Mitchell Starc versus Wasim Akram in ODIs/LOIs: Who is better?

[Ab Fan]

that's because Wasim didn't get a pinkball to tear teams apart, as the sun goes down and atmosphere gets heavier, batting against the pinkball is one of the hardest jobs in Cricket. Starc averaged 29 with the redball, same as Kapil Dev (who only bowled with the red ball)

Red ball pink ball don’t matter. What matters is your ability to win test matches - Starc wins you test matches at a higher rate than anyone else with pink ball. If other pacers can’t dominate the way Starc does with pink ball, it is their problem.

Can Wasim dominate the way Starc has done with pink ball? We don’t know. But we do know that Starc has done better than Cummins and Hazelwood with pink ball and better than other pacers in the world.

Anderson’s record with red ball in Australia will get even worse if we remove his pink ball test performance in Australia but that shouldn’t be a right measure to judge his performance.

 

[atreus]

Red ball pink ball don’t matter. What matters is your ability to win test matches - Starc wins you test matches at a higher rate than anyone else with pink ball. If other pacers can’t dominate the way Starc does with pink ball, it is their problem.

Can Wasim dominate the way Starc has done with pink ball? We don’t know. But we do know that Starc has done better than Cummins and Hazelwood with pink ball and better than other pacers in the world.

Anderson’s record with red ball in Australia will get even worse if we remove his pink ball test performance in Australia but that shouldn’t be a right measure to judge his performance.

Starc is great in pinkball but the pinkball fundamentally is advantageous to Australia, The last pinkball game in Australia was today, in India It was 4 years ago and it's been eons since the last pinkball game in England. Australia plays a lot more pinkball Cricket so they just have a huge advantage at it, plus all the bowlers generally end up with lower numbers with the pinkball than the redball because it just does so much under the lights.

regardless, Starc is also miles inferior to Akram overseas

 

[NishanKonar]

Starc is not really a great test bowler outside of pink ball games

Mitchell Johnson was a bigger matchwinner in test cricket. He actually demolished South Africa twice in their own den

 

[RidiculousMan]

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc said Thursday he could not be compared with Wasim Akram after he surpassed the Pakistani great as the leading left-arm pace bowler in Test history:

“Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am,” said Starc. “So as far as I’m concerned, he’s still the pinnacle of left-armers and certainly he’s right up there with the best bowlers to ever play the game.

“It’s nice to be spoken of up around that, but I’ll just try to keep churning a few out.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever played in an attack without one of the three of them playing. So it’s a little bit different in that regard,”

Game recognizes game.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

@The Bald Eagle not sure why you would merge my thread. This thread is for LOIs but Starc has surpassed Wasim in test cricket. So a different thread is required to discuss whether Starc will be considered a better test bowler than Wasim. Everyone knows the answer in LOIs.

Then again, you are the moderator...so I live it to your judgement, which in this case I dare say was not the best one. I mean Root will surpass Sachin sometime in future - multiple threads. Starc actually surpassed Wasim, no threads allowed? Why?

Hahaha...first of all you didn't thank me to erecting you that Starc has ALREADY went passed wasim, secondly everyone could read how outdated your thread was

Sure make one thread whose premise hadn't been covered before. We appreciate new threads where posters craft their opinions diligently.

Starc is just 2 wickets away from surpassing Wasim Akram's tally of 414 test wickets. It looks like he will surpass him in this very Ashes series. If he manages to do so, how would you rate Mitchel Starc as a bowler in test cricket in comparison with Wasim Akram.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

You forgot Wahab Riaz. That spell against Shane Watson was bigger than anything Starc ever did in his whole career

Even for a joke I can't put him in any ATG list

 

[Ab Fan]

Starc is not really a great test bowler outside of pink ball games

Mitchell Johnson was a bigger matchwinner in test cricket. He actually demolished South Africa twice in their own den

Okay

He demolished Saffers on spicy pitches which had grass and variable bounce.

 

[Ab Fan]

Starc is great in pinkball but the pinkball fundamentally is advantageous to Australia, The last pinkball game in Australia was today, in India It was 4 years ago and it's been eons since the last pinkball game in England. Australia plays a lot more pinkball Cricket so they just have a huge advantage at it, plus all the bowlers generally end up with lower numbers with the pinkball than the redball because it just does so much under the lights.

regardless, Starc is also miles inferior to Akram overseas

I get your point but Starc’s ability to consistently run through sides in Pink ball tests year after another deserves a lot of appreciation. He has found much more success than Cummins and Hazelwood with pink ball or other Australian pacers. This series is when it matters the most and he did stood up in red ball game in Perth by picking a 10-fer.

Yes, he is inferior to Wasim but I think he has surpassed MJ and Boult.

 

[NishanKonar]

Okay

He demolished Saffers on spicy pitches which had grass and variable bounce.

