Was Wasim Akram Pakistan's greatest bowler?

[MenInG]

Happy birthday to a bowler who is considered a left-arm legend - but would it be too much of a stretch to call him Pakistan's greatest bowler?

#OnThisDay in 1966. One of the all-time greats, Wasim Akram was born in Lahore:

414 Test wickets, ave of 23.62
502 ODI wickets, ave of 23.52
Econ-rate of 3.89 in ODIs
25 times 5 wickets in a Test
5 times 10 wickets in a Test
17 times 4 wickets in a ODI
World Cup winner#Cricket pic.twitter.com/XDpuQXcV9t

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 3, 2020

[therealAB]

Test and ODI's combined probably, he is one of the greatest ODI bowlers.

Test's purely Imran for me, he has a better record and peak than Wasim who was also a great bowler

[Last Monetarist]

Nah, not for me. Underachieved at test level. I'd go for Imran as our best of all-time.

[Firebat]

Think the sheer number of wickets across both ODI's and Tests makes him just pip IK for me.

[Xoib]

Imran was a better test bowler so he takes it for me. Wasim and Waqar are 2a and 2b.

[Robert]

No, Imran was.

[Bewal Express]

Imran was a better test bowler. For all his talent WA didnt hit the heights he could have.

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

There is talent with the ball and then there is winning matches.

Imran and Wasim were monstrous in both.

Imran better in tests, Wasim in ODIs.

Overall, having seen both in action, I will take Imran easily - only because tests are just that much more important.

Imran carried the bowling on his own for most of his career. He would put in match winning spell after spell even when opposition knew he was the only real threat they had to see through.

[Saj]

Injuries hampered his career to an extent. He suffered with a long-term groin injury which meant he had to miss matches.

Best? Probably Imran Khan.

But no doubt Wasim is an all-time great.

[Mueez]

Wasim is such an underachiever!

But what a bowler he was... we will never see such a pacer again in the history of cricket.

[azimiqbal]

I think Waqar was a better one day bowler
Stats show

Waqar has more 5 wicket halls then wasim in odi and a better strike rate

[Savak]

Most naturally gifted without a doubt.

[Savak]

Diabetes had affected Wasim in his last 5-6 years of his career. He also retired from test matches by 2001, had he played in his last 2 years, he would probably have had 450 plus test wickets.

[Hitman]

Yes, for me he is the best ever fast bowler Pakistan has produced.

[Bewal Express]

I think Waqar was a better one day bowler
Stats show

Waqar has more 5 wicket halls then wasim in odi and a better strike rate

Stats may say that and at start of Waqars career he was but WA was much better for most of the careers together

[Bewal Express]

Diabetes had affected Wasim in his last 5-6 years of his career. He also retired from test matches by 2001, had he played in his last 2 years, he would probably have had 450 plus test wickets.

If I look back at his career, he was at his peak around 89-92. For most of his career he was good but never dominated like he should have. For me, he underachieved relative to the talent he had.

[Saj]

The allegations have tarnished his image for many, but I will always remember him as a magician with the ball, a smart bowler, highly-skilled and a match-winner.

[Savak]

If I look back at his career, he was at his peak around 89-92. For most of his career he was good but never dominated like he should have. For me, he underachieved relative to the talent he had.

One could say the same for Waqar. Waqar had a blitztrek start to his career and had 180 test wickets by 1994. To pick up only 193 test wickets in your final 9 years is very mediocre in comparison

[KB]

Nasser Hussain, just yesterday:

"I would have with Malcolm Marshall, I would have Wasim Akram…[they] would be in my list of the three greatest ever fast bowlers."

[Bewal Express]

One could say the same for Waqar. Waqar had a blitztrek start to his career and had 180 test wickets by 1994. To pick up only 193 test wickets in your final 9 years is very mediocre in comparison

True, Waqar reached his peak before the WC in 92. He never looked the same, even though he had his moments.

[Bewal Express]

Nasser Hussain, just yesterday:

"I would have with Malcolm Marshall, I would have Wasim Akram…[they] would be in my list of the three greatest ever fast bowlers."

