Re: Imran Khan v Ian Botham…Who was better?
Yes I saw that. And I did say that Imran’s bowling lacked bite from 1989-92 (but bowling average of 35.10 in 1989 and 27.63 in 1990 was still better than Botham’s overall bowling average of 28.40!) But the great thing is that despite the decline in his bowling in those 3 years or so his overall post-injury bowling stats still matched his pre-injury stats. Infact in 1987 he took 10/77 in the Headingley test (which we won) and in 1988 Imran took 23 wickets (incl. 11/121 in the first test at Bourda which we won) at 18.09 in 3 tests in the Caribbean.
Bowling Stats:
Pre-injury (1971-1983): Tests (51) wkts (232) Ave: (22.91) SR (54.09) 10wM (4) 5wI (16)
Post-injury (1985-1992): Tests (37) wkts (130) Ave: (22.63) SR (53.13) 10wM (2) 5wI (7)
Batting Stats:
Pre-injury (1971-1983): Tests (51) runs (2023) Ave (31.12) HS (123) 100s (2) 50s (7)
Post-injury (1985-1992): Tests (37) runs (1784) Ave (49.55) HS (135*) 100s (4) 50s (11)
p.s. on both occasions the two all-rounders came face to face with each other in England in 1982 (3 tests) and 1987 (5 tests), Imran Khan ran away with the man-of-the-series award