Who would you select as your two dream strike bowlers from any era?

[superfan]

If I could have my pick, I would go for Wasim Akram and Glen McGrath. Imagine Wasim Akram bowling 90 plus Mph and swinging the ball both ways, while Glen McGrath’s impeccable line and length from the other end. I think their style would perfectly complement each other’s. These greats also had the rare ability to pick up wickets on any ground.

If you could choose any 2 bowlers from any era in their prime to open the innings for you, who would you select?

 

[Robert]

1. Marshall.

2. Would depend where. In England, I'd have Trueman. Elsewhere, probably the young Waqar.

 

[JaDed]

Wasim Akram ,Shane Warne.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Akram and McGrath

 

[TheNightWatchman]

You've got to be crazy not to include Wasim Akram. He's as good with the old ball as he is with the new. He can take a wicket at any time

 

[sshakir411]

Wasim Akram ,Shane Warne.

this. hands down

 

[Commander]

1. Wasim (no doubt)
2. McGrath, Waqar, Walsh

 

[Naim]

first name come to my mind is waseem. no! not muhammad waseem. i am writting about wasim akram. and 2nd bowler will be non other then mcgrath. 2 excellent new ball bowlers. and they can take wickets in every part of world. yeah even in Antarctica.

 

[Haroon786]

Marshall and Imran Khan.

 

[Slog]

Wasim, Murali

 

[Naim]

Wasim, Murali

murali will not lust long in this era coz he will not allow to chuck.

 

[IndianWillow]

Marshall and Akram - tremendous left-right combination.

 

[Stallion__]

Fast Bowlers only

Talking about prime i-e peak only, it would be

-) Imran
-) Waqar


Considering whole career

-) Marshall
-) Barnes


Considering after WW period only

-) Marshall

-) For second slot, we have three set of bowlers

1) Steyn, Waqar, Donald, Trueman
2) Hadlee, Lillee, Garner
3) Wasim, Imran, McGrath, Ambrose


On bowler friendly surfaces, I would pick one from the first category
On supportive pitches, I would pick one from second category
On unresponsive pitches, I would pick one from third category

 

[MMHS]

Marshall and Akram - tremendous left-right combination.

You beat me to post first.

My 5 men Test attack 'll be these 2 + Imran, Warne & Murali. If it's a green top, I 'll drop one of Warne or Murali & pick Richard Hadlee

 

[Robert]

You've got to be crazy not to include Wasim Akram. He's as good with the old ball as he is with the new. He can take a wicket at any time

There are so many better bowlers.

So very, very many.

 

[as-95]

In answer to the OP:

Wasim and waqar of course.

 

[as-95]

Imran Khan, Marshall close contenders but I couldn't resist the proven 2 W's combo. GOAT.

 

[honeybadger]

1) Malcom Marshall
2) Andy Roberts/Richard Hadlee/ DKL/Imran Khan

 

[zabalestmsm]

Wasim Akram & Glenn McGrath. Would make the best pair of all times easily. No fast bowlers can beat these two. A complete package as a pair!

 

[Saqs]

The young Waqar and Warne.

 

[octavian]

Wasim and Marshall

 

[Buffet]

Steyn and Marshall

 

[hussain123]

Akram for sheer aesthetics and micheal holding(whispering death)

 

[Markhor]

Marshall and McGrath. Batsmen won't know who to get their runs off. I love Wasim but he would give you the occasional hit me delivery.

 

[Liverpool_Faizan]

Since ive been watching cricket I would go with Akram and McGrath.

Akram had everything. Literally everything.

McGrath was the definition of unplayable.

 

[IndianWillow]

Wasim was a great bowler but he was not even the best from Pakistan, let alone of all time.

The Wasim Cultists are not amenable to reason. They base their faith on two deliveries in a WC Final which they were not old enough to watch.

Wasim was a pick for me due to the variety he brings to the table, along with a right arm express pacer. Marshall-Steyn, Marshall-Lillee and similar pairs are somewhat one dimensional. Batsmen always struggle to make runs when a left-right bowler combo is operating. When these two are Marshall and Akram, they nearly become impossible to play. Akram can go for runs and sometimes loses his venom, but when he operates with Marshall it is very unlikely to happen.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I am strictly speaking based on combos. So many awesome ATGs and GOATs miss out due to it.

