Since we have some days left before SA series will be on its way, i would like to use this free time to evaluate who is better in both Ws… not to mention that this evaluation should be based on quality of fast bowling as well as the threat they used to pose to the opponent batsmen. The evaluation should not be based upon all rounder qualities or performance as a captain as they r totally different subjects.
No doubt both of them were great…we r so proud of them..
To start the discussion, lets have a look at their record because that would be a best way to compare them from a quantative standpoint first;
Waqar Career Statistics as a bowler only:
TESTS
(including 02/01/2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 2704 516 8788 373 23.56 7-76 22 5 43.4 3.25
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(including 04/03/2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ Bowling 2116.2 143 9919 416 23.84 7-36 14 13 30.5 4.68
FIRST-CLASS
(1987/88 - 2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 5w 10w SR Econ
Bowling 6464.2 1209 21143 951 22.23 8-17 63 14 40.7 3.27
LIST A LIMITED OVERS
(1988/89 - 2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Bowling 3286.5 226 15022 671 22.38 7-36 27 17 29.3 4.57
WASIM AKRAM BOWLING RECORDS
TESTS
(including 09/01/2002)
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 3771.1 871 9779 414 23.62 7-119 25 5 54.6 2.59
ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS
(including 04/03/2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 3031 238 11812 502 23.52 5-15 17 6 36.2 3.89
FIRST-CLASS
(1984/85 - 2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 8379.3 1965 22549 1042 21.64 8-30 70 16 48.2 2.69
LIST A LIMITED OVERS
(1984/85 - 2003)
O M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 4953.1 388 19303 881 21.91 5-10 34 12 33.7 3.89
Well, first in test matches wasim akram bowled almost 3800 overs to get his 414 wickets, taking 5 wickets haul 25 times and 10 wickets in a match for 5 times. wasim average per wicket is 23.56.and he got wicket after every 54 balls with economy rate of 2.59.wut a man he was…
waqar younis bowled 2700 overs in test matches for his 373 wickets taking 5 wickets 22 times and 10 wickets haul 5 times, average per wicket is 23.56 and waqar got wicket after every 42 ball. his econ. rate was 3.25…wow wow wow…man he seems much better…lt really surprised me…lets compare
well test matches comparison indicates that waqar bowled 1100 overs less than wasim but their wicket difference is only 41 wickets…even waqar bowled 1100 overs less than wasim, he has 10 wickets haul same as wasim, 5 times…wasim has better economy rate 2.59 vs waqar 3.25 but wait a sec now…waqar striking rate is much better than wasim…waqar got wicket after every 7 over whereas wasim has to wait 9 overs.
In one day international, we observe the exact same pattern again with waqar bowling 1000 overs less than wasim and a wicket difference of only 85. Even more, waqar has bowled 1000 overs less than wasim but he has taken 4 or more than 4 wickets 27 times where as wasim has done that 23 times…wasim econ. rate is great only 3.90 where as waqar conceded 4.6 runs per over but again waqar has better striking rate…wicket after every 5 over…..
Exact same pattern can be observed in first class cricket too…so based on these results, waqar has a “huge edge” on wasim akram…well that is wut numbers r showing…they have almost same records but waqar has played much less matches to achieve same results….. …in first class cricket waqar has 950 wickets as compared to wasim 1042 but waqar has bowled 2000 overs less than wasim…………..
on analytical side, imran has stated many times that waqar was better learner and fighter than wasim.. actually reverse swing came to its full flow when waqar used it in early 90s…remember wasim was plyin between 84 to 90 but we never heard of any special reverse swing issues but when waqar came into pic. in early 90s whole world got stunned…
well wut do u guys think?
so assuming if wasim had not sidelines him for those 2 years of waqar peak, based on waqar statistics, waqar would have broken all records….don’t u think wasim dis-serviced the country by doing this…