From his era

[Bewal Express]

The allegations have tarnished his image for many, but I will always remember him as a magician with the ball, a smart bowler, highly-skilled and a match-winner.

I am desperate for the allegations not to be true but the reality is that only Allah knows. What I do know is that I saw most of games in the 90s and I never had a feeling that he was in any way under performing or if he was, he was bloody good at disguising it.

[moghul]

Tests
1-Imran 2-Waqar 3-Wsim

ODIs
1-Wasim 2-Waqar 3-Imran.

[Hasan123]

Wasim Akram is the best bowler Pakistan have produced without a doubt.

[Ab Fan]

Imran in tests but Pakistan took ODI cricket seriously since 80s and Wasim was the best ODI fast bowler by a stretch for Pakistan.

[Kingpin786]

Tests
1-Imran 2-Waqar 3-Wsim

ODIs
1-Wasim 2-Waqar 3-Imran.

was imran khan better odi bowler than shoaib akhtar?

[freelance_cricketer]

The allegations have tarnished his image for many, but I will always remember him as a magician with the ball, a smart bowler, highly-skilled and a match-winner.

The allegations plus the way he has started to speak unprofessionally like some of the other ex Pakistani cricketers.

[Swashbuckler]

Yes he was, ODIs became big during his career and a lot of his energy got diverted to that format which must have taken a toll on his test career. Similar to what happened to Sachin, if these 2 had focussed mainly on test cricket it would have shown, their capabilities are beyond doubt. Look at peer review, so many ATGs rate Akram as the best, in almost all World Test XIs he is one of the 3 or 4 quicks. In ODIs he is usually the number one pick, look at his WC record as well.

Also specifically talking about Akram, tampering became a big issue in the early 90s and more camera footage, official monitoring would have meant he would have maintained the ball much better. This is something I always hold against the earlier generation quicks, when there were few cameras they could get away with doing naughty things to the cherry. For instance John Lever wouldn't have got away with Vaselinegate in today's era.

[King_Kohli]

Bowlers with Most Wickets Dismissed for Duck in ODI

Akram - 110
Vaas - 76
Waqar - 72
McGrath - 71
Lee - 70
Pollock - 68

[FreePalestine]

From his era

If he said ‘greatest ever’ then by definition not limited to his era.

[RedwoodOriginal]

Imran Khan got injured far more than Wasim. Oftentimes he didn't even play home tests because of the hot weather. Wasim achieved much more than Imran as a bowler and is easily one of the most naturally gifted bowlers to ever play the game.

[The Viper]

Imran was better in Tests but combining both formats, Wasim edges it.

[Markhor]

Imran was the better Test bowler, but Wasim takes it in ODIs.

People rave about Waqar's peak but Imran's bowling peak in Tests is even better but somehow doesn't receive the same recognition. If we take Waqar's peak to be from his debut till before the 92 World Cup as commonly considered - he took 71 wickets from 14 Tests at an average of 19.02.

Imran's peak from 1982 until his first "retirement" after the 1987 World Cup saw him take 167 wickets from 34 Tests at an average of 16.89.

He was as much of a matchwinner as the 2 Ws were in their pomp. There are so many examples like the 1977 Sydney Test where Imran took 12 wickets, taking 40 wickets in 1982/83 series vs India on lifeless pitches including 8-60 in the Karachi Test, taking 18 wickets vs West Indies in the 1986 series helping us draw 1-1 against the greatest side of the era and the 1987 Headingley Test where he took 10 wickets in the match to name a few. During that period he had the shin splints issue, plus was still batting (at an average close to 50) and captaining !

Plus when you compare Imran and Wasim's overall Test numbers, the difference is marginal. That's not to deny Wasim's greatness, but Imran is the greatest cricket Pakistan has produced.

[sweep_shot]

I have not seen Imran Khan live. Therefore, I pick Wasim Akram as the best Pakistani bowler I have seen in my lifetime.

[Harsh Thakor]

Statistically Imran was ahead of Wasim and the best in test cricket .who was more impactful in famous test wins and series,better against the best team of his day and had a better record in peak era.Imran has considerably better best innings bowling figures capturing 7 or more wickets on 5 occasions in test cricket.In terms of strike rate consistently they were almost on par as well as bowling average.Versus West Indies he overshadowed any other bowing great.