For tests:

Marshall (greatest Test pacer ever)
Wasim (most complete bowler ever)

For ODIs:

Wasim (greatest ODI pacer ever)
McGrath (greatest clutch bowler and top order destroyer ever)

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

My aim is to cover all the bases with just 2 bowlers.

 

[Saqs]

Surprised not many people going for a spin and pace combo.

 

[Anik Sharma]

From any era..
For TESTs..

1/Marshal
2/Warne

For ODIs

1/Wasim
2/Mustafizur

From Present Era..
For ODIs/TESTs

1/Shakib
2/Mustafiur
"Aila.."

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Surprised not many people going for a spin and pace combo.

Cos ATG pacer > ATG spinner.

2 pacer attack will beat 1 pacer and 1 spinner attack most of the times.

On pattas, 2 pacers will win (cos spinner won't have any advantage but pacers can use their pace, bounce and probing line to induce a mistake).
On green tracks, 2 pacers will crush the other one.
On normal swing track, 2 pacers will win.
On rank turners, 2 pacers will lose (usually rank turners have cracks allow pacers to get cut off the pitch but let's say they lose)
On regular spin track, it will be close but 2 pacers may narrowly lose.

Still overall they win and they have stand more of a chance on turners than 1 pacer and 1 spinner on swing/green/patta tracks.

 

[aloo paratha]

This wouldn't be my pick but imagine Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar steaming in from both ends bowling 150K's!

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Clarification:

On regular spin track, it will be close but 2 pacers may narrowly lose.

Talking about ATG pacers who don't struggle in most tracks.

 

[Enforcer]

Wasim and Marshal. Beat that.

 

[octavian]

Wasim was a great bowler but he was not even the best from Pakistan, let alone of all time.

The Wasim Cultists are not amenable to reason. They base their faith on two deliveries in a WC Final which they were not old enough to watch.

Yeah except that almost every great batsman of Wasim's era rates him as the most difficult bowler to face. An era that includes the likes of Lara, Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis, Dravid, Gilly etc

 

[Kiri]

Murali and Warne

 

[Buffet]

Murali and Warne

Ah, in India they will allow 500-600 runs in each inning.

 

[Saqs]

Cos ATG pacer > ATG spinner.

2 pacer attack will beat 1 pacer and 1 spinner attack most of the times.

On pattas, 2 pacers will win (cos spinner won't have any advantage but pacers can use their pace, bounce and probing line to induce a mistake).
On green tracks, 2 pacers will crush the other one.
On normal swing track, 2 pacers will win.
On rank turners, 2 pacers will lose (usually rank turners have cracks allow pacers to get cut off the pitch but let's say they lose)
On regular spin track, it will be close but 2 pacers may narrowly lose.

Still overall they win and they have stand more of a chance on turners than 1 pacer and 1 spinner on swing/green/patta tracks.

So you think Warne or Murali wouldn't do well on non spin friendly pitches? These guys could get wickets everywhere.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Wasim and Marshall for sure in test cricket.

ODI cricket Brett Lee is up their!

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

So you think Warne or Murali wouldn't do well on non spin friendly pitches? These guys could get wickets everywhere.

They could but

On a green track 2 ATG pacers would outperform Warne/ATG pacer.
On a patta, the 2 ATG pacers would outperform them.

Since we are going for a one size fits all approach, we have to go for a combo that produces the more output (than others) in a variety of conditions.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Anwar Ali/ Trent Copeland

 

[imshally81]

1 - Waseem
2 - Young Waqar with the old Action / Shoaib Akhter

 

[Saqs]

Anwar Ali/ Trent Copeland

Lol.

Ravi Bopara and Liam Plunkett

 

[Saqs]

They could but

On a green track 2 ATG pacers would outperform Warne/ATG pacer.
On a patta, the 2 ATG pacers would outperform them.

Since we are going for a one size fits all approach, we have to go for a combo that produces the more output (than others) in a variety of conditions.

Perhaps. But if you look at the number of wickets both spin twins took, it dwarves everyone else.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Ashwin and Ishant Sharma.

