Muralitharan vs Bishan Singh Bedi - 'Chucking' War

[SaiSrini]

Seems like this is one war that sounds very exciting. After having kept quiet for so long in reaction to Bedi's comments that Murali is a chucker, today Murali has vented out his frustrations at Bedi by calling him an ordinary bowler who would have been thrashed by today's batsmen for every ball.

Muttiah Muralitharan blasts 'ordinary' Bishan Bedi | Sri Lanka Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

Here is what Maninder Singh and Steve Waugh had to say on this

If he (Bedi) was allowed to bend his arm by the ICC, he would have taken five wickets in every of the 67 matches that he played in his career. Murali should keep his mouth shut really," he said.

"Whole world knows that he has the license from the ICC to keep chucking and that's why he started his doosra. Nobody stopped him. Wickets started increasing for him. It's best time for Murali to keep shut.

"He should understand he is talking about such a great bowler, Bedi. I don't think he is doing justice to himself. I have lost respect for him after this verbal attack," Maninder said.

Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh felt Muralitharan had been very patient about the constant criticism of Bedi and must have finally vented it out today.

"Bishen has been very strong in his criticism about Murali. I don't necessarily agree to what he said but I think Murali must have held his tongue for 15 years and just gave it back today," Waugh said.

Source: Rediff

In my opinion, EXCELLENT REPLY FROM MANINDER! If Bedi was allowed to bend his arm like how Murali did, he would have picked up far more wickets than what he actually picked. So MURALI SHOULD JUST KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT!! And what did Steve Waugh actually add to the debate other than just re-iterating the facts?

It was completely unnecessary on Murali to react to Bedi by taking his performances on. If he had to react, he should have reacted to the argument of himself chucking or bowling within norms. However he decides to take the route of "tit for tat" and calls Bedi an ordinary bowler. Murali, Bedi didnt have to depend on the ICC to bend its rules to accomodate him in the game and let him become a legend like how you have now become.

 

[shravi]

For the last time, the ICC didn't just bend the rules for Murali. They found that many other bowlers were also pushing it.

It's about time that Murali reacted. He's taken so much abuse from all corners.

 

[SaiSrini]

For the last time, the ICC didn't just bend the rules for Murali. They found that many other bowlers were also pushing it.

It's about time that Murali reacted. He's taken so much abuse from all corners.

Yeah, he reacted by questioning Bedi's status as a bowler? Very wise indeed!:sarcasm

I am not sure if the ICC would have actually changed the rules had they not encountered this 'Murali controversy'.

 

[shravi]

Yeah, he reacted by questioning Bedi's status as a bowler? Very wise indeed!:sarcasm

I am not sure if the ICC would have actually changed the rules had they not encountered this 'Murali controversy'.

Bedi's an idiot. You probably haven't seen him on Star News. Everything he says is bullshit.

 

[tech.007]

Bedi is everywhere..

 

[SaiSrini]

Bedi's an idiot. You probably haven't seen him on Star News. Everything he says is bullshit.

I agree, bud. Bedi might be an idiot, he might talk nonsense and all that. I am not supporting Bedi's actions. I am not agreeing with Murali's retort where he calls Bedi an ordinary bowler who would be thrashed every ball if he played in today's times. Bedi played at a time when we had a lot of legendary batsmen playing. Right now the list of legendary batsmen from today's generation is rapidly going down due to the increase in the number batting feasts that the pitches (esp. in the subcontinent serve).

 

[shravi]

I agree, bud. Bedi might be an idiot, he might talk nonsense and all that. I am not supporting Bedi's actions. I am not agreeing with Murali's retort where he calls Bedi an ordinary bowler who would be thrashed every ball if he played in today's times. Bedi played at a time when we had a lot of legendary batsmen playing. Right now the list of legendary batsmen from today's generation is rapidly going down due to the increase in the number batting feasts that the pitches (esp. in the subcontinent serve).

Maybe, but Murali is still twice the bowler Bedi was.

 

[sohum]

I can't see anything wrong with Murali's statement. He's taken crap from Bedi whose nothing more than an old, nostalgic drunk these days, far more than he deserved.

I don't know why Maninder Singh is so angry. And Maninder Singh's counter that Bedi would take 5 wickets every match is funny given that Murali actually takes 6 wickets a match, on average. In doing so, Maninder Singh indirectly admitted that Murali is better. :laugh

The validity of Murali's statements are of course questionable. Today's cricketers are far better at playing spin and today's pitches aren't as juicy for any sort of bowler. Murali still did manage to take wickets on this.

 

[Dare]

Good on Murali. To go for so long and just take in all that criticism must have been hard for him but he did it the proper way. He kept his mouth shut when he was still playing just to stay clear of any more controversy and now that he is retired he fan finally unload all that pressure.

 

[pcfan123]

This Bedi fellow sounds like Jeff Thompson, sour old puss who is bitter that his time has passed

 

[McLOVIN]

umm who's Bedi?

And why are we still saying Murali chucks after all these years? ICC need to speak up

 

[Dare]

umm who's Bedi?

Bishan Bedi | India Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | Cricinfo.com

 

[War]

Actually Bedi was the best spinner of the famous spin quartet. HAAA

 

[Aoun13]

Muralitharan for sure is the best spinner of all time. Bedi is nowhere near, although Bedi was very good but Murli has lots of factors which makes him best. Bedi was present in an era when Indian pitches were totally made for spinners while Murli was in an era when ICC try to check actions, batsmen were having far more technology to understand the spinner tactics and with pitches more supporting for seemers or batsmen. Although Bedi probably is best left arm spinner of all time.

 

[sohum]

Being a good cricketer doesn't automatically qualify you as being intelligent to comment on the game of cricket. Bedi also played at a time, as someone else said, the pitches were conducive to spin bowling and the rest of the world still wasn't good at picking spinners.

He was an above average bowler for sure, and probably better than the tripe we have in the spin bowling department now, but Murali's argument does have some merit, although that may be because of the state of the pitches.