However aesthetically Wasim was the winner who produced more prodigious swing or reverse swing,had a more potent oustwinger,a better slower ball,could disguise his deliveries more and overalll more complete.Imran pioneered art of reverse swing which Wasim further developed.Imran was class act when bowling Sunny and Vishy at Karachi in 1982-83 but I doubt he would equal Wasim's dismissal of Rahul Dravid at Madras in 1999 or Robert Croft in England.Wasim's 11-160 at Melbourne in 1989-90 has never been surpassed by Imran in terms of sheer skill nor his spell at Old Trafford in 1992 .Imran may have been a shade quicker or more agressive but could not equal Wasim's magical artistry.

Wasim was better than Imran consistently in career if you asess the inital and final phases.Wasim in hi s inital yaers was more promising than Imram wasa and a more consistent performer.In the peak era .

Imran wins the race on statistics but remember Wasim played in a more challenging era with restriction on bouncers,more protective head gear for batsmen,neutral umpiring ,slower wickets many more ODI's played and more great fast bowlers..Still Wasim was from 1990-98 the best bowler in terms of average in the world .Morally in peak I feel Hadlee by a whisker overshadowed Imran or even Marshall .Hadlee bore brunt for the weakest team but still took 330 scalps from 1978-1988 while playing with three pace bowling greats Marshall still stood out.

No doubt Imran championed winning causes in England in 1987 and West Indies in 1988 but was supported by batsmen more than Wasim.Imran's career was greatly defined by his phenomenal performances in 1981-83 and to an extent 1987-88.No doubt Imran ran through a side more than Wasim and had a considerably better average in games won but to me t was Wasim who was more capable of making crucial breakthroughs and more effective in unhelpful conditions.

More great batsmen of his day felt Wasim was the most daunting pacemen to face than great batsmen who faced Imran.The likes of Lara,Kallis and Sangakaara ranked Wasim the best they faced while in Imran's time Viv,Chappell brothers and Gavaskar rated Lillee or even Andy Roberts ahead.

In ODI's Wasim is the clear winner with 502 scalps,better contribution in wins.

Overall in tests I still place Wasim because the game is also about aesthetics .Not for nothing have twice as many chosen great players chosen Wasim in all-time test XI than Imran.Ofcourse Imran is the greater cricketer beyond compassion,but as a pure pace bowler to me Wasim wins the title of 'best ever Pakistani pace bowler."

[Harsh Thakor]

Statistically Imran was ahead of Wasim and the best in test cricket .who was more impactful in famous test wins and series,better against the best team of his day and had a better record in peak era.Imran has considerably better best innings bowling figures capturing 7 or more wickets on 5 occasions in test cricket.In terms of strike rate consistently they were almost on par as well as bowling average.Versus West Indies he overshadowed any other bowing great.

However aesthetically Wasim was the winner who produced more prodigious swing or reverse swing,had a more potent oustwinger,a better slower ball,could disguise his deliveries more and overalll more complete.Imran pioneered art of reverse swing which Wasim further developed.Imran was class act when bowling Sunny and Vishy at Karachi in 1982-83 but I doubt he would equal Wasim's dismissal of Rahul Dravid at Madras in 1999 or Robert Croft in England.Wasim's 11-160 at Melbourne in 1989-90 has never been surpassed by Imran in terms of sheer skill nor his spell at Old Trafford in 1992 .Imran may have been a shade quicker or more agressive but could not equal Wasim's magical artistry.

Wasim was better than Imran consistently in career if you asess the inital and final phases.Wasim in hi s inital yaers was more promising than Imram wasa and a more consistent performer.In the peak era .

Imran wins the race on statistics but remember Wasim played in a more challenging era with restriction on bouncers,more protective head gear for batsmen,neutral umpiring ,slower wickets many more ODI's played and more great fast bowlers..Still Wasim was from 1990-98 the best bowler in terms of average in the world .Morally in peak I feel Hadlee by a whisker overshadowed Imran or even Marshall .Hadlee bore brunt for the weakest team but still took 330 scalps from 1978-1988 while playing with three pace bowling greats Marshall still stood out.

