Player Comparisons: Graeme Swann vs. Saeed Ajmal

[Satan666]

Hopefully this thread initially kicks off a series of threads and maybe in the future there can be a sub forum for Player Comparisons, depending on the response here. Remember members please keep it civilized and use any links on the web which will justify your arguments.

Saeed Ajmal and Graeme Swann have been the leading spinners since Warne and Murali have retired, compare them here!

Graeme Swann Stats:

Test

Matches: 56 Inns: 101
Wickets: 245 Average: 28.35

Saeed Ajmal Stats:

Test

Matches: 26 Inns: 50
Wickets: 133 Average: 27.60


Will add on more stats as the thread matures.

 

[War]

I think its pretty straightforward that Ajmal is better, but that is no insult to Swann who by the end of his career might be rated ahead of Laker as England's greatest ever off-spinner.

Ajmal doosra is a added advantage. Plus international batsmen find Ajmal extremely difficult to pick and hit. This is displayed especially in T20 where i see batsmen trying so hard to hit him in the slog overs but the majority of the time - they are unsuccessful.

 

[used2bcool]

Swann has longevity and consistent success on his side, and he is correctly considered one of the best spinners to emerge from English shores. But I mainly agree with you, War, in that Ajmal just seems better. Even after a few years in the game, batsmen can't pick him and on pitches even remotely helpful he demolishes batting lineups.

Although Ajmal just hasn't played long enough (and he might not, considering how old he is), and that is something he will have to answer for.

I know we usually make it a two-man discussion when it comes to best spinners playing today, but I feel we could add Rangana Herath to the mixture. His numbers (47 Tests, 200 wickets @ 29.52) are not as good as the others, but I'd argue his value to his team is greater than that of either Swann or Ajmal. Simply put, if Herath clicks, Sri Lanka win, otherwise they don't.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

I know we usually make it a two-man discussion when it comes to best spinners playing today, but I feel we could add Rangana Herath to the mixture. His numbers (47 Tests, 200 wickets @ 29.52) are not as good as the others, but I'd argue his value to his team is greater than that of either Swann or Ajmal. Simply put, if Herath clicks, Sri Lanka win, otherwise they don't.

if you're arguing since murali retired then his numbers are arguably the best of the 3.

since july 23 2010

Swann
Matches: 36
Wickets: 154
Wickets Per Match: 4.28
Average: 27.37
Economy: 2.88
SR: 57.00

Ajmal
Matches: 21
Wickets: 115
Wickets Per Match: 5.48
Average: 25.30
Economy: 2.63
SR: 57.7

Herath
Matches: 25
Wickets: 129
Wickets Per Match: 5.16
Average: 24.91
Economy: 2.60
SR: 57.3

 

[Satan666]

Swann has longevity and consistent success on his side, and he is correctly considered one of the best spinners to emerge from English shores. But I mainly agree with you, War, in that Ajmal just seems better. Even after a few years in the game, batsmen can't pick him and on pitches even remotely helpful he demolishes batting lineups.

Although Ajmal just hasn't played long enough (and he might not, considering how old he is), and that is something he will have to answer for.

I know we usually make it a two-man discussion when it comes to best spinners playing today, but I feel we could add Rangana Herath to the mixture. His numbers (47 Tests, 200 wickets @ 29.52) are not as good as the others, but I'd argue his value to his team is greater than that of either Swann or Ajmal. Simply put, if Herath clicks, Sri Lanka win, otherwise they don't.

Nice input mate. In the future we can always create a thread with Herath included, as a first up I wanted to keep it simple by just comparing two players.

 

[used2bcool]

Just to keep this moving...

Untouchables, do you feel that Ajmal is better? How do you justify it? Swann has been around longer and is likely to finish with the better career record because of the age difference. Over the last four years, Herath has been fantastic. If I were to ask you to support the argument that Ajmal is the best test spinner currently playing how would you do it? Do you believe it?

I'd be interested to hear anyone else who has an opinion, too.

 

[Satan666]

Just to keep this moving...

