Which bowler had the most dangerous peak?

[Papa_Smurf]

Just something I've started thinking about after contemplating Steyn's performances. No doubt the SA dangerman is enjoying the peak of his career right now.

But which bowler in Test history has had the most devastating peak? I can't think of anyone apart from Waqar Younis.

From his debut to the end of 1995, before the really serious injuries started taking place, Waqar took 200 wickets at an average of 20.61 and SR of 38.6

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

yeah, it's always been the SR of waqar that blows me away. these things will be easier for people that watched cricket in the time frame and have a good memory.

I can find: malcolm marshall from 1981-1986 200 wickets at 19.42 at SR of 42

imran khan: 1980-86 184 wickets at 15.92 (wow) at a SR of 42.2. (he managaged 14 5-fers in 35 matches.)

 

[sami ullah khan]

Waqar's Stats are absolutely ming boggling.

 

[War]

Ye off my head its definitely Waqar for quick bowlers. Closely followed by Lillee, Marshall (all got to 200 wickets @ their ultime peaks are 40 tests).

For spinners i think Murali, O'Reilly & Grimmett would be the most devastating - but i have to check back.

 

[cricket_icon]

waqar younis was devastating. imran khan and marshall pretty amazing too. those three would be my pick.

 

[sifter132]

Good call on Waqar, but have to agree that Imran wins, shame he had those shin problems...

We had the thread not too long ago on McGrath's peak (1997-2002ish I think it was), not quite 'devasting' pace wise, but gosh he was hard to make runs against. Ditto for Shaun Pollock around the same period. Must also mention for great peak periods: early 90s Ambrose, mid 80s Hadlee, late 80s Marshall, early 80s Botham and have just been reading a bit about Alec Bedser, he was really good in the early 50s.

For spin, Murali and Warne both had pretty awesome peaks (Murali probably in the last few years, Warne around the mid 90s - Gatting ball onwards...) Also must mention Derek Underwood - he had a great time in the late 60's and early 70s, and yeah O'Reilly and Grimmett in the 30s were excellent when Australia couldn't find a fast bowler to save themselves.


ANOTHER THOUGHT: Steve Harmison of 2004 he was pretty awesome for a short while there.

 

[Howsie]

mid 80s Hadlee

The fascinating thing about Richard Hadlee's peak was that it was done all in his 30's. From 1982 a then 30 year old Hadlee picked up 236 wickets in 42 matches between then and 1988 at just 18.6.

It's one of the reasons I always scoff at people who write bowlers off in their early 20's.

 

[War]

ANOTHER THOUGHT: Steve Harmison of 2004 he was pretty awesome for a short while there.

Ye those 11 test vs WI and NZ (although some would limit to to 7) where. But that was to short a peak really - he had to probably at least have done it for 25 tests for him to have been seriously mentioned in this section.

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The fascinating thing about Richard Hadlee's peak was that it was done all in his 30's. From 1982 a then 30 year old Hadlee picked up 236 wickets in 42 matches between then and 1988 at just 18.6.

It's one of the reasons I always scoff at people who write bowlers off in their early 20's.

What Hadlee was able to accomplish as quick in late 30s was pretty unique in test history though. The only other quick bowlers who where that good @ 35+ was McGrath & Walsh - while Imran & Ambrose slightly where the same. Most other great bowlers when they got to 32/33 declined in some way.

 

[Howsie]

Oh, I realise that. It's just like your McGrath's and Hadlee's performing well into their 30's being a rare occurrence a young 20 year old coming in and performing straight away is pretty rare itself. It just annoys me no end when people write them off as international failures without realising most quick bowlers don't hit their peak until their mid 20's at the earliest.

 

[War]

Oh, I realise that. It's just like your McGrath's and Hadlee's performing well into their 30's being a rare occurrence a young 20 year old coming in and performing straight away is pretty rare itself. It just annoys me no end when people write them off as international failures without realising most quick bowlers don't hit their peak until their mid 20's at the earliest.

True.

The only time i guess it could be right off a bowler in his early 20s, is if he doesn't seem like he has the raw skills that bowlers in history who ended up peaking at in the mid/late 20s.

I.e if its a medium pace 125-130 mph bowlers who doesn't swing the ball @ age 20 who debuts, i would right him off of being a test-success pretty quickly in this era of flat pitches to be frank. Tsotsobe & Kulasekera come to mind.

But if you got nice pace & swing the ball from a young age, i would rightly reserve judgement until you reach your mid/late 20s.

 

[angryangy]

Warne around the mid 90s - Gatting ball onwards...

Widely held to be his peak, but he was more effective from about 2002 onward, 12 fewer balls per wicket for the measly cost of an extra run.

 

[sami ullah khan]

If Steyn can stay fit and sharp, do you guys think he can have a peak comparable to Waqar?

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I think Steyn can surpass it. He's reaching the stage where he's making the ball do whatever he wants whenever he wants to, shifting his speed from 130s to 150s, bowling long spells, accuracy is pretty brilliant, and he's got a nice slower ball going too.

Really once Steyn hits his peak...wow.

 

[sami ullah khan]

^The key factor in determining that will be his pace. He is got a much smoother and better action than Waqar and does not try to bowl every delivery very fast unlike Waqar. Steyn is very smart and I am sure his best is yet to come.

 

[sifter132]

Widely held to be his peak, but he was more effective from about 2002 onward, 12 fewer balls per wicket for the measly cost of an extra run.

I'll agree that 2002-2007 was very good, definitely worth a mention. By the 2000s he was getting lots more LBWs with that skidder, in part thanks to the invention of Hawkeye (and in part his own brilliance in setting batsmen up for it of course).