 

[Statsman]

Test - Malcolm Marshall, Shane Keith Warne
ODIs - Shane Bond, Mitchel Starc

 

[proud_pakistani]

If I had to choose the primer of any 2 bowlers it would easily be Wasim and Waqar. Greatest thing about the 2 Ws was the ability to reverse which the other bowlers do not have. The ability to reverse means they could tear any opposition apart in very quick time

 

[Sachin136]

Tests: Marshall and McGrath
ODIs: Akram and McGrath

 

[shaz619]

Shane Warne and Shoaib Aktar

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Interesting to see not many have mentioned Joel garner. I don't know why.

I would choose any 2 from the list below for all formats.

Marshall Wasim Garner McGrath

All these bowlers can destroy any top order with their pace, swing, bounce and control on any ground. These men make the new ball talk. Wasim and McGrath can make the old ball talk as well.

 

[justarslan]

Great Khan and Waqar.

 

[Anfield]

Thomson and Akhtar.

I want blood!!

 

[ahanank]

1) Asif
2) Amir

 

[Justcrazy]

marshal and Waqar .

 

[Vayuu]

Marshall and akram

 

[Vayuu]

The greatest right armer teaming up with greatest left armer

 

[Pantani]

Wasim was a great bowler but he was not even the best from Pakistan, let alone of all time.

The Wasim Cultists are not amenable to reason. They base their faith on two deliveries in a WC Final which they were not old enough to watch.

Don't you agree that Wasim is one of the greats?

If you do then you can have no complaints about people picking him. After all a 'dream' bowling attack consists of people's favourite bowlers, not necessarily the best two bowlers ever.

I would pick Wasim and McGrath. I really rate the West Indies quicks too but I'm only 21 years old, they were way ahead of my viewing time so I went with two bowlers I have actually watched live rather than via Youtube clips.

 

[Pantani]

Ah, in India they will allow 500-600 runs in each inning.

Surely not to the current Indian team though

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Perhaps. But if you look at the number of wickets both spin twins took, it dwarves everyone else.

But their averages don't.

Its just that pacers have certain inherant advantages over spinners in general.

 

[Stallion__]

Marshall and Akram is pretty much a dream combination, but no complaints for anyone who don't pick Wasim here.

He isn't a default choice like Marshall.

Infact the only 3 players that automatically makes those lists are Bradman, Marshall and Sobers in their respective categories.
For the rest, they are not obvious picks no matter how much popular they are.

Lillee, Hadlee, McGrath or Steyn above Wasim is understandable.

 

[Random Aussie]

Marshall and Akram is pretty much a dream combination, but no complaints for anyone who don't pick Wasim here.

He isn't a default choice like Marshall.

Infact the only 3 players that automatically makes those lists are Bradman, Marshall and Sobers in their respective categories.
For the rest, they are not obvious picks no matter how much popular they are.

Lillee, Hadlee, McGrath or Steyn above Wasim is understandable.

Wasim is the best lefty though. And if you are picking for a hypothetical game the variety is ideal. I wouldn't pick McGrath in my top three and maybe not Wasim but I would pick them to partner Marshall.

 

[Stallion__]

Wasim is the best lefty though. And if you are picking for a hypothetical game the variety is ideal. I wouldn't pick McGrath in my top three and maybe not Wasim but I would pick them to partner Marshall.

Me too would pick Marshall/Wasim combo (considering post WW bowlers only) despite the fact that I rate McGrath a better bowler than Wasim.

But people here are saying that its crazy not to pick Wasim or its a troll if anyone don't have Wasim as a choice, which I don't agree with.

 

[Stallion__]

Wasim is the best lefty though.

To be honest Davidson was damn good as well.

Wasim vs Davidson is like Marshall vs Garner, where former beats the latter only for his charm and longevity.

 

[blackanhyellow]

akram and bond for me

 

[Robert]

Don't you agree that Wasim is one of the greats?

Yes, that is why my post began with the words "Wasim was a great bowler." I take issue with hyperbolic statements however. He had a dent in his figures against England, whereas Imran was remarkably good against all-comers.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Malcolm Marshall and Allan Donald.

 

[KB]

"The Wasim Cultists are not amenable to reason"

If some Pakistani 'cultists' are indeed deluded, they are in good company.

Allan Border said that Akram was the cricketer he would like to come back as. Graham Gooch said he would make his world 11 alongside Marshall, Warne and Lillee and that he would rather face Michael Holding than Wasim.

