What was tougher? Facing Allan Donald on a green-top or Anil Kumble on an Indian wicket in Tests?

[KP From India]

Two different challenges, facing Donald and Kumble in their den in test cricket. Which is more difficult?
Discuss.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

For SC batsmen it has to be AD on a green top. Especially the Pakistani batsmen who, a few exceptions aside, have been hopeless against pace/bounce of SA/Aus.

Kumble or any leggie would wreck havoc in Indian conditions. Likes of Lara, KP or Cook have scored quality 100s and won games. It can be done even in extreme conditions (Sunny's 90something vs Pakistan, although no leggie iirc).

I'd choose Donald as a tougher at a green top.

 

[Justcrazy]

Donald on green top.

 

[the_outsider]

Would depend entirely on the batsman. I bet Ponting would much rather face Donald on a green top than face Harbhajan on a Turner, let alone Kumble.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

From the little that I've played, I've found getting out to spin really scrambles the mind. When it comes to pace bowling, there's a fear that the ball will hit you, and it will hurt. With spin, that's not really the case unless you love sweeping but most of the times the ball hitting isn't a major fear.

That's why when you keep getting out to spin, it really messes up the mind. You see the ball, most of the times you are even aware of the direction that it will take after pitching but still at times you just aren't there. That's when you feel like, maybe you just aren't good enough.

With fast bowlers things happen quicker and the muscle memory is the only thing that you can actually control. So even though fast bowling is scary, and if you get hit in the body or there's spice in the pitch and the ball is is hitting the bat but still hurting your hands, and you are wondering what you should do next just to survive, you aren't second guessing every ball.

I'd personally face a fast bowler on a green pitch rather than a good quality spinner on a rank turner.

 

[Hasan123]

Donald on a green top. Great players of spin could see Kumble off but Donald troubled great players of pace.

 

[Ab Fan]

Donald on a green top obviously. He was one of the most terrorising fast bowlers to have played the game, who unfortunately is undermined due to that run-out in 99 WC semis. An undisputed ATG.

A comparison with Kumble is quite absurd actually. His straight comparisons should have been against Murali on spin-friendly wickets.

 

[Robert]

Green tops are not necessarily fast and bouncy. It could be a slow seamer. Donald might not move it about, being too quick to get assistance from the pitch. Medium pace like Anderson is what you need an a green seamer. Hard to hit and moving both ways off the deck.

Donald would be nastiest on a hard wicket because he was so quick and aggressive and the ball would be hitting gloves or chest off a good length.

 

[andy0204]

Green tops are not necessarily fast and bouncy. It could be a slow seamer. Donald might not move it about, being too quick to get assistance from the pitch. Medium pace like Anderson is what you need an a green seamer. Hard to hit and moving both ways off the deck.

Donald would be nastiest on a hard wicket because he was so quick and aggressive and the ball would be hitting gloves or chest off a good length.

I think Richard Hadlee would be lethal because Imran said Hadlee was the best bowler on green tops