Mitchell Johnson - Best Seamer in the World?

He certainly looks it to me, good pace, has started to get some swing going and is a real handful against even the best of batsmen.

Playing now or ever?

Well there's not too much competition at the moment. Steyn perhaps when he bowls like he did today, but then you wouldn't say that after watching his efforts on day 1.

Can't believe you're writing off Amjad "yessie" Khan so early.

beamer wrote:Well there's not too much competition at the moment. Steyn perhaps when he bowls like he did today, but then you wouldn't say that after watching his efforts on day 1.

The Steyn Cycle.

Like Jimmy but a bit better.

He might just get in our side. If he's lucky.

I like the look of Midge's averages. Both nicely below 30 in both forms of the game.

I judged the guy when he started out, but he has impressed me no-end.

JKLever wrote:He might just get in our side. If he's lucky.

Does his face fit the bill though?

No, to the OP.

Current top 10 in the rankings:

1. Murali (spinner)
2. Steyn
3. Johnson
4. Clark (injured)
5. Ntini
6. Harbhajan (spinner)
7. Taylor (improving but still averaging mid-30s)
8. Vaas (well past his best)
9. Lee (long-term injured)
10. Sidebottom (injury problems and maybe a one-year wonder)

That's how poor world bowling stocks are at the moment. And I think only Steyn, Johnson and Taylor on that list are aged under 30.

He could become one of the best ever, time will tell.

But realistically, to be best in a list that contains Steyn, Ntini, Flintoff, Khan, Sharma, Gul and Taylor isn't so terrible. Not great but alright. It's a real shame that Lalit Modi and his team of QUNTS had to rob us of Shane Bond. And a shame that Mohammad Asif is a bona fide QUNT and had to rob us of himself.

Shane Bond's incredible exploding back has robbed "us" of more cricket than Modi and his IPL mafia.

Just out of interest here's 11-20:

11. Vettori (spinner)
12. Z Khan
13. Kaneria (spinner)
14. Flintoff
15. Kallis
16. Anderson
17. Panesar (spinner)
18. Gul
19. Martin
20. Harris (spinner) & Edwards

Sharma surprisingly as low as 22, just above Hoggard who hasn't played a Test for over a year. :|

Hmm, Midge is OK but has some way to go yet to be considered great. His first over was typical of what he can do and he is improving but still has numerous technical issues with his wrist and arm height.

Still, the raw material is there. Consistently 145+ and has great stamina, so hopefully he does mature into a world class spearhead.

beamer wrote:Just out of interest here's 11-20:

11. Vettori (spinner)
12. Z Khan
13. Kaneria (spinner)
14. Flintoff
15. Kallis
16. Anderson
17. Panesar (spinner)
18. Gul
19. Martin
20. Harris (spinner) & Edwards

Sharma surprisingly as low as 22, just above Hoggard who hasn't played a Test for over a year. :|

Look for Siddle and Milf to move into and up this list.

skully wrote:

beamer wrote:Just out of interest here's 11-20:

11. Vettori (spinner)
12. Z Khan
13. Kaneria (spinner)
14. Flintoff
15. Kallis
16. Anderson
17. Panesar (spinner)
18. Gul
19. Martin
20. Harris (spinner) & Edwards

Sharma surprisingly as low as 22, just above Hoggard who hasn't played a Test for over a year. :|

Look for Siddle and Milf to move into and up this list.

They'd have to be pretty crap not to make some progress up against that lot...

I'd have Steyne ahead of every other bowler and/or pinger.

JGK wrote:I'd have Steyne ahead of every other bowler and/or pinger.

Aye. It was his spell last night that rattled Paris and precipitated the collapse.

Would you have him in front of every ginja ninja?

Ranga - 3 matches 8 wickets at 18.88 (tick), 26 runs at 8.66 (cross)

A bowler who may learn to bat a bit?

Someone plays a couple of good matches and they are the best in the world. Says something about the poor state of the bowling stocks at the moment.

Ishant Sharma and Steyn have both been the 'best in the world' recently. If Sidebottom takes 9 wickets in the first ashes test it will be his turn.

Mind you, Johnson does look bloody good just now.

Midge has taken 42 wickets at 17 in his last 7 tests, 5 of which were against the Saffers.

Let's hope he carries that form into the one that really matters deep down to us all.