Brian Lara rated him as the best he had faced, adding that “with Wasim Akram you can play the best forward defensive and he can get through that." Mark Taylor rated him the best bowler he faced along with Ambrose and summed up the breathtaking variety that Akram possessed, by noting that he could land the ball on the same spot for four times and do four different things with it. Other Australians, Michael Slater, Justin Langer and Ian Healy agreed with Taylor, that Wasim was the greatest they faced.

In a recent Sky debate when discussing the greatest, Nasser Hussain, Ricky Ponting (and David Lloyd) were unanimous: Wasim was the best. Jacques Kallis who never even faced Wasim at his peak concluded "In my opinion Wasim Akram of Pakistan was the best pace bowler that I ever faced."

Respect was not only forthcoming from batsmen. He was rated the best of his generation by Allan Donald. Curtly Ambrose was even more emphatic: "I think Wasim Akram is the greatest. He has done things with the cricket ball no other fast bowler has."

Wasim Akram did not so much make the ball talk, as Peter Roebuck once observed, but he made it sing instead.

 

[Afridian4Life]

in the 90s

Wasim Akram
Waqar Yonis

in the 00s

Brett Lee
Shoaib Akhtar

in the 10s

Mustafizur
Mohammad Amir

 

[Random Aussie]

To be honest Davidson was damn good as well.

Wasim vs Davidson is like Marshall vs Garner, where former beats the latter only for his charm and longevity.

What? Marshall was clearly better than Garner, I saw them play many times - no question.

I never saw Davidson, never even seen footage so I can't comment on him v Wasim.

 

[Stallion__]

What? Marshall was clearly better than Garner, I saw them play many times - no question.

I never saw Davidson, never even seen footage so I can't comment on him v Wasim.

Thats exactly about it.

Wasim and Marshall : Skill, Aura, Longevity

Davidson and Garner : Effectiveness about same without that much skill, aura or longevity.

 

[Stallion__]

If some Pakistani 'cultists' are indeed deluded, they are in good company.

Allan Border said that Akram was the cricketer he would like to come back as. Graham Gooch said he would make his world 11 alongside Marshall, Warne and Lillee and that he would rather face Michael Holding than Wasim.

Brian Lara rated him as the best he had faced, adding that “with Wasim Akram you can play the best forward defensive and he can get through that." Mark Taylor rated him the best bowler he faced along with Ambrose and summed up the breathtaking variety that Akram possessed, by noting that he could land the ball on the same spot for four times and do four different things with it. Other Australians, Michael Slater, Justin Langer and Ian Healy agreed with Taylor, that Wasim was the greatest they faced.

In a recent Sky debate when discussing the greatest, Nasser Hussain, Ricky Ponting (and David Lloyd) were unanimous: Wasim was the best. Jacques Kallis who never even faced Wasim at his peak concluded "In my opinion Wasim Akram of Pakistan was the best pace bowler that I ever faced."

Respect was not only forthcoming from batsmen. He was rated the best of his generation by Allan Donald. Curtly Ambrose was even more emphatic: "I think Wasim Akram is the greatest. He has done things with the cricket ball no other fast bowler has."

Wasim Akram did not so much make the ball talk, as Peter Roebuck once observed, but he made it sing instead.

Top post.

Few more as well.

Kapil Dev : Wasim is the best seam bowler of all times.

Alec Stewart : Wasim was a genius with the new and old ball. Whether you were on nought or 150 he had the ability to bowl a ball that could get you out. There have not been many quicker bowlers than Wasim Akram. He had a dangerous bouncer, was a great competitor and could score handy runs down the order.

Mahela Jayawardene : I was a bunny against him in my teens and he was only handful when I came in.

 

[justarslan]

Surprise to see no love for Great Khan. Him and Walsh bowled faster for longer period than other fast bowlers in history of cricket.

 

[saj786]

Wasim was a great bowler but he was not even the best from Pakistan, let alone of all time.

The Wasim Cultists are not amenable to reason. They base their faith on two deliveries in a WC Final which they were not old enough to watch.

Yep I agree robert, akram was a great but thers been better strike bowlers than him hence my 2 are
Imran at peak ( who was way better than wasim)
Marshall

 

[Strike Rate]

I will never pick Wasim or Waqar ahead of Great Khan in Tests from Pakistan but the problem here is that we have Great Marshall he is always the first choice in Tests so for the sake of variety Wasim become a choice because he is the greatest ever left arm.