No doubt Imran championed winning causes in England in 1987 and West Indies in 1988 but was supported by batsmen more than Wasim.Imran's career was greatly defined by his phenomenal performances in 1981-83 and to an extent 1987-88.No doubt Imran ran through a side more than Wasim and had a considerably better average in games won but to me t was Wasim who was more capable of making crucial breakthroughs and more effective in unhelpful conditions.

More great batsmen of his day felt Wasim was the most daunting pacemen to face than great batsmen who faced Imran.The likes of Lara,Kallis and Sangakaara ranked Wasim the best they faced while in Imran's time Viv,Chappell brothers and Gavaskar rated Lillee or even Andy Roberts ahead.

In ODI's Wasim is the clear winner with 502 scalps,better contribution in wins.

Overall in tests I still place Wasim because the game is also about aesthetics .Not for nothing have twice as many chosen great players chosen Wasim in all-time test XI than Imran.Ofcourse Imran is the greater cricketer beyond compassion,but as a pure pace bowler to me Wasim wins the title of 'best ever Pakistani pace bowler."

@MMHS @Junaids any response.Love to read.

[Harsh Thakor]

Statistically Imran was ahead of Wasim and the best in test cricket .who was more impactful in famous test wins and series,better against the best team of his day and had a better record in peak era.Imran has considerably better best innings bowling figures capturing 7 or more wickets on 5 occasions in test cricket.In terms of strike rate consistently they were almost on par as well as bowling average.Versus West Indies he overshadowed any other bowing great.

However aesthetically Wasim was the winner who produced more prodigious swing or reverse swing,had a more potent oustwinger,a better slower ball,could disguise his deliveries more and overalll more complete.Imran pioneered art of reverse swing which Wasim further developed.Imran was class act when bowling Sunny and Vishy at Karachi in 1982-83 but I doubt he would equal Wasim's dismissal of Rahul Dravid at Madras in 1999 or Robert Croft in England.Wasim's 11-160 at Melbourne in 1989-90 has never been surpassed by Imran in terms of sheer skill nor his spell at Old Trafford in 1992 .Imran may have been a shade quicker or more agressive but could not equal Wasim's magical artistry.

Wasim was better than Imran consistently in career if you asess the inital and final phases.Wasim in hi s inital yaers was more promising than Imram wasa and a more consistent performer.In the peak era .

Imran wins the race on statistics but remember Wasim played in a more challenging era with restriction on bouncers,more protective head gear for batsmen,neutral umpiring ,slower wickets many more ODI's played and more great fast bowlers..Still Wasim was from 1990-98 the best bowler in terms of average in the world .Morally in peak I feel Hadlee by a whisker overshadowed Imran or even Marshall .Hadlee bore brunt for the weakest team but still took 330 scalps from 1978-1988 while playing with three pace bowling greats Marshall still stood out.

No doubt Imran championed winning causes in England in 1987 and West Indies in 1988 but was supported by batsmen more than Wasim.Imran's career was greatly defined by his phenomenal performances in 1981-83 and to an extent 1987-88.No doubt Imran ran through a side more than Wasim and had a considerably better average in games won but to me t was Wasim who was more capable of making crucial breakthroughs and more effective in unhelpful conditions.

More great batsmen of his day felt Wasim was the most daunting pacemen to face than great batsmen who faced Imran.The likes of Lara,Kallis and Sangakaara ranked Wasim the best they faced while in Imran's time Viv,Chappell brothers and Gavaskar rated Lillee or even Andy Roberts ahead.

In ODI's Wasim is the clear winner with 502 scalps,better contribution in wins.

Overall in tests I still place Wasim because the game is also about aesthetics .Not for nothing have twice as many chosen great players chosen Wasim in all-time test XI than Imran.Ofcourse Imran is the greater cricketer beyond compassion,but as a pure pace bowler to me Wasim wins the title of 'best ever Pakistani pace bowler."

