Mohammed Abbas vs Kagiso Rabada FIGHT: WHO WINS?

[alized]

Two great fast bowlers. Both new to scene and both toping the rankings early on into their careers. Here's some real facts. So, let's get to the debate. Shall we?


Abbas is 28 years of age and made his debut for Pakistan in 2017. He plays only the Test format.

Rabada is 24 years of age and made his debut for South Africa in 2015. He plays in all three formats of the game.


Abbas has an average of 15.64 at an economy rate of 2.47 and SR of 38.43. This is after 10 matches.

Rabada has an average of 21.72 at an economy rate of 3.31 and SR of 39.32. This is after 32 matches.


Abbas, the Asian, relies on attacking the stumps with 54.3% of his wickets obtained through Bowled and LBW. The rest are Caught.

Rabada, the African, relies on bowling bouncy good (short) length wide-off stump deliveries. 67.5% of his wickets are Caught. And if you're wondering, 32.5% of his wickets are Bowled and LBW.


Abbas has taken 10 wickets in England at an average of 14.20

Rabada has taken 16 wickets in England at an average of 28.44


So who's better? Comment down below. Put some more stats if you like.

 

[CadPakFan]

Too early to compare the two, if we let Abbas play more games we will have a better idea.

 

[Savak]

Don't think Rabadda has done anything of note in the subcontinent, he certainly would have been ineffective in the UAE, even Starc was neutralized here and Abbas bowled like a boss on these dead wickets.

 

[Pete Rose]

If Abbas gets to bowl to Pakistani batsmen he will do equally or better than Rabada

 

[Rayyman]

Abbas is 100x better

 

[wrongun]

At this stage, Abbas rocks Rabada in the early rounds with some solid blows. But Rabada hangs on, regathers and beats him on points over the long run. Fans are crying out for a rematch in a year or two's time...

 

[ManFan]

Don't think Rabadda has done anything of note in the subcontinent, he certainly would have been ineffective in the UAE, even Starc was neutralized here and Abbas bowled like a boss on these dead wickets.

Starc doesn’t know how to bowl in Test cricket despite having everything a red-ball fast bowler would dream of.

Rabada is a slightly-above average ODI player but in Tests, the guy is all class. He took 13 wickets on a flat pitch when he was 20 years old.

He hasn’t had the chance to play a great deal in the subcontinent so it remains a challenge but not an unattainable one.

 

[Rayyman]

Rabada is not a good bowler. Master of flukes and overrated as hell.

 

[New Yorker]

Far too early to tell, for Abbas. But that certainly seems like the most interesting match up in Test bowling today. And full of poignancy, because no matter how good is Abbas, Rabada has youth and time and on his side.

 

[Peshwa]

Abbas to wreck havoc in SA
Will single handedly win Test for Pakistan
Rabada will go wicketless on UAE pitches
Rabada is poor Man's Abbas

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Don't think Rabadda has done anything of note in the subcontinent, he certainly would have been ineffective in the UAE, even Starc was neutralized here and Abbas bowled like a boss on these dead wickets.

Starc is hardly a standard, he blows hot and cold every other test. He's not even the best Aussie bowler, Hazlewood is much better in tests.

 

[WengerOut]

Abbas has not done what Starc did in SL.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Can't decide, lol.

 

[Savak]

Starc is hardly a standard, he blows hot and cold every other test. He's not even the best Aussie bowler, Hazlewood is much better in tests.

I wonder why didn't the Aussies select Hazzelwood? Siddle was useless on these wickets

 

[Savak]

Abbas has not done what Starc did in SL.

Question marks over Starc's actual quality and whether those wickets he got were tainted are justified in light of the Sandpaper scandal

 

[Suleiman]

Few performances here and there and boxing headline versus threads are out

 

[WengerOut]

Question marks over Starc's actual quality and whether those wickets he got were tainted are justified in light of the Sandpaper scandal

If we are to do retro speculation, then we might have to extend it to certain greats as well.

