Why does Steyn perform better than Anderson? (Tests)

[manee]

Anderson has developed a stock ball, to left handers anyway, but it's not even remotely threatening. It's an away swinger that starts on off-stump and moves away further, meaning the batsman can more often than not just leave the ball. He then uses this to attempt to set them up for the one coming back in, used it well against Graeme Smith, but if he can't get the big inswinger going, then he never looks particularly effective.

He actually used that example of the outswinger to the left hander - how useless is that. Gayle leaves them all day and it is obvious that the inswinger is what worries him. It is flawed reasoning to have the ball Gayle struggles against as the surprise ball. The Australians have it spot on to Duminy, pepper him with short balls at 140kph all day long and he doesn't enjoy it, don't throw in the odd one every few overs.

 

[King Pietersen]

Yes exactly, your most dangerous delivery should be the one you bowl most often. England did a similar thing to Ramnaresh Sarwan, bowling outside off, setting him up for the inswinger to get him out lbw, allowing him to score freely on the off-side, not giving them chance to bowl the inswinger. I suppose it could be an issue with the team plans, or it could be something Jimmy thinks works for him, even though it clearly doesn't.

 

[Dare]

Steyn gets more pace and bounce and has a really great short ball. In this series against the West Indies I haven't seen Jimmy bowl that many short balls and when he did they weren't threatening. Steyns away swinger to right handers is brilliant. Jimmy has the potential and the required skills but he seems to lack that confidence of Steyn, almost arrogance.

 

[irottev]

Because Steyn is better lol. Simple as that. Steyn is better physically, mentally, skillfully, anythingelsefully.

 

[aussie1st]

I haven't seen much of Anderson but pace would be a big factor. 10km/h is a huge difference in pace and if you are swinging it at 145km/h you are always going to be more threatening than a guy swinging it at 135km/h.

 

[sohum]

Pace plays a far greater role than you imply. I'd say the average international fast bowler falls between 135 to 145 kmph. To think that the 5 km extra that Steyn gets on average is not worth that much is a fallacy. There may be analysis available on how much that 5 kmph decreases the response time, as well.

 

[RoboRocks]

What Steyn is able to do is bowl a very good line on off stump and that combined with his pace and swing is going to put any batsman under pressure. With Jimmy, even when he's been bowling well, he hasn't had the same sort of accuracy and will occasionally send a wide ball down and the pressure that was build up is then released.

The final innings of the third test was I think the best I've ever seen Anderson bowl since he was able to put the ball on the same line and length each delivery and was getting reverse swing and ask questions each ball.

 

[Mr.Cricket]

He is a one trick pony. Hes good when the ball is swinging but after that he just doesn't have enough pace or variety to trouble good batsmen. Well unless you call long hop , full toss and the half volley on the pads as variety.

 

[angryangy]

Steyn's pace is one thing, but it's more about what he does with it. Steyn is very canny when launching a short pitched attack, while it doesn't seem like something Anderson would ever consider. Steyn is simply more capable in general. Sure, there's the swing, but you see him swing it to good effect maybe once a series (granted, once a series can win that series). Great bowlers have to have other assets and that's what you see in Steyn, he almost always has some other way to attack the batsmen and has considerable persistence, which is important when pursuing a risky length.

 

[fisch]

It's a lot harder to adjust from Ntini releasing it from god-knows-how-wide, than it is to adjust from Broady, etc.

Also, Steyn has an aura that makes batsmen scared before he even bowls a ball. Whereas deep down, batsmen still think that Jimmy is still inconsistent, even though that's no longer the case.

Besides that, you've answered your own question.....Steyn has an extra yard of pace.

 

[venom2011]

Stamina

Having watched Steyn throughout his career there is one thing he does that many other bowlers don't..

He's generally not the best starter with the new ball and has recognized that he has had to drop his pace upfront in order to get some control, but the real kicker comes in his third or fourth spell. Nearing the end of the day and after 15-20 overs under his belt, you will very often see him bowling his best spell, which will be four or five overs of 145-150 Kph deliveries, mixing his line and lengths up and occassionally getting reverse swing. I have seen him pick up bundles of wickets during such times, and it makes him unique in that regard.

 

[evertonfan]

Because Steyn is better lol. Simple as that. Steyn is better physically, mentally, skillfully, anythingelsefully.

This.

You can give all the fancy dan analysis that you want but Steyn is just pourely better and that's that.

Anderson still has the better hair and the fitter wife though and that's clearly what counts.

 

[King Pietersen]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/jc0061/SMrjPks4PpI/AAAAAAAAAGo/F_iTBRbkNTU/s1600-h/jeanne[2].jpg

Steyn's girlfriend isn't too shabby tbh (one on the left in the green). Although I do agree, Jimmy's wife is hotter. Lucky twat. Good at cricket, sexy hair (although he does need a hair cut atm) and he's married to this:

Some people get all the luck. Even Ian Bell's got a fit missus.

 

[Will_NA]

Even Ian Bell's got a fit missus.

Lois Lane's alright, I guess.

Pace definitely plays a big part. Steyn's able to pitch it up, swing but also at 92mph+ which Jimmy can't. Steyn's line and length is more consistent too. But the main thing's pace. Batsmen have less time to adjust to a moving ball.

 

[Dare]

Lois Lane's alright, I guess.

:rtfl:rtfl
ahahahh good one.