Naah. It was pretty sporting pitches. If anything Mitchell Johnson actually outbowled Dale Steyn in both those series

Starc is probably the greatest support bowler ever. He is great asset to have when u have Johnson Boland or Cummins at the other end. Like Morne Morkel & Jason Gillespie

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Which thread has Starc vs Wasim comparison been covered for test matches? Starc surpassed Wasim in test but you merge it with LOI thread that has no relevance. If Root tomorrow surpass Sachin's test runs, you will not compare who is better ODI batsman among them right? That is how silly this thread merge is and beats the fun of posting here honestly. Be honest atleast.

Hahah...can you talk the walk and make a new thread with decent stats and your opinion. What's holding you back? Instead of dropping two liners...learn something from other esteemed posters.

 

[Ab Fan]

Naah. It was pretty sporting pitches. If anything Mitchell Johnson actually outbowled Dale Steyn in both those series

Starc is probably the greatest support bowler ever. He is great asset to have when u have Johnson Boland or Cummins at the other end. Like Morne Morkel & Jason Gillespie

In that 2014 series, the pitches were sporting only when Aussies and Warner was batting thanks to clear skies.

The greatest support bowler has just delivered the greatest performance a pacer has ever delivered in absence of his two key counterparts in same series. If ever there was a worst time to say this you just said it now.

 

[cricfan432]

Was waz as good with new ball as starc? Obviously with old ball starc is nowhere near him.

 

[NishanKonar]

In that 2014 series, the pitches were sporting only when Aussies and Warner was batting thanks to clear skies.

The greatest support bowler has just delivered the greatest performance a pacer has ever delivered in absence of his two key counterparts in same series. If ever there was a worst time to say this you just said it now.

This is recency bias. People getting crazy bcoz Starc took 5fers against an England team which could not bat 70 overs in a test match thanks to their braindead Bazball tactics

Johnson actually won test series against a vastly superior South African team ( Smith , Kallis , Amla , ABD , Steyn ) not once but twice in their own den

 

[NishanKonar]

Only 1 bowler outbowled Dale Steyn in a series in South Africa. That was Mitchell Johnson. And he did it twice

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Only 1 bowler outbowled Dale Steyn in a series in South Africa. That was Mitchell Johnson. And he did it twice

Mitchell Johnson later end of his career was one of the most terrifying bowlers around.

 

[NishanKonar]

Mitchell Johnson later end of his career was one of the most terrifying bowlers around.

That 2013 Ashes was the greatest exhibition of fast bowling I have seen

Just pure unadulterated pace. No swing. No seam. Just fire & brimstone. Nobody comes close

Watching that series made me realise how scary West Indies pace attack wud have been in the 80s

 

[Ab Fan]

This is recency bias. People getting crazy bcoz Starc took 5fers against an England team which could not bat 70 overs in a test match thanks to their braindead Bazball tactics

Johnson actually won test series against a vastly superior South African team ( Smith , Kallis , Amla , ABD , Steyn ) not once but twice in their own den

This is the best England side since 2010. No recency bias. No support.

Johnson did really well in that series but the pitches were certainly spicy and South Africa found themselves on the wrong end of the conditions more often than not. Warner was player of series and that proves us the pitches must have become easier when Aussies batted. Anyways, that peak of Johnson stayed for 8 tests only.

 

[NishanKonar]

This is the best England side since 2010. No recency bias. No support.

Johnson did really well in that series but the pitches were certainly spicy and South Africa found themselves on the wrong end of the conditions more often than not. Warner was player of series and that proves us the pitches must have become easier when Aussies batted. Anyways, that peak of Johnson stayed for 8 tests only.

This England side is nowhere close to that South Africa team

That South Africa team beat Australia in Australia 3 times in 8 years. This England team will probably get whitewashed 5-0 if rain does not intervene

 

[Ab Fan]

This England side is nowhere close to that South Africa team

That South Africa team beat Australia in Australia 3 times in 8 years. This England team will probably get whitewashed 5-0 if rain does not intervene

That’s not the point to compare the two sides.Point is over their career, Starc has left Johnson into dust.

 

[gazza619]

Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc said Thursday he could not be compared with Wasim Akram after he surpassed the Pakistani great as the leading left-arm pace bowler in Test history:

“Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am,” said Starc. “So as far as I’m concerned, he’s still the pinnacle of left-armers and certainly he’s right up there with the best bowlers to ever play the game.

“It’s nice to be spoken of up around that, but I’ll just try to keep churning a few out.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever played in an attack without one of the three of them playing. So it’s a little bit different in that regard,”

It's truly remarkable how Starc prioritised his national duty over the lucrative opportunities offered by the IPL. Declining the IPL for a couple of years not only shows his dedication to staying fit and representing his country but also highlights the tremendous respect he has for his national team. It's no small feat to forgo tens of millions of dollars, and it speaks volumes about his character and commitment.

