Dale Steyn reaches #1

[Helpman]

hmmmm, thread isn't about Brett Lee so who cares if he's better... Go Steyn!

 

[Leggie]

Well done Dale Steyn, He's been in simply breathtaking form and as an Indian, I say 'Hats off to him' .

 

[ivanvdm15]

alot of people underated him , saying on previous threads he won't fair well against stronger nations like India , and look what happend . Well done Steyn.

 

[venom2011]

Well those people should look at what he did against the weaker nations. Taking wickets is one thing, but demolishing them the way he did is a totally different kettle of fish.

 

[Black Magic]

how could you not rate him world best bowler, if his slower ball is a yorker. Dale steyn certainly deserves to be up there.

 

[jarl]

Good work for Steyn, if Lee was better he would of already be in the number 1 spot. Steyn dosn't have the maturity that Lee has shown only since McGrath has retired but he has plenty of years up his sleave, to do a swinging snap kick to Lee's head. What I'm trying to say is that Steyn is way further ahead of Lee when Lee was as young as Steyn is.

 

[covlad-99]

Played for Warks last season

 

[angryangy]

Steyn has turned out to be rather enthralling. I don't doubt his ability to be a powerful player.

I would say though, because it's already been brought up, Lee didn't start badly either. It was the second hundred wickets that proved tough to get.

 

[manee]

The early Lee was about 5kph faster and played in an era of more helpful pitches than now. Whereas the early Lee blasted out opposition with pure pace, Steyn relies more on pacy swing. Lee's honeymoon period in Test cricket also ended far before reaching 100 wickets - averaging over 35.00 from 2001 to 2004 (from 43 to 139 wickets).

 

[venom2011]

Yeah Manee. Thats why pace, although an asset, is not the be all and end all. It's what you do with it that counts and Lee trading in some pace for accuracy and becoming twice the bowler, should send a signal to aspiring fast bowlers.

 

[manee]

It is a commonly held belief that Brett Lee traded pace for accuracy, but it is not strictly true. Lee came on to the scene as an 150kph bowler, who touched 160kph (not 100mph, but 160kph) in the 2003 World Cup due to the generally high speed gun readings - I think the explanation was thin air.

He then slowed down somewhat, after becoming more open in his action in 2005 (IIRC). In the 2005 Ashes, he was around 140-150kph, which is what he is now - so he didn't exactly slow down for accuracy - he has merely become more accurate. He may have even become faster in the Australian sumemr, as in the 2006/7 CB Series, he was in the low 140kph area.

The arguement of accuracy vs pace is an interesting one though. I believe that a bowler should, energy permitting, bowl as fast as possible whilst maintaining the action which they would walk through the action with. I don't believe that a bowler who sprints in with arms flailing and then points to gully before swinging the arm (Steve Harmison, anyone?) over has the right idea and this should be discouraged by coaches moreso than trying to bowl fast. Bowling fast with a reasonable action and being inaccurate is merely a case of inexperience and can be rectified with experience and target practice.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Steyn is better then Lee. I don't think Lee has brought as much fear into the batsman's mind in the last several months and Steyn has been allot more destructive.

Why are we comparing Steyn with Lee anyway? I think he'll go down a more similar road like fellow protea Allan Donald did.

 

[DPRA]

Really well deserved, he simply is an amazing bowler... And he has to face England this summer.... :crying

 

[venom2011]

so he didn't exactly slow down for accuracy - he has merely become more accurate.

I beg to differ mate. I might not watch all the Aussie action, except for the matches against South Africa, but his average speed has most certainly dropped over that last few years. The most notable change in speed was in his first few overs. There's no over exertion right up front which often caused him to go for a few and lose confidence. Same thing happened to Steyn. He will bowl his first over or two in the 130s and then work his way up.

There's a lesson for all the youngsters I think.

 

[leftarmlegspin]

I agree with those who say Lee is a better bowler. However, Steyn will be huge very soon. I can see him being the best in a few years.