Statistics might soon suggest Glenn McGrath has been the best bowler in World Cup history but Brian Lara, a well-qualified judge, does not agree. McGrath claimed 3 for 31 against West Indies on Wednesday to take his World Cup tally to 54 wickets – one short of Wasim Akram’s mark – from four campaigns.
Should McGrath break the record in the next game he will have hit the mark from 33 matches – three fewer than it took Akram to reach 55 dismissals. Lara, however, knows who he would rather take guard against. “For me over my 15 or 16 years of playing international cricket, Tests and one-day internationals, Wasim Akram is definitely the most outstanding bowler I’ve ever faced,” he told AFP.
“If you play a number of World Cup matches - McGrath has been to the final in the last three World Cups, 1996, 1999 and 2003 - that means he has played a lot of games. But it doesn’t take away from the fact he is an outstanding fast bowler and he deserves to be up there with the very best.”
http://blogs.cricinfo.com/wc_monitor/archives/2007/03/lara_picks_akram_over_mcgrath.php
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
Interestingly enough most lefties found Wasim Akram difficult to face. Add to this list Sourav Ganguly and Allan Border who once said that if he was to re-incarnate himself, he would like to come back as Wasim Akram! A huge compliment indeed from one of the finest Aussie cricketers. This also shows you that Akram was not only praised by the current bunch but also players who played in the late 70s. A span of 30 years of world class batsmen acknoweldging Akram's poweress means something.
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
....and rightly so!
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
due to his reverse swing which was deadly
he instead of trying to pitch to the batsmen deliberately tried to hit the wickets and thus as a result Wasim Akram LBW was the most common dismissal
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
Akram was the best fast bowler that I saw. I know a majority here feels that Waqar was better than Wasim, but I have no doubt that Akram was the best in the world.
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
THanks for saying what is obvious to many of us. Akram is the finest bowler that world has ever seen. Other bowlers may have taken more wickets and may have better averages but the control and variation that Akram had was amazing. He was always exciting to watch unlike others who can put viewers to sleep. ;)
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
THanks for saying what is obvious to many of us. Akram is the finest bowler that world has ever seen. Other bowlers may have taken more wickets and may have better averages but the control and variation that Akram had was amazing. He was always exciting to watch unlike others who can put viewers to sleep. ;)
We're not talking abt Rao here .. are we?
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
^ Yeah like Kapil, Srinath the miskeen.... :D
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
^ Yeah like Kapil, Srinath the miskeen.... :D
yeah...Srinath is not a juari..really miskeen :(
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
yeah...Srinath is not a juari..really miskeen :(
You mean juari like Azarudeen, yes true. :)
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
One thing i actually respect him for is that he used to be a good player even when he had diabetes/ sugar whatever you call it.
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
The difference between Akram and McGrath is that Akram bowled 6 different types deliveries in an over where as McGrath bowls the same delivery six times.
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
The difference between Akram and McGrath is that Akram bowled 6 different types deliveries in an over where as McGrath bowls the same delivery six times.
matlab McGrath is Lakeer (Line) kaa Faqeer
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
Glenn is still playing and Akram had to quit because of Cricket politics. :p
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
Akram was definitely a better bowler than McGrath there is no shaq :k: he was one of my fav. bolwer
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
Wasim was a better bowler but McGrath is more effective.
Re: Lara picks Akram over McGrath
Wasim akram was the best ever bowler in terms of talent .But his stats didn't back that statement.Perhaps too much weapons to get confused.If he was a one dimensional bowler he would have ended up with better Stats .He was too shrewd ,too versatile ,.....Thats why he is such a pleasure to watch.Whether he takes wkts or not ,his bowling is full of suspense ,and also the way he confuse/humiliate the batsmen.
Mcgrath is like an efficinet machine.so he is more effective,less fun to watch.