 

[cricketjoshila]

The OP forgot to add. Rabada has 151 test wickets and Abbas has 59.

Not to forget that Rabada has 100 plus wickets in LOIs as well.

 

[ManFan]

If we are to do retro speculation, then we might have to extend it to certain greats as well.

Except there’s no video footage or fine that was handed to these “certain greats”.

 

[alized]

The OP forgot to add. Rabada has 151 test wickets and Abbas has 59.

Not to forget that Rabada has 100 plus wickets in LOIs as well.

Yea he's got 2 more years under his belt. Aggregate of wickets mean nothing. It's like comparing young Kohli to Sachin and saying the latter is better because he has more runs in total. Who knows that he ends up in more than him within a few years.

 

[todfod 11]

Rabada is a better bowler all round... Abbas is a good bowler but like pakistanis always do they hyping him as if he is the second coming of McGrath.
If Abbas bowls to technically more sounds batsmen such as Sachin dravid Azhar kohli he would be hit for a boundary every single time his ball is aiming the pads.
Let him play he still has a longer journey.

 

[alized]

Rabada is a better bowler all round... Abbas is a good bowler but like pakistanis always do they hyping him as if he is the second coming of McGrath.
If Abbas bowls to technically more sounds batsmen such as Sachin dravid Azhar kohli he would be hit for a boundary every single time his ball is aiming the pads.
Let him play he still has a longer journey.

What about Alastair Cook, Joe Root? How come they couldn't survive ball to the pads? They both got OUT LBW by Abbas.

 

[WengerOut]

Except there’s no video footage or fine that was handed to these “certain greats”.

Thanks for proving my point. No video footage or fine for Starc in SL as well.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Yea he's got 2 more years under his belt. Aggregate of wickets mean nothing. It's like comparing young Kohli to Sachin and saying the latter is better because he has more runs in total. Who knows that he ends up in more than him within a few years.

Aggregate of wickets is everything. Its the basis of comparision.

What next? Fakhar Zaman is better than Brian Lara?

 

[Ab Fan]

Rabada as of now.

 

[wrongun]

I wonder why didn't the Aussies select Hazzelwood? Siddle was useless on these wickets

Hazlewood, Cummins & Pattinson all still recovering from injury. Unavailable for selection.

So selectors went to Siddle because at least they know he can hold a line and bowl all day if needed.

 

[austerlitz]

Rabada.Trundler abbas is going through a purple patch.Rabada is ATG material.

 

[babajee]

Can't decide, lol.

Hasan vs Abbas?

 

[DRsohail]

Abbas has not done what Starc did in SL.

Ok he doesn’t need to do that.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Rabada.Trundler abbas is going through a purple patch.Rabada is ATG material.

I'd have said the same thing but what I've noticed about Abbas is how quickly he adapts to new situations.

 

[DRsohail]

Different bowlers with different strength. Have to see rabda performing in asia while abbas in SA. Based on current form ababs beats him but as long term option rabada is definitely better and will get better and better.

 

[DRsohail]

Enjoying the uneasiness being spread in some posters mind here which is the indication that guy abbas is doing superb these days.

 

[Hasan123]

Why do we always need to call our players the best in the world after 1 good series? Just let them play a few more series at this level before calling them that!

You are a comparing a player who has performed in tests and ODIs for a few years and still has potential to get better , with a player who has started playing for his country at 28 and has had 1 exceptional test series against a week and 2nd string Australia. Come on guys use some common sense.

Rabada is the better bowler overall.

 

[WengerOut]

Ok he doesn’t need to do that.

OK Sir.

 

[Rahul1]

Rabada is not a good bowler. Master of flukes and overrated as hell.

I think the second part of your post describes Amir perfectly.

 

[Rahul1]

Rabada.Trundler abbas is going through a purple patch.Rabada is ATG material.

Purple patch + beginner's luck. I would wait for him to play at least 20-25 tests in different conditions before judging him.

 

[The Viper]

Rabada at the moment. Longetivity does matter. Who knows this could just be a purple patch for Abbas.