@Ab Fan any view?appreciate

[Abdullah719]

‘I wanted revenge’: Wasim Akram recalls incident when Allan Donald bouncer left him with 20 stitches

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram bowled in an era when international cricket was dominated by a good crop of fast bowlers. The 1990s witnessed a steep rise in the quality of fast bowling as almost all the international teams boasted of pacers, who made their presence felt at the highest level.

Akram shared a great partnership with Waqar Younis and also shepherded pace sensation Shoaib Akhtar in his formative years, in what was one of the most successful phase of Pakistan cricket. He was recently asked to name some of the best pacers of his era by his former teammate Basit Ali on his Youtube show.

“There were Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh from West Indies. Glenn McGrath was also there. Allan Donald was also another great bowler. I mean these guys were all good” Akram said.

Just after taking Donald’s name Akram was reminded of an incident that happened when he was playing county cricket in England for Lancashire. He remembered how an express delivery from the South African left him with twenty stitches under his chin.

“I have twenty stitches here, right under my chin. I think the year was 1989 and I had gone out to bat at number 8 on an uneven pitch. He bowled a short delivery and he bowled easily in excess of 150 kilometers per hour. I was also a youngster in my early twenties and I tried to pull the ball. It hit the top edge of the bat and hit me under the chin.

“I had a psyche for revenge as I knew I will not leave this bowler. I went to the hospital and the dentist had to put ten stitches on the inside and ten on the outside as it was a deep cut. I was asked to take rest for a couple of days but I said I want to got out there and bowl. I bowled in the evening and we won the match and interestingly Donald never came out to bat as he was scared,” Akram reminisced.

Akram was the star of Pakistan’s World Cup win in 1992 and captained the team to the final of the 1999 ICC World Cup.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/crick...1YXzThdsL.html

[MenInG]

�� On this day in 1993, @wasimakramlive produced one of *the* great spells ��

His 5/10 off 7 overs secured us a place in the Benson & Hedges Cup final with victory over Leicestershire ��

�� #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/HObUxB3NVh

— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) June 8, 2020

[majiz]

waqar was better overall. wasim just more stylish

it reminds me of djokovic vs federer. federer more classical, but djokovic the better player

[Ab Fan]

@Ab Fan any view?appreciate

I agree buddy, nicely put up. Both legends but for me all formats combined, I give Wasim the edge.

[MenInG]

#OnThisDay in 2000. Pakistan grabbed a tense five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo. Their star was Wasim Akram, who took his 25th five-for & scored 78 in the first innings, adding 90 for the last wicket with Arshad Khan #Cricket pic.twitter.com/AQZyoobDuz

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 17, 2020

[NishanKonar]

Wasim Akram - the better bowler

Imran Khan - better match winner against tough opposition ( 1982-83 India , 1988 West Indies , 1987 England )

[Robert]

Wasim Akram is the best bowler Pakistan have produced without a doubt.

So how does Imran have the better test record?

[Nikhil_cric]

Not seen another bowler do as many things with a cricket ball as much as he did. Rapid short balls, Yorkers, deceptive slower balls, cutting and swinging the new cherry , reversing the old. Variety was his calling but also his undoing sometimes. Had he stuck to a boring good length more often , he would have probably had an ever better test record . But then again we would not have witnessed his wizardry with the ball Probably beat the bat on either side more times than any other bowler without taking as many wickets.

[Ab Fan]

So how does Imran have the better test record?

They have pretty much similar record as test bowlers.

[Hasan123]

What made Wasim so special was that he could just bowl a special delivery out of nowhere.

[Hasan123]

So how does Imran have the better test record?

Don't care.

Wasim could produce special balls and run through a team. Most players would say Wasim is better.

You always go with players who played in olden days. Never seen you say a current player is better than a player who played years ago.

[Hitman]

So how does Imran have the better test record?

Rahul Dravid has a better Test record than Sunny Gavaskar. Who was better?

[Robert]

Rahul Dravid has a better Test record than Sunny Gavaskar. Who was better?

Very close. Similarly clutch. I would say Gavaskar as he was a lone gun at the top of the order and faced better fast bowlers, while Dravid came in behind at least one world class batsman.

