What's new

Which 2 pace bowlers of same era rolled into one comprised the perfect paceman?

H

Harsh Thakor

First Class Star
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Runs
3,520
Post of the Week
2
Here I am ranking in order of merit pairs of pace bowlers belonging to same era who when rolled together comprised the perfect pace bowler.Considering combination of pace,accuracy,movement,versatility and control.





1.Wasim Akram- Glen Mcgrath-Perfect blending of the ultimate magician in Wasim with the supreme metronome in Mcgrath.Supreme variations of deliveries and reverse swing merged with control ,consistency and intelligence.Reminiscent of a musical composer and technician moulded into one.





2.Malcolm Marshall-Curtly Ambrose -The phenomenal accuracy of Joel combined with the mastery and ferocity of Marshall would make a perfect bowler.






3.Wasim Akram-Curtly Ambrose-Movement,accuracy and explosive power blended in perfect proportion and supreme depth.






4.Joel Garner-Dennis Lillee-The most complete and agressive paceman of all merged with the best ever exponent of the yorker would make the ultimate paceman.What more could you want than the accuracy and consistency of Garner with the verstality of Lillee.






5.Malcolm Marshall-Wasim Akram-Two of fast bowling's ultimate geniuses





6..Imran Khan -Richard Hadlee-perfect blending pf pace and swing with control





7.Alan Donald-Glen Mcgrath-Perfect blending of supreme pace and control





8.Michael Holding-Andy Roberts-Combination of speed,movement ,control and versatility at it's supreme depth.





9.Curtly Ambrose-Courtney Walsh

Super blending of accuracy ,agression and bounce of Ambrose with the craft,diversity and stamina of Walsh





10.Dale Steyn -Shoaib Akhtar-Lightning pace merged with movement and control.
 
All good choices. In contemporary cricket, I would go with the two best left-arm pacers in the world - Boult and Starc. Boult's mastery of swing combined with Starc's pace and power.
 
McGrath & Akhtar

Accuracy of McGrath & Pace of Akhtar. Best example would be: Mitch Johnson. He reminds me of that, in the 2013-14 Ashes. But lacked the pace of Akhar (155+) and some accuracy as well.

I am in love with his famous spell, during that series, which instilled fear in the very batsmen/line up who were accustomed to play short ball well, as expected from english batsmen. The aggression was a nice on top of that.

I would have gone with Akhtar & Waseem, but Starc has already done that so, on few occasions.
 
Last edited:
Shane Bond-Courtney Walsh, Bond's Prodigious pace, bounce and swing blending with accuracy, intelligence and longevity of Walsh, ultimate fast bowling extravaganza.
 
Different era, but I probably would dream to have a fast bowler with the skills of Akram and mentality of DK Lillee.
 
Harsh Thakor said:
Why not Marshall instead of Lillee?
Click to expand...

DK was the pioneer of modern fast bowlers - cunning, aggressive, skillful, always menacing and deceptively fast. At their fastest I do think DK was faster. I do rate MDM a better fast bower because of his economy as well - DK at times was too aggressive and his economy shows that, but he was the leader of that AUS attack for 12 years. Any WIN bowler that time probably didn't required to take that role because they hunted together - may be in late 80s MDM for few years did something what DK did for a decade.

You can say it's personal preference - may be when I was a kid in AUS, DK was the childhood hero of many such kids and I always rate DK as the greatest Aussie fast bowler ever, probably only 2nd to Marshall as ATG, but you don't get a better sight in cricket than DK Lillee charging to Viv & Barry in WSC. Akram is obviously the most skilled fast bowler the game has seen - there are faster pacers and may be similar skilled as well; but you don't get a complete package like this - pace, bounce, swing, seem, old/new ball skills and variations, as well as cunning mind. Akram was a chronic diabetic from mid 20s and he compromised his integrity, PAK's catching didn't help him either and he suffered no ball issues through-out his career - otherwise with same number of Tests, he should have finished with 500+ wickets at 19ish average.

Wasim Akram with a DK Lillie's mind and heart will be the ultimate bowler you can imagine.
 
MMHS said:
DK was the pioneer of modern fast bowlers - cunning, aggressive, skillful, always menacing and deceptively fast. At their fastest I do think DK was faster. I do rate MDM a better fast bower because of his economy as well - DK at times was too aggressive and his economy shows that, but he was the leader of that AUS attack for 12 years. Any WIN bowler that time probably didn't required to take that role because they hunted together - may be in late 80s MDM for few years did something what DK did for a decade.

You can say it's personal preference - may be when I was a kid in AUS, DK was the childhood hero of many such kids and I always rate DK as the greatest Aussie fast bowler ever, probably only 2nd to Marshall as ATG, but you don't get a better sight in cricket than DK Lillee charging to Viv & Barry in WSC. Akram is obviously the most skilled fast bowler the game has seen - there are faster pacers and may be similar skilled as well; but you don't get a complete package like this - pace, bounce, swing, seem, old/new ball skills and variations, as well as cunning mind. Akram was a chronic diabetic from mid 20s and he compromised his integrity, PAK's catching didn't help him eityher and he suffered no ball issues through-out his career - otherwise with same number of Tests, he should have finished with 500+ wickets at 19ish average.

Wasim Akram with a DK Lillie's mind and heart will be the ultimate bowler you can imagine.
Click to expand...

Great answer.very analytical.Still what about. Blending accuracy of McGrath with Versatility of Wasim?Not a perfect combination?
 
Harsh Thakor said:
Great answer.very analytical.Still what about. Blending accuracy of McGrath with Versatility of Wasim?Not a perfect combination?
Click to expand...

Mac was different type of pacer - don't get me wrong, but he never excited me. Hewas like the fast bowling version of Ravi Jadeja, but extremely effective indeed. Mac played for a wonderful team where he could put collective pressure and his accuracy came handy, something we have seen Stuart Clarke to do as well with that team; but DK was something unique and nobody could raise his game like DK when needed. He is my go to guy when chips are down and he'll never fail.
 
Plesae participate here [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION] Cherish your contribution
 
Ishant Sharma/Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Shami/Bumrah

Mohammad Asif/Umar Gul

Shoaib Akhtar/Iftikhar Anjum
 
Peak Ambrose and Waqar/Donald that would be scary :uak
 
I would say Kapil Dev and Imran Khan would be a very potent combination. The pace and inswing of Imran coupled with control, outswing, fitness, and longevity of Kapil Dev!!! That would create helluva bowler.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

shariqnoor
  • Poll Poll
Swing vs Seam: Which is more deadly?
Replies
41
Views
1K
aboveandbeyond
A
Z
Mohammad Abbas and the Legacy of Pakistani Fast Bowlers in County Cricket
Replies
1
Views
577
cricfan432
C
MenInG
Australia vs Pakistan 2nd Test: The MCG pitch - lambs to the slaughter?
Replies
51
Views
2K
Romali_rotti
Romali_rotti
H
Michael Holding - The most talented right-arm fast-bowler of all and most lethal at his best?
Replies
15
Views
2K
PakLFC
P
H
5 most intelligent fast or fast-medium bowlers of all time?
Replies
27
Views
3K
sweep_shot
sweep_shot
Back
Top