Alright I dont want anyone to go by popualr opinion or what media says. The question is who is a better bowler Saqlain Mushtaq or Muttiah Muralitharan. Now I dont care what the wisden says, I dont care what the media says or anything. I want you people to look at their records and judge who is a better bowler.
Af far as simple records/statistics/strike rate is concerned, Murali is better in Tests and Saqlain is better in ODI’s. But as it’s always said records dont always reflect the true picture.
A lot of people have raised doubts about Saqlain’s class. My only question for those people is, why did everyone support Inzimam when he made a comeback. Lets face is as far as records are concerned Inzi is not arguably the best in the world but as far as atleast ODI records are concerned Saqlain is arguably the best in the world.
Everyone thinks Murali is a better bowler then Saqlain. I, for some reason have always put Saqlain above Murali. Saqi’s one days record speaks for it slef. But consider this, Murali took wickets as there was no one else in his team except maybe for Chaminda Vaas who could do that. Saqi took his wickets in the presence of players like Wasim Akram, Waqar younis and Shoaib Akhtar. Now look at the bowling average and strike rate of those players. They are outstanding. Even Shoaib does not have an excellent Test record but his ODI creddentials are impeaccable. Saqlain maintained his amazing amverage and strike rate in the presence of three world class wicket taking bowler. Better yet, Saqlain ODI record outclasses Murali’s ODI record. Now this is no lame accomplishment.
I think Saqi should be a regualr member of the side and in due time he will find his form back. By dropping him and then bringing him back and then dropping him again selectors are shaking the confidence of a world class spinner. I firlmy believe if Saqlain is kept in the side soon the world will realise that he is a better spinner then anyone else in the world. (InshaAllah).
Btoom line I think Saqi has under achieved and under performed in Tests but I would certianly rate him more valuable then Murali in ODI’s.
** SAQLAIN MUSHTAQ **
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(including 02/01/2003)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 47 74 14 902 101* 15.03 25.86 1 2 15 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 2274.3 532 5932 205 28.93 8-164 13 3 66.5 2.60
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(including 25/02/2003)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 168 97 37 710 37* 11.83 49.58 0 0 40 0
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 1453.4 66 6223 288 **21.60** 5-20 11 6 30.2 4.28
** MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN **
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(including 27/06/2003)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 82 104 39 768 67 11.81 64.32 0 1 40 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 4596.1 1200 10810 459 23.55 9-51 38 11 60.0 2.35
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(including 11/06/2003)
M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 223 104 41 374 19 5.93 68.00 0 0 92 0
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 2010.3 142 7632 342 22.31 7-30 9 7 35.2 3.79