 

[Hawkeye]

There you go.

Our insecurities start. Abbas right now has A LOT TO PROVE.

Rabada is a near modern day great. Brilliant in both Tests and ODIs. Pace, accuracy, movement, all against the top teams and in away conditions.

Abbas has only bullied minnows or depleted lineups like Australia, that too not in Australia.

Yes - good in England, but those were ideal conditions and can't judge him there.

Abbas is a bit limited in skills as compared to Rabada and has yet to perform against the top batsmen of this era.

Rabada is far ahead as of this stage.

 

[Fahdi]

Let Abbas get to 20 tests before we start comparing player vs player.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

There you go.

Our insecurities start. Abbas right now has A LOT TO PROVE.

Rabada is a near modern day great. Brilliant in both Tests and ODIs. Pace, accuracy, movement, all against the top teams and in away conditions.

Abbas has only bullied minnows or depleted lineups like Australia, that too not in Australia.

Yes - good in England, but those were ideal conditions and can't judge him there.

Abbas is a bit limited in skills as compared to Rabada and has yet to perform against the top batsmen of this era.

Rabada is far ahead as of this stage.

Wow good in England because of ideal conditions, beast in uae because of?

 

[Bewal Express]

Rabada is not a good bowler. Master of flukes and overrated as hell.

Terrible bowler, only took 35 wickets against Ind and Australia last year.

 

[Rayyman]

Terrible bowler, only took 35 wickets against Ind and Australia last year.

Naa he's overrated. Decent pace, but that's it.

 

[Bewal Express]

Naa he's overrated. Decent pace, but that's it.

If he is overrated then may Allah help the rest.

 

[Bhaijaan]

At the moment Abbas’s is in another tier of greatness. Well above Rabada and I don’t see Rabada catching up Abbass’s current stays anytime soon.

 

[Darkrai]

Aggregate of wickets is everything. Its the basis of comparision.

What next? Fakhar Zaman is better than Brian Lara?

Are you trying to say Kapil dev and Broad are better than the great West Indies bowlers, Imran Khan, or Rchard Hadlee?

This whole aggregate thing doesn't make sense. Just because some players have played less number of matches, therefore have taken less wickets, doesn't mean they can't be better than players who have played a lot more matches. It's nonsensical.

 

[Itachi]

Abbas is already ATG. who is rabada?

 

[Darkrai]

I think we will have a better idea after the SA series, but for now Rabada> Abbas

 

[todfod 11]

What about Alastair Cook, Joe Root? How come they couldn't survive ball to the pads? They both got OUT LBW by Abbas.

Indian are alwqys known for flicks on the on-Side... Joe root cook dont come in the class of Sachin or dravid even Kohli.

 

[Savak]

Listen to me. Rabadda would have been ineffective on these UAE wickets. Abbas has done something even ATG bowlers from the 70's would have failed to do.

Dennis Lillee surrendered on that Faisalabad wicket

 

[Rayyman]

I think the second part of your post describes Amir perfectly.

Please explain. I disagree.

 

[New Yorker]

Aggregate of wickets is everything. Its the basis of comparision.

What next? Fakhar Zaman is better than Brian Lara?

Well, if it were, Anderson would be lodged on top of the ICC bowling rankings until he retires. He could stop taking wickets altogether, going wicketless game in and game out, while other bowlers took a 10 fer every Test, yet would in your mind still remain the better bowler. Genius method of comparison.

 

[New Yorker]

Purple patch + beginner's luck. I would wait for him to play at least 20-25 tests in different conditions before judging him.

I would point out that the argument for sample size must be applied to Rabada as well, not merely Abbas. The implicit assumption among those who like Rabada better is that we already know how good Rabada is. But a larger sample size, in his case 32 Tests, is still only a sample size. The problem becomes apparent if you consider that Rabada averages 55 in India, but has only played 3 Tests there, compared to 18 in South Africa, a heaven for pace bowlers.