The game of cricket has undergone a complete transformation over the past 35 to 40 years, evolving in ways that make direct comparisons between players from different eras almost meaningless. Advancements in technology, analytics, and player preparation have fundamentally changed how the game is played and approached.
Today’s bowlers benefit from extensive data on opposition players, grounds, and pitches, which helps them strategize to an unprecedented degree. They have access to better accommodations, training facilities, and recovery methods. Modern recovery techniques, from massage therapists to advanced equipment that addresses muscle knots and niggles, allow players to stay at peak fitness. Load management is now a routine part of player management, ensuring that they are not overworked.
The science of nutrition has also reached new heights, with supplements and diet plans tailored to maximize performance and recovery. Tours are scheduled well in advance, allowing players to plan and prepare meticulously for the challenges ahead. All of this ensures that today’s players, including bowlers, are in the best possible mental and physical condition to perform.
However, when comparing bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah to legends such as Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, and Waqar Younis, you cannot rely solely on modern stats. These stats are influenced by a host of factors that were not available to players from earlier eras. Players like Wasim, Imran, and Waqar achieved their greatness in an era without the resources, infrastructure, and support systems that modern players take for granted. They had to rely on skill, instinct, and relentless hard work, often playing under conditions that were far more grueling than what today’s players experience.
If you take the time to watch these legends bowl, you will notice their superior run-ups, speeds, follow-throughs, and overall skill sets. Wasim Akram revolutionized swing bowling, showing the world how to move the ball both ways with unmatched control and precision. Imran Khan redefined the art of reverse swing and inspired a generation to understand the importance of fitness and mental toughness for bowlers. Waqar Younis introduced devastating toe crushing yorkers and elevated reverse swing to a level that few could imagine. These legends didn’t just succeed, they introduced new techniques and ideas that changed the game forever, paving the way for future generations to improve.
Using stats alone to claim that Bumrah is better is an oversimplification and ignores the nuances of cricket’s evolution. While Bumrah is undoubtedly a world-class bowler in today’s era, the argument that he is better than Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, or Waqar Younis doesn’t hold water when you consider the conditions, challenges, and limited resources those legends faced.
Cricket is not just about numbers. It is about the context in which those numbers were achieved, the challenges that were overcome, and the sheer brilliance displayed on the field. Comparing players across eras requires a deeper understanding of these factors, not just a glance at stats.
I have said what I needed to say and have nothing more to add. You can continue using whatever filter you prefer for your comparisons, but I will not engage further.