Imran lacked fast bowling support early on in his career and outbowled Wasim later, while Wasim also benefited from support from Waqar and Shoaib.

I may be biased because Imran was the real hard man against England in the eighties and Waqar the hard man in the nineties.

Honestly I think Wasim’s legend is repeated by people who never saw him, based on two deliveries in a World Cup final.

[therealAB]

Rahul Dravid has a better Test record than Sunny Gavaskar. Who was better?

Dravid doesn't have a better record. Played in an easy era, and has holes against top pace in Aus and SA

[therealAB]

Don't care.

Wasim could produce special balls and run through a team. Most players would say Wasim is better.

You always go with players who played in olden days. Never seen you say a current player is better than a player who played years ago.

Wasim has a pretty poor strike rate for an ATG, so saying he ran through teams heaps is wrong

[Hasan123]

Wasim has a pretty poor strike rate for an ATG, so saying he ran through teams heaps is wrong

You and Robert just keeps looking at stats.

[therealAB]

You and Robert just keeps looking at stats.

you say he ran through teams lots. I am saying he didn't. He certainly did so less than Imran. You are glorifying certain performances, and cannot remember the times when he wasn't as good. Name an top tier ATG fast bowler in the modern era with a worse SR than Wasim, then we will talk

[Hasan123]

you say he ran through teams lots. I am saying he didn't. He certainly did so less than Imran. You are glorifying certain performances, and cannot remember the times when he wasn't as good. Name an top tier ATG fast bowler in the modern era with a worse SR than Wasim, then we will talk

Every player has bad performances. Your basically saying a player can't have a bad day.

I don't need stats to tell me if Wasim Akram is better than a certain bowler.

[therealAB]

Every player has bad performances. Your basically saying a player can't have a bad day.

I don't need stats to tell me if Wasim Akram is better than a certain bowler.

I am not saying he can't have a bad day. I am saying that if he ran through more teams than other top bowlers, he must have had more bad days as his record isn't as good.

People like Marshall, McGrath, Hadlee, Ambrose and Imran were just better at getting people out than Wasim, whatever ways you want to slice it. That makes them better bowlers

[Robert]

You and Robert just keeps looking at stats.

They are the beginning of understanding not the end, but I still don’t see how Wasim could be considered a better bowler than Imran when the older man took wickets for less runs and more often.

[therealAB]

They are the beginning of understanding not the end, but I still don’t see how Wasim could be considered a better bowler than Imran when the older man took wickets for less runs and more often.

Agreed. The objective of a bowler is to take wickets for few runs. Style, aesthetics and charisma are secondary to that

[Robert]

Agreed. The objective of a bowler is to take wickets for few runs. Style, aesthetics and charisma are secondary to that

Sure. Else Darren Gough would be a better bowler than Bob Willis.

[burger_uno]

imran khan was an incredible bowler but over the last 8-10 years of his career, he became very selective when it came to playing at home. One reason was that conditions did not suit him and he had to put in a great deal of effort which took a toll on his body. i also think he could not be enticed by challenge offered by most visiting teams and as result did not participate. standard of local umpiring was another factor which bothered him which is why he forced PCB to appoint indian umpires for the last two matches of the famous 1986 home series w.i.

after the end of the 82-83 home series against india, imran played only 16 matches in pak, six of which were against w.i. because he enjoyed the challenge of competing against them. in addition he played four matches against india in 89 in which he performed poorly (one of india's finest away performance) and he played three matches against s.l. in which he did not bowl.

because imran was able to pick and chose when he played, he was able to produce great peak performances such as against england in 87 and against w.i. in 1988. also during his time odi's were played less regularly especially in our part of the world.

day in and day out, akram was more regular and played odis more frequently especially in challenging conditions which took toll on his body as a result his test performance was impacted. akram also had to share his wickets with waqar.

memory of akram that stands out for me is the over in which he made dravid look like a novice in dravid's home country. got him out 2x in 3 balls. what a privilege it was to watch him play for pakistan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFOjvZaXeQ8

[Abdullah719]

Great over.

[Mueez]

Great over.