On another note, it got me thinking whether someone like Wasim Akram would have made such a sacrifice. While Wasim was undoubtedly one of the greatest bowlers of his time, I'm not sure if he would have taken the same route as Starc.

 

[Buffet]

In the test format, there is a clear gap between Wasim and Starc. Wasim was clearly better.

 

[atreus]

I get your point but Starc’s ability to consistently run through sides in Pink ball tests year after another deserves a lot of appreciation. He has found much more success than Cummins and Hazelwood with pink ball or other Australian pacers. This series is when it matters the most and he did stood up in red ball game in Perth by picking a 10-fer.

Yes, he is inferior to Wasim but I think he has surpassed MJ and Boult.

This series he's been amazing so far, though generally all of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood average 16, 17 and 18 with the pinkball so all of them are getting boosts, Starc just the biggest. Obviously these averages are a far cry from their actual averages (Minus Cummins).

Yeah I can work with that, Wasim and then Davidson and then Starc.

 

[mominsaigol]

Wasim in odi
Starc in test.

But starc has a better career. His 2015 wc record is unmatched and will remain unmatched by any bowler Everyone's favourite chucker Bumrah included.

 

[IAJ]

Wasim in odi
Starc in test.

But starc has a better career. His 2015 wc record is unmatched and will remain unmatched by any bowler Everyone's favourite chucker Bumrah included.

Longevity has to be taken into consideration, especially for fast bowlers. Just look at the ODIs Wasim Akram played: 356 matches compared to Starc’s 130. Despite playing so many more games, Wasim still maintained an excellent average and strike rate. So, in ODIs, there’s really no comparison in my opinion.

In Test cricket, their stats are quite similar at this stage. Wasim has a better average and economy rate, while Starc has a better strike rate and more wickets, and Starc can go on and strengthen this even more and end up with a better bowler than Wasim.

Here, I’m only talking about the numbers—not the quality of opposition or conditions.

By the way, Wasim also has a better batting record in both formats compared to Starc.

 

[mominsaigol]

Longevity has to be taken into consideration, especially for fast bowlers. Just look at the ODIs Wasim Akram played: 356 matches compared to Starc’s 130. Despite playing so many more games, Wasim still maintained an excellent average and strike rate. So, in ODIs, there’s really no comparison in my opinion.

In Test cricket, their stats are quite similar at this stage. Wasim has a better average and economy rate, while Starc has a better strike rate and more wickets, and Starc can go on and strengthen this even more and end up with a better bowler than Wasim.

Here, I’m only talking about the numbers—not the quality of opposition or conditions.

By the way, Wasim also has a better batting record in both formats compared to Starc.

I already said wasim is miles > in Odi?

 

[Devadwal]

Wasim in odi
Starc in test.

But starc has a better career. His 2015 wc record is unmatched and will remain unmatched by any bowler Everyone's favourite chucker Bumrah included.

Wasim is way better than Starc in test cricket. Lol

 

[IAJ]

I already said wasim is miles > in Odi?

I did not negate your comment. Just added my opinion

 

[TheSultan]

One thing to consider with Wasim, his early years 85-89, he mainly played the role of understudy to Imran Khan. We saw the finished product in that 1989-90 tour of Australia.

When he at his peak and should have dominated, he had a certain Mr Younis to share wickets with. Some of those 3-4fers could have been 6fers if Waqar wasn’t cleaning up at the other end.

One thing I will always say about Wasim, his immense skill also killed his numbers a bit. I wish he had pushed himself more and come tearing in more often. Instead very early on, he was content to lope in and challenge the batting with his skill. The optics may be good, but doesn’t result in devastating performances.

His record should have been a lot better

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Starc's peak was ridiculous - 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

Dont think anybody has matched that.

 

[mominsaigol]

Starc's peak was ridiculous - 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

Dont think anybody has matched that.

Yup, no one can(except me) and no one ever will(except me)

 

[Katwalindian]

Wasim in odi
Starc in test.

But starc has a better career. His 2015 wc record is unmatched and will remain unmatched by any bowler Everyone's favourite chucker Bumrah included.

Actually it's opposite wasim in tests, starc in odis

 

[Buffet]

Starc's numbers are inflated by pink ball cricket. Only Aus plays day night tests regularly and guess what - all 3 Aus pacers are averaging in 16-18. Starc just happens to get around 90 test wickets in day night matches.





Starc away average,

Ind - 53
NZ - 43
UAE - 53
SA - 34
Pak - 34
Eng - 29
SL - 17

And at home in day tests,




Wasim may not be in class of Marshall, McGrath etc but comfortably better than Starc. Starc is not that great away except in SL. At home he has been outbowled by pretty much all Aus pacers in day test cricket. 80-90 pink ball wickets at avg of 16 can mislead fans. Wasim was surely better in test format. it's not even close.

Wasim and Starc can be compared in longevity but not in class in the test format. In ODI they are closer.

 

[Ab Fan]

Starc is a country great, Wasim is an all time great.