England Cricket chat

[arbboy]

Anyone else getting really bored listening to this nonsense about Jimmy Anderson?  Yes he has played a million tests and taken more wickets than any quick (is he even that quick relatively) in history but come on he can't lace the boots of at least 12 bowlers on this all time (300+ wickets) list.  On strike rate/average/best bowling figures and number of 10 wicket games.  27 average.  56 SR.  Best figures 7/42

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bowlers_who_have_taken_300_or_more_wickets_in_Test_cricket

My favorite 5 are as follows (in my lifetime early 1980s onwards)

Marshall  - sub 21 average/46 SR.  Poetry in motion to watch.
Allan Donald - 22 average and 47 SR.
Curtley - The most brutal bowler in my lifetime to watch in full flow another sub 21 average
Waqar Younis - Insane SR of 43 and so many deliveries that were just unplayable.
McGrath - 21 average and 52 SR over huge sample size sharing wickets with some of the other greatest ever.

Michael Holding was suitably annoyed by the discussion today and said something along the lines of 'can people stop saying Anderson has gone past anyone he has simply more wickets than anyone else fast bowler wise'

[TightEnd]

i am with you, but this is an alternative view

James Anderson is the most skilful and consistent Test fast bowler there has ever been and now he has the statistics to prove it
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/james-anderson-found-mental-strength-to-master-his-art-dqsb6sqsj

[TightEnd]

and atherton

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/james-andersons-wicket-haul-may-never-be-surpassed-6clfk0jz9

[arbboy]

Sure i understand the flip side of the debate and longevity is a huge factor imo for GOAT discussions.  James Anderson is very similar to Karl Malone in the all time NBA scoring list.  Playing 20 seasons (mainly because he looked after his body great which is a huge part of being a pro athlete) and hardly missed a game.  He is second all time on the nba gross scoring list (that doesn't account for averages) but no one in their right mind would ever remotely discuss Malone as a top 10 player of all time.

http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders

[Tal]

It's like comparing Ronaldinho and Zidane. Peak individual game Ronalinho was better but you'd build your squad around Zidane.

FWIW, Jimmy swings the ball well both ways, is a threat against top and tail, has taken wickets in all conditions (albeit with a range of success, like in Australia) and must be in the conversation.

For me, McGrath and Walsh above Jimmy, who I would have in the tier with Akram and Steyn.

Difficult to assess before that, as not in my lifetime.

[fatcatstu]

The sheer skill that Jimmy bowls with puts him right up there IMO. Being able to move the balls both ways and bowl as economically as he does is mind blowing, and the fact he is STILL doing it now.

[HutchGF]

I think his consistency and overall fitness levels really have set the bar for fast bowlers.

Not to be overlooked, he is also a tremendous fielder.

[Woodsey]

Just a different type of fast bowler than the other potential names out there. He is up there as the king of swing, whereas McGrath was the boss of accuracy and the WI lads the bosses of aggression. Why does there even need to be an overall GOAT?

[Tal]

Just a different type of fast bowler than the other potential names out there. He is up there as the king of swing, whereas McGrath was the boss of accuracy and the WI lads the bosses of aggression. Why does there even need to be an overall GOAT?

Woodsey in post of the week shocker.

 

[arbboy]

Just a different type of fast bowler than the other potential names out there. He is up there as the king of swing, whereas McGrath was the boss of accuracy and the WI lads the bosses of aggression. Why does there even need to be an overall GOAT?

Woodsey in post of the week shocker.

 

Blind squirrels and all that!!   Back to politics thread for Woodsey!

[Woodsey]

Just a different type of fast bowler than the other potential names out there. He is up there as the king of swing, whereas McGrath was the boss of accuracy and the WI lads the bosses of aggression. Why does there even need to be an overall GOAT?

Woodsey in post of the week shocker.

 

Blind squirrels and all that!!   Back to politics thread for Woodsey!

I’m in a giving out slaps mood if you want to bring it sunshine  

[tikay]

T20 Finals day at Edgbaston today, not something I'd normally be interested in, but back in July Tighty's Road to Riches recommended Sussex @ 10/1, & they are one of the 4 semi-finalists.

It's presumably hard to call, as at one stage yesterday, all 4 teams were priced at 11/4.

Prices today are not much different;

https://www.oddschecker.com/cricket/england/vitality-t20-blast/natwest-t20-blast/winner

This weekend's Road to Riches also includes a player prop bet in today's Finals Day.

GL all those who got on. 

[tikay]

Whilst on cricket & Road to Riches, in April Tighty put up Warwickshire to win Div 2 of the CC at 9/2.

That's gonna be close, too, with Warwickshire currently top;
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/county-championship-division-two/table

Quite a finish in prospect there, as Warwickshire visit 3rd place Sussex next week, then host current 2nd place Kent.



 

[tikay]

T20 Finals day at Edgbaston today, not something I'd normally be interested in, but back in July Tighty's Road to Riches recommended Sussex @ 10/1, & they are one of the 4 semi-finalists.

It's presumably hard to call, as at one stage yesterday, all 4 teams were priced at 11/4.

Prices today are not much different;

https://www.oddschecker.com/cricket/england/vitality-t20-blast/natwest-t20-blast/winner

This weekend's Road to Riches also includes a player prop bet in today's Finals Day.

GL all those who got on.  

Sussex cruise to the Final, so the place part of the bet is home & hosed. The Player Prop lost, so not all gravy.

Odds for the Final?

Sussex 4/7

Worcs 11/8

EDIT - Just realised, the player prop is still alive.

[tikay]

Well that did not go quite to plan, after a farcical run out early doors (batsman was a yard in but failed to ground either his bat or a foot) Sussex runs came up a tad short.

Then, with the game in the balance with 2 over left, WASP calling it 50% - 50%, Worcs somehow managed 12 runs off.....ONE ball. Think it was a no-ball from which a 4 was hit, with a Free Hit awarded which got despatched into Tier Z. Not sure I've ever seen 12 off 1 ball before.

Anyway, that was that, so Sussex finished as losing finalists. The EW return ensured a nice profit, so no complaints at all.

I shall now devote my energy to bokking Warwickshire to win the CC Div 2.