Hypothetical Warne v Murali

[JLC]

Personally i think Warne is the better bowler.

As a hypothetical what do people think would have happened if Warne was playing for Sri Lanka and Murali was an Aussie. I am mainly talking in terms of where they would have played the majority of their cricket as in the pitches. Where do people think the wicket tallies would be at for each player ??

I think Warne may have an extra 50 - 100 and Maybe Murali 100 less wickets.

What are peoples thoughts ??

jlc

[WhyPhilWhy?]

Dunno - is Warney allowed to straighten his arm during delivery?

[London Dave]

Murali wouldnt have got picked for Oz

[labrooy]

[Donny]

OK. The powers that be continue to pass Murali's action as legal. For the sake of this hypothetical, I'll leave the legitimacy of that action out of my input.

What strikes me as vital to this comparison is Murali hasn't had the likes of McGrath, Gillespie and Fleming/Lee (and others, earlier) in front of him as Warne has.

It's been pretty much Vaas, his opening partner then Murali at one end for the rest of the innings.

I'll need to look up some figures but I think Murali has taken around 75% of his wickets at home and Warne takes them on any surface except, it seems, Indian tracks. He has his chance to rectify that later this year.

More later.

[London Dave]

Murali is a bit like Richard Hadlee in that respect Donny, he was the only bloke who was gonna get ya. For that reason alone, he'd never have got a many plying for Oz as he has.

Must say Gilchrists comments about the preparation of wickets comes into play too.

As far as the legitimacy of his action goes, I'll never believe it. The Sri Lankans pulled the race card on it, and you can do all the tests under the sun, but that type of defence will forever taint his action in my eyes. Anyway, we've argued that point till the cows have come home, gone and come back again. Each to their own.

[JLC]

Murali also has taken almost 100 wickets against Zimbabwe whereas Warne only has taken 6. Someone pointed that out the other day on the radio.

jlc

[LeonMcS]

Well I can't ignore Muralis action. I'll agree that Murali wouldnt have made it to the top level if he was an Aussie because of his atrocious action. If he had, and been no-balled, would we all be crying racism?
Interesting to read yesterday the WAIS is asking him if they can test his action on the 'Doosra', and in the recent U-19 World Cup, every umpire there agreed that he chucks. Not forgetting the two current umpires on the test panel who say that he does but wont call him for fear of losing their jobs. Sorry to go on about but it really annoys me that he can play and get away with it.
Back onto the subject, if Warnie had been Sri Lankan he'd be pushing 1000 wickets as every pitch they'd prepare would look like the surface of the moon.

[Joel]

[Donny]

Joel, You heard ? The scores were in here.

Remember folks, for up-to-date scores in ALL the cricket, check Nick's Sports Bar.

[JLC]

What i was getting at is that Murali has claimed a lot of cheap wickets whereas Warne has not.

jlc

[Donny]

Yes, that is the case.

A couple of examples: He has 61 wickets against Zimbabwe in S.L. @ 12.31 and 20 in 2 Tests at home against Bangladesh @ 10.45 compared with 19 @ 29.94 from 5 Tests against Pakistan.

Of his 496 wickets, only 176 are from away Tests. He's played 50 at home and 36 away.

He's only played 2 Tests in Australia for 3 wickets @ 116.

Warne has played 7 in S.L. for 32 wickets @ 19.37 whereas Murali's 7 at home against Oz have produced 30 wickets @ 26.20.

Warne has 225 wickets at home from 50 Tests and 276 away from 58 Tests.

Neither have good numbers in India. Murali has played 5 Tests there for 15 wickets @ 48.23 and Warne, 6 Tests for 20 wickets @ 52.25

[labrooy]

Those are interesting stats. Going on those alone you would have to give the nod to Warne.

[Donny]

Hadlee warns Shane

By Robert Craddock - Fox

PACE bowling icon Sir Richard Hadlee has warned Shane Warne and his teammates about the special pressures looming as Warne chases world-record glory this week.

Warne (511 wickets) needs nine wickets in the third Test against Sri Lanka at the Singhalese Sports Club, starting tomorrow, to eclipse West Indian Courtney Walsh (519) as cricket's highest wicket-taker of all time.

If Warne fails to snare the record this weekend, there is no guarantee he will land it given controversial Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is just six behind Warne and, fitness permitting, will fill his boots when he plays lowly Zimbabwe in two Tests early next month.

New Zealand's champion paceman Hadlee (431 wickets from 86 Tests), who held the record for six years before being eclipsed by India's Kapil Dev, believes the pressure of the occasion will be substantial.

"Warney will not be able to relax," Hadlee said from New Zealand.

"There is so much hype about it. You can't afford to let your guard down. Everyone wants it to happen quickly. If you are one wicket short entering a day you want it early in the day.

"It is not just you that struggles to relax. It's the same for the other players. They are on edge as well. They know if the ball comes their way for a catch they can be part of history.

"Everybody relaxes once it has been done and then you can get on with what the game's about."

Despite his standing as one of history's finest fast bowlers, Hadlee has always been one of Warne's biggest fans and was one of the first to tip him for greatness.

[Donny]

Ooo. Thanks, Sir Richard. Thanks for warning us. We didn't realise any of that.

I didn't know Robert Craddock and Richard Hadlee were BOTH bank johnnies.

Well, wasn't that what sections of Aussie crowds used to yell out to the former kiwi bowler, "Hadlee's a banker. Hadlee's a banker"