Who do you think is the greatest bowler of all time?

Question

I think the answer is Murali.
Here is why.

Tests - 108
Wickets-657(an average of 6 wickets per game)
Best Bowling - 9/51
Best bowling in a match - 16/220
Average-21.96
Economy rate-2.39
5 Wickets in an innigs - 56 times
10 wickets in match - 18

Looking at these figures it is obvious that Murali is a far superior bowler the Shane Warne who currently has the record of highest wickets.

Some might say that Murali used illegal action but it has been proven again and again, even in Australia where Warne is a local hero, that Murali doesn't straighten his arm any more than other bowlers. In view of his controversial 'doosra' delivery and the subsequent change in ICC code to allow 15 degrees of arm bending it was revealed that 99% of all the bowlers , the exception being Ramnaresh Sarwan of the West Indies, straightened their arms over the previous limit of 5 degrees. Murali regular off-break was within this limits.

Answer 1

SIR RICHARD HADLEE.

ELEGANT, SWINGING MEDIUM PACER.

Answer 2

Shane Warne

Bowling Stats

Tests.........140
wickets......685
Best...........8/71
Av..............25.25
E/R............2.64
B/W...........57.30
4 W/I..........45
5W/I...........36
10 W/M......10

The second Best was DK Lillee
He played 70 tests for 355 wickets @ 23.92
with a B/W of 52.......... E/R of 2.75
with 23x 5W/I.......and 7x 10 W/M

Even though Lillees figure are better on Average and wickets per test it also has to be noted that Warne is a SPINNER not a fast bowler. He doesnt have the weapon of speed to use against the batsmen. However I believe that he is even more intimidating. He is a spinner with a fast bowlers mentality.He has to think the batsmen out.
There will be some who will say Murali is a better bowler than Warne. I dont think that, because Warne has never used an illegal action in his career, were as Murali has.

Answer 3

Murali is good but check out who he took his wickets against as compared to Warne and on what grounds they were taken. Murali has not had great success in Australia and not because of controversy either.

He just had trouble spinning on the harder, bouncier wickets where as Warne could spin it sideways on a table top.

I am not too certain either would be rated the greatest bowler of all time. That mantle has a lot of people vying for the titles.

The best I ever saw was Dennis Lillee at a time when Australia was at its lowest ebb after the Packer World Series Cricket trouble and after. Richard Hadlee was a great bowler as was Michael Holding. Going back a generation I liked Wes Hall and saw him bowl in my home state of Tasmania. He was awesome.

Answer 4

I go for Courtney Walsh.He was feared by all the batsmen except a few daring batsmen. A batsmen cannot come down the pitch while Walsh is bowling but it is not in the case in Murali. Against the team who knew to play well against spin eg:India then Murali's balls would be landing beyond the fence.

Answer 5

Wasim Akram
In his test career, Akram took 414 wickets (a Pakistani record, and 7th all time), at an excellent average of 23.62, and scored 2898 runs, at an average of 22.64. In one-day internationals Wasim was again a force to be reckoned with, taking a record 502 wickets in 356 appearances, scoring 3717 runs along the way.

Answer 6

For me, Malcolm Marshall (1958-1999):
376 wickets in 81 tests, at a remarkable 20.94, with a e/r of 2.98, and an s/r of 46.76.
Anyone who had the pleasure of watching him bowl live, as I did, will testify to the shear terror he could provoke in even the toughest of batsmen. I will never forget him barraging Boonie with bouncers, who wore many of them, but just returned his steely gaze with his nonchalant chewing of gum. When later asked: You seemed not too bothered by Marshall?"
He replied: "Yeah? Well I was sh*tting myself!"
He once broke his hand trying to take a catch, and then despite the injury, came out to bat at 11 just to allow Larry Gomes who would have been stranded on 98* to complete his century. In his usual way, he belted a ball for four with only one hand on the bat. He was a fast bowler of a type the West Indies don't seem capable of finding anymore - more shame to the game. Along with the like of Holding, Garner and Walsh, the 80's W. Indies were the best pace battery of all time. I miss with a tear in my eye the Australia v West Indies games of the 80's.....

Answer 7

Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Answer 8

Warnie is the best around at the moment but the best all time must be Sir Richard Hadlee, medium pace with controlled swing a magician and lets not forget both these guys bowl with their arms STRAIGHT.

Answer 9

I think you should studied more on Shane Warne. You will certainly find why he is the greates bowler of all time. Put beside his personal life. After shane is Me the greatest bowler of this world.

Answer 10

muralitharan is is the greatest bowler of all time.he has the ablity to take the wickets in faster pitches also.

Answer 11

M. Muralitharan