Who is currently the world's best test bowler?

Tony Mann

Froggy Thomson.

Scott Muller

Johnny Watkins. Beat that, sucker.

Watkins did win a Test for us.

Greg Campbell.

He took a Michelle v Lankans in Hobart.

Ross Duncan then.

Didn't Ken Eastwood roll his arm over at Perth?

took a wicket in Sydney - Keith Fletcher

Well, I guess that makes him better than Duncan and Watkins, then.

Watkins averaged 39 with the bat, and Eastwood took a cheap wicket. Both one hit wonders really.

I was a young tacker when I was actually at the SCG the day Massie and Watkins put on 70 or 80 for the 9th wicket v Paksters to set up the victory. My most vivid memory of the day is a classic diving catch by Ross Edwards in the covers off (I think) Sadiq Mohammad.

yes, it was ... off Massie, IIRC.

May even have been Massie's last Test wicket.

I think you may be right. He went to the Windies but was sh!te and never played another Test. Lillee also broke down completely (after looking in big trouble with his back during the Test above). That was the summer I really "got" the game and understood my old man's passion for the great game. Very fond memories of crackly radio coverage from the 1973 Windies tour. I especially remember listening to Dougie Walters belting a ton in a session.

Dougie also had to open the bowling in one game, and took a Michelle. Whatafarkinlegend.

lardbucket wrote:Dougie also had to open the bowling in one game, and took a Michelle. Whatafarkinlegend.

Indeed he did, and indeed he was. I think GSC also took a Michelle. That 2-0 series victory was amazing when you think that both Lillee and Massie played little or no part and our opening attack was Max Walker and Jeff Hammond.

Chappelli was reduced to getting John Benaud to bowl ... he took two wickets! Maybe Maurice Foster and Charlie Davis? Middle order type players, anyway.

Sad state of affairs looking at the options here. I miss the TGM/tgm duo.

Gary 111 wrote:According to the ICC Rankings:

1) Muralitharan (897)
2) Steyn (892)
3) Clark (863)
4) Lee (794)
5) Ntini (777)
6) Sidebottom (748)
7) Vaas (709)
8 ) Kumble (708)
9) Shoaib (684)
10) Bond (668)

Probably about right - a comment on the poor state of test match bowling. Of these only Murali and Kumble are great bowlers. Steyn looks the goods bit the others are just good test bowlers.

It's a shame Bond has had so many injuries. He had the potential to be a true great, a rarity for the sNooZers in cricket.

Zat wrote:It's a shame Bond has had so many injuries. He had the potential to be a true great, a rarity for the sNooZers in cricket.

He has been fit for many months. NZCB kicked him out

Aye, while NZ have been struggling for wickets, Bond has helped himself to 19 wickets at 19 from 4 matches so far this season for Hampshire.

How NZ needed a bowler of his class when England were chasing that tricky target in the 2nd Test.

He isn't the same bowler now though, still much better than anything NZ have and can compete with the best in the world, but he is a shadow of what he was 3-4 years ago.

Gary 111 wrote:According to the ICC Rankings:

1) Muralitharan (897)
2) Steyn (892)
3) Clark (863)
4) Lee (794)
5) Ntini (777)
6) Sidebottom (748)
7) Vaas (709)
8 ) Kumble (708)
9) Shoaib (684)
10) Bond (668)

Asif is 14th on 619.

Jeez, is that really the best on offer? I hadn't realised just how bad test cricket was these days. Never mind the out and out bowlers of the time, 'all-rounders' Hadlee, Khan, Dev and even Botham would all make that list.