In ODIs Wasim is the first choice just like Maco in Tests

 

[Bilal7]

#1) Imran Khan.
#2) Wasim Akram.

No need to look at bowlers from other teams when two of the very best have played for Pakistan.

 

[Indian_Supporter]

Tests
1)Dale Steyn
2)Shane Bond

ODI's
1)Brett Lee
2)M. Shami

 

[Bilal7]

If some Pakistani 'cultists' are indeed deluded, they are in good company.

Allan Border said that Akram was the cricketer he would like to come back as. Graham Gooch said he would make his world 11 alongside Marshall, Warne and Lillee and that he would rather face Michael Holding than Wasim.

Brian Lara rated him as the best he had faced, adding that “with Wasim Akram you can play the best forward defensive and he can get through that." Mark Taylor rated him the best bowler he faced along with Ambrose and summed up the breathtaking variety that Akram possessed, by noting that he could land the ball on the same spot for four times and do four different things with it. Other Australians, Michael Slater, Justin Langer and Ian Healy agreed with Taylor, that Wasim was the greatest they faced.

In a recent Sky debate when discussing the greatest, Nasser Hussain, Ricky Ponting (and David Lloyd) were unanimous: Wasim was the best. Jacques Kallis who never even faced Wasim at his peak concluded "In my opinion Wasim Akram of Pakistan was the best pace bowler that I ever faced."

Respect was not only forthcoming from batsmen. He was rated the best of his generation by Allan Donald. Curtly Ambrose was even more emphatic: "I think Wasim Akram is the greatest. He has done things with the cricket ball no other fast bowler has."

Wasim Akram did not so much make the ball talk, as Peter Roebuck once observed, but he made it sing instead.

Nicely put. If you're saying that there are many pacers better than Wasim, you haven't been watching this sport. He's easily one of the top ten of all time, if not one of the top five.

However, Imran Khan > Wasim Akram.

Tests
1)Dale Steyn
2)Shane Bond

ODI's
1)Brett Lee
2)M. Shami

Lol.

 

[leg-side-flick]

Top post.

Few more as well.

Getting quotes from cricketers is ok but it does not change the argument...

E.g. Try and Google quotes for DK Lillee, they might be more than Akram...

 

[Indian_Supporter]

Nicely put. If you're saying that there are many pacers better than Wasim, you haven't been watching this sport. He's easily one of the top ten of all time, if not one of the top five.

However, Imran Khan > Wasim Akram.

[/B]


Lol.

That is debatable and as [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] mentioned, there were and are many many better bowlers than Wasim. He was an absolutely ATG no doubt but I am not sure if he will feature in top 5 bowlers ever.

Wasim has 2nd most number of wickets in ODI's but that does not mean he was the greatest in that format. He is way behind the others when it comes to career avg.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283257.html


There are plenty of better ODI bowlers with better strike rate than Wasim:

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283275.html


And with better career economy rate too:

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283266.html


In test matches, he is on no.9 in top wicket takers and there are many bowlers who has better avg., strike rate and economy than Wasim:

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283256.html
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283265.html
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283274.html


Personally speaking, in tests Marshall is the greatest bowler but he is closely followed Dale Steyn. Infact, Steyn might overtake him by the end of his career.

In ODI's, the way M. Starc is going even playing in this batting friendly era not far until he goes down as the greatest ODI bowler.

From Pakistan if we have to rate bowlers it will be: Imarn>Waqar>Wasim

 

[Stallion__]

Getting quotes from cricketers is ok but it does not change the argument...

E.g. Try and Google quotes for DK Lillee, they might be more than Akram...

No mate it does matter. Wasim played in the era coinciding with some of the greatest bowlers of the game. If his contemporary players almost unanimously pick Wasim over all others, it does matter.

You can google the quotes for other bowlers yourself and see the difference.

Anyways, this is not the only important thing as I said earlier

Marshall and Akram is pretty much a dream combination, but no complaints for anyone who don't pick Wasim here.

He isn't a default choice like Marshall.

Infact the only 3 players that automatically makes those lists are Bradman, Marshall and Sobers in their respective categories.
For the rest, they are not obvious picks no matter how much popular they are.

Lillee, Hadlee, McGrath or Steyn above Wasim is understandable.