Perfect example on how to set up a batsman.

[umarf76]

Having seen Imran, Wasim and Waqar at their peaks.

1. Imran in 1982 was almost unplayable. When on song he could get 2, 3, 4 or 5 wickets in a short period times. His spells against India in 1982 will never be forgotten. Imran you could feel was all about adrenaline. When he was pumped you could see him run in like a Lion and he would just keep coming at you.

2. Wasim was at his peak in the Aussie tour of 1989 and just before that the home series vs. India. I think in those two series combined Pak slips dropped about 30 catches of Akram - things may have been different if we had a decent slip cordon. But Akram was a bit like Srinath .. too many unplayable balls ... batsman would not knick it. He normally would not run through teams - there are a few exceptions but not as many as Imran.

3. Waqar - Australasia cup 1990 was his peak. Equally unplayable as Imran in 1982. 95 mph and vicious swing due to all the finger nails being allowed.

To me is between Imran and Waqar and I would say Imran edges it as a better bowler. But skills wise obviously Akram was the best.

[Zaz]

id say imran was the better test bowler

Wasim shouldve had 500 test wickets but his last 5 years of tests were poor with some poor series results to go with these

Aesthically wasim was a magician And has no peers

[Saj]

Great over.

This is how to work over batsmen. Inswing, outswing, change the length, vary the angle, outskill the batsmen.

Brilliant to watch.

[Manunited18]

Imran was and is the greatest fast bowler to come out from pakistan no doubt, wasim was a great as was waqar but certainly in the test arena imran was the dady.

[freelance_cricketer]

Wasim Bhai was the James Anderson of his era except that he was thrice the bowler in ODIs as well which makes him overall the 2nd greatest fast bowler of the 1990s after Allan Donald, The White Lightening.

[freelance_cricketer]

Waqar Younis' peak in unmatched as a bowler both in tests and ODIs. Only bowler i can think of in similar way is Dennis Lillee way back in the 1970s. Before and after that, no one has had a peak quite like Waqar.

But it is also true Waqar did not dominate the best teams as well as he decimated the others to be spoken along with Donald, Marshal etc

Ambrose averages 38 vs India which excludes him from GOAT debates immediately. Basically preyed on weak hearted men who did not dare take on fast bowling from tall West Indians.

[Justcrazy]

Wasim is the most talented , but He is no better than Imran or waqar .

[MenInG]

It didnt matter what the condition of the ball or the game - when the ball was in Wasim's hand - you knew something was about to happen!

[Ab Fan]

Yes, he was.

Versatility is a trait that makes the game of cricket a lot more wonderful.

I recall a programme in one of India's biggest news channel, Aaj Tak when Imran and Kapil both were invited and they were having conversations on India and Pakistan cricket of current era and past.

When asked about Pakistan fast bowling, Kapil Dev who was sitting beside Imran said that Wasim Akram is not only the best fast bowler from Pakistan but is arguably one of the best ever. After him, there was Imran and Waqar. Shoaib also was great but he was clearly a level below these three greats.

So, when Kapil says it in front of Imran, who was actually his contemporary player that Wasim is the best fast bowler from Pakistan then we do get to know that atleast in India, everyone acknowledges Wasim as the best fast bowler from Pakistan.

I mean if Kapil would have picked Imran, we could have said that he was probably a bit biased towards his contemporary player and also the fact that Imran was sitting on his side so he has to pick him but he rather picks Wasim, so hardly a bias there.

[freelance_cricketer]

Yes, he was.

Versatility is a trait that makes the game of cricket a lot more wonderful.

I recall a programme in one of India's biggest news channel, Aaj Tak when Imran and Kapil both were invited and they were having conversations on India and Pakistan cricket of current era and past.

When asked about Pakistan fast bowling, Kapil Dev who was sitting beside Imran said that Wasim Akram is not only the best fast bowler from Pakistan but is arguably one of the best ever. After him, there was Imran and Waqar. Shoaib also was great but he was clearly a level below these three greats.

So, when Kapil says it in front of Imran, who was actually his contemporary player that Wasim is the best fast bowler from Pakistan then we do get to know that atleast in India, everyone acknowledges Wasim as the best fast bowler from Pakistan.

