Mitchell Johnson - Best Seamer in the World?

No denying he's bagged the wickets etc etc and the stats look cute ... however, he's had two pacey bouncy wickets thus far against some pretty piss weak Jaarpie batting ... and 5 fers do give him the added impetus.

My point is this "best in the world" label...
He hasn't bowled in English conditions where there is a lack of bounce and as far as swinging it is concerned, gimme a Sidebottom any day of the weak on a damp cloudy English "summer" day to bend it like Beckham.

If Johnson succeeds here - maybe then "the best" tag might start to fit.... till then, other than pure stats - the jury's still out.

You don't even need stats - just watch Steyne bowl and then watch Midge bowl. Steyne is clearly better (although maybe once ticker is taken into account it gets closer).

Is he better than Sidebottom? Oh hell yeah. And I haven't exactly been his biggest fan.

I'm better than Sidebottomat the moment.

JGK wrote:You don't even need stats - just watch Steyne bowl and then watch Midge bowl. Steyne is clearly better (although maybe once ticker is taken into account it gets closer).

They'll both have one thing in common by the end of the summer as Mitch joins the list of KP's bitches.

JGK wrote:You don't even need stats - just watch Steyne bowl and then watch Midge bowl. Steyne is clearly better (although maybe once ticker is taken into account it gets closer).

JGK - Agree.... Johnson gives a shed load more ticker than Steyn does.

do boy - do please read my f**king post (without moving your lips) before making your assumptions.

I did not say Sidebottom was better than Johnson - only that I would personally take Siders to swing it loads more in English conditions on wickets with heaps less bounce than what we've seen so far at Joburg and Durban.

JKLever wrote:

Merlin wrote: bottom line - he ain't proved bugger all yet.

Except he's closing on 100 test wickets @ 26.

About 8 runs less than anyone in our current 'attack'.

As far as I can recall the Aussie derision was because he was pretty much an up and down bowler not getting much movement.

He was also all over the place for a while in a way that made Harmison look consistently accurate.

Johnson is getting a lot more accuracy these days, has gained a bit in pace and is now starting to move the ball. He's still a bit unpredictable at times, but that's more in a good way now.

He's a very down to earth bloke too, which isn't everything, but it means he's less likely to have a Tait-esque brain explosion.

Would a Johnson failure in England mean he's categorically not the best. The tag's been put on Steyn and he averaged mid 30s

Johnson is still a work in progress. He has a brain, and he shows signs of learning new skills even in the last few months. He's younger, faster, brighter, and a better batsman than Lee. Lee won't play another Test for Australia.

lardbucket wrote:Johnson is still a work in progress. He has a brain, and he shows signs of learning new skills even in the last few months. He's younger, faster, brighter, and a better batsman than Lee. Lee won't play another Test for Australia.

Sage.

Bet you he will.

You'll drop Siddle or Hilf for the pretty one.

He's still a bit unpredictable at times, but that's more in a good way now.

Johnson's biggest problem was always, IMHO, that he was a bit too predictable. That seems to have changed now, and in a good way as you say. I'd still pick him behind Steyn and Flintoff and maybe Sharma as well.

Johnson is certainly a handful these days, but my question is- How long can he keep going when he's consistently bowling 50 overs every test match? You'd have to think that at this rate he'll burn out at some stage in the next 12 months.

doremi wrote: I'd still pick him behind Steyn and Flintoff and maybe Sharma as well.

I'm afraid i'd pick Johnson ahead of Fred now, if not for the fact he's likely to see a whole series through without crumbling into a wreck....

Johnson's improved out of sight, he's got more variety. It wouldn't be too difficult to become one of the best left-arm quicks ever.

Bruce Reid without the fragility? The thought is enough to make me tremble.

He was a bit rubbish last night.

The ball didn't swing for him yesterday.

Who cares if Midge is the best in the world. If he's good enough (along with a few others) to keep Lee out of the Test team, then we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

Is that you, horrie?

I hate you guys.

Get ******, Zatty.

eowyn wrote:Get ******, Zatty.

Somehow, it just doesn't quite scan . . .

Get ******, taily.

That scans....

Yes, it does. But who is this taily person of whom you speak, for the membership list knows him/her not?