Untouchables, do you feel that Ajmal is better? How do you justify it? Swann has been around longer and is likely to finish with the better career record because of the age difference. Over the last four years, Herath has been fantastic. If I were to ask you to support the argument that Ajmal is the best test spinner currently playing how would you do it? Do you believe it?

I'd be interested to hear anyone else who has an opinion, too.

My opinion is a bit controversial as is the majority of posts I make, didnt wanted to post my opinion since it may open up a can of stale ghee. However since you asked I think that Swann is better cause, similar to the Aussies I think that the doosra is an illegal delivery.

 

[used2bcool]

similar to the Aussies I think that the doosra is an illegal delivery.

Well, that explains your opinion of Murali, then. I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one, too.

Anyway, hopefully that sparks some discussion.

 

[Satan666]

Well, that explains your opinion of Murali, then. I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one, too.

Anyway, hopefully that sparks some discussion.

Haha. Concerning Murali, in addition to the doosra he bowled with a bent arm, not bowling but pelting. But thats not for this thread so lets move on.

 

[sifter132]

^So you can throw a rock, but you don't want to let anyone else return one! You're right though, it's not for this thread.

I'm right with Stinky on the Herath call, I think he's been consistently excellent of late.

The other thing with Swann is that he's got a better pace attack at the other end to distract, tie down and get tough wickets for him. I've also never liked how he's so much more effective against left handers than right handers.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

Swann has been around longer and is likely to finish with the better career record because of the age difference.

Both of these statements are wrong. Both Ajmal and Swann made their debuts in 2009, and Ajmal is only a year older than Swann. It's not Ajmal's fault that Eng play a lot more Tests than Pak.

I agree that Herath belongs in the discussion of the world's best spinner. There are a number of ways to compare the 3's statistics, and they all show their isn't that much of a difference. An interesting analysis would be how they fared in the toughest place for spinners in the last 5 years - South Africa.


Swann: 4 matches; 21 wickets @ 31.38; 2 5wicket hauls

Ajmal: 3 matches; 11 wickets @ 33.18; 1 5wicket haul; 1 10wicket haul

Herath: 3 matches; 10 wickets @ 27.70; 1 5wicket haul


Each of them have had their own strengths. Herath with the lowest average shows that the Africans had a harder time scoring of him than the others. Ajmal is the only one with a 10-fer, proving that with the slightest of assistance from the pitch, he can demolish the best side in the world. However, it also shows that he was ineffective in the other matches he played. Swann, despite only playing one more match than the other 2, has taken 10 more wickets. This indicates that he was the most destructive of the 3.


Another way to analyse is their playing style. I think there is no argument that international batsmen find Ajmal the toughest to face. He has been the only bowler who has remained one of the biggest threats in all 3 formats of the game.

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Haha. Concerning Murali, in addition to the doosra he bowled with a bent arm, not bowling but pelting. But thats not for this thread so lets move on.

This video proves without a doubt that Murali did not chuck. He, along with Warne, has been the best spinner to have graced the game. Move on.

 

[used2bcool]

Both of these statements are wrong. Both Ajmal and Swann made their debuts in 2009, and Ajmal is only a year older than Swann. It's not Ajmal's fault that Eng play a lot more Tests than Pak.

Yep. Total brainfart and shoddy research on my part. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[cricket_icon]

Just wana say, the doosra if done right is a legal delivery, the only ones who complain are those that can't do it lol

But back to the thread. I know the stats show that Ajmal, Swann and Herath are quite close in terms of what they've done in recent years but when you watch each of them play you can tell that both Swann and Ajmal are leagues ahead of Herath.

I'd pick either man in a team in the blink of an eye but would think twice about Herath. Comparing Swann and Ajmal, I'd say Ajmal is the better bowler, with his added mystery and the magic of when he is in top form. I guess you can say Swann is an old fashioned spinner, very workmanlike but that is in no way a slight for a guy who I think is one of the best spinners since teh Murali/Warne generation.

 

[zeustrojanstark]

Obviously Greame Swann!For me Swann is the best spinner playing the game now.Ajmal would give a tough fight for Ashwin maybe, certainly Swann belongs to a different league.

 

[Addy]

Ajmal = Swann + Doosra

In other equation;

Swann = Ajmal - Doosra

I hope that sums up it