I mean if Kapil would have picked Imran, we could have said that he was probably a bit biased towards his contemporary player and also the fact that Imran was sitting on his side so he has to pick him but he rather picks Wasim, so hardly a bias there.

It is naturally difficult for Kapil to speak highly of Imran when he beats Imran in many key parameters. For example vs West Indies, Kapil was a better bowler and a much better batsman than Imran. In Australia Kapil is the greatest Asian bowler ever, even ahead of Wasim.

[therealAB]

It is naturally difficult for Kapil to speak highly of Imran when he beats Imran in many key parameters. For example vs West Indies, Kapil was a better bowler and a much better batsman than Imran. In Australia Kapil is the greatest Asian bowler ever, even ahead of Wasim.

Imran is twice the cricketer Kapil is. Imran is a top 10 AT bowler, Dev isnt a top 30. What parameters does Kapil win in, as I could name 20 Imran wins easily

[therealAB]

Imran is the better test bowler; he was simply more effective. No contest in ODI cricket

[therealAB]

It didnt matter what the condition of the ball or the game - when the ball was in Wasim's hand - you knew something was about to happen!

shown by his strike rate of 54, worse than all the ATG bowlers

[Ab Fan]

It is naturally difficult for Kapil to speak highly of Imran when he beats Imran in many key parameters. For example vs West Indies, Kapil was a better bowler and a much better batsman than Imran. In Australia Kapil is the greatest Asian bowler ever, even ahead of Wasim.

Not true.

Kapil praised Imran highly as well and considered Imran to be the captain when they were asked for Indo- Pakistan all time XI. It's there on YouTube. You can see that video.

But when he was asked about the bowling attack in that team, he named Wasim first, then Imran and Waqar and spoke a bit about Akhtar as well which I already stated above.

[freelance_cricketer]

Imran is twice the cricketer Kapil is. Imran is a top 10 AT bowler, Dev isnt a top 30. What parameters does Kapil win in, as I could name 20 Imran wins easily

Kapil is #1 pure AR ever to play the game bro.

[therealAB]

Kapil is #1 pure AR ever to play the game bro.

Miller and Botham??

Never mind Imran, who is a pure AR by most measures, would have made the Pak team just for his batting at many times during his career

Kapil isn't a top 40 test bowler of all time, or top 100 bat. Purely overrated as he was a decent Indian fast bowler, when previously they had had no one not terrible

[freelance_cricketer]

Miller and Botham??

Never mind Imran, who is a pure AR by most measures, would have made the Pak team just for his batting at many times during his career

Kapil isn't a top 40 test bowler of all time, or top 100 bat. Purely overrated as he was a decent Indian fast bowler, when previously they had had no one not terrible

Miller and Botham are great but behind Kapil.

Imran is one of the greatest fast bowlers ever, A Top 20 level test bowler without question. He's also one of the greatest ARs ever, credit must be given where it is due.

Kapil is definitely a top 25-30 level test bowler. Behind Imran for sure but he is right up there with his 434 test wickets

[therealAB]

Miller and Botham are great but behind Kapil.

Imran is one of the greatest fast bowlers ever, A Top 20 level test bowler without question. He's also one of the greatest ARs ever, credit must be given where it is due.

Kapil is definitely a top 25-30 level test bowler. Behind Imran for sure but he is right up there with his 434 test wickets

Davidson
Lindwall
McGrath
Lillee
Miller

Trueman
Statham
Botham
Willis
Anderson
Bedser
Snow

Holding
Roberts
Ambrose
Marshall
Garner
Walsh
Hall
Bishop
Croft

Imran
Akram
Waqar
Fazal

Donald
Pollock x2
Adcock
Steyn

Hadlee

Thats 31 clearly ahead of him, with some lineball ones as well not included (Broad, Gillespie etc).

How is he better than Miller by the way. Better bat (look at average, 100's per test etc) and bowler. (genuinely penetrative with a low average)

Botham is a better bowler with a ATG peak, and is much better than Dev as a bat, shown by his no. of hundreds