wasim in ODIs whatever the stats suggest.

 

[Sidilicious]

On topic, in ODIs, I will always take Wasim over McGrath. Though, in ODIs they are very close for me and both would be part of my all time ODI XI.

Wasim Akram was the slightly better bowler because he was one of the most effective at the end of the innings.

In Tests though, I consider McGrath easily the better bowler.

 

[Fanboy375]

Both are equal.McGrath time Aus was the strongest batting team and Pak fielding was bad