Umesh Yadav - As brainless as ever

[zen]

Genuine fast bowling is hard , hard work. It is far more bodily taxing than the other disciplines. The risk of injury is much more. They generally have much shorter careers as well.

There is also the lingering uncertainty of an impending injury in their minds. Who knows when one will happen and they will cease to be genuine fast bowlers and become medium pacers. 

These factors need to be taken into consideration by captains, coaches, selectors etc.  and fast bowlers need to be encouraged and managed with far more professionalism and empathy. This is the case in all countries which have produced good quality fast bowlers.

 Interestingly... 95% of all strike bowlers among pacers , in test matches, have been either fast or had the ability to generate steep bounce by bowling with effort and hitting the deck hard....So... this species of bowlers are very important indeed.

I would add that because of the unique qualities and performance requirements associated with fast bowlers, their compensation and benefits should be much higher as well. 

Ideally would rate 1 McGrath = 1.5 Tendulkar = 3 Dhoni. But, unfortunately, in India, the equation would be 1 Tendulkar = 2 Dhoni = 3 Mcgrath 

 

[express bowling]

If I remember correctly, he played quite well in SC pitches - I remember some beautiful bowling against SL for instance. Besides, some SC pacers do well at home too (like Srinath for instance).

Along with Hadlee, you could also add Pollock - who did very well with his skill set, before he became a trundler after he lost pace and zip in later years. I think that the fraction might be 85-90% more realistically.

 

Pace isn't everything - just look at Mohd. Sami (he used to hit the 150s now and then, and could bowl sustained spells in the high 140s).

Asif averaged 42 in Pakistan I think..not really Srinath-esque that way. Also, he too was a tall pacer who got extra bounce when needed.

Pollock was a tall deck hitting fast-medium bowler who got steep bounce ...during the first half of his career. He became a trundler during his last few years.

I am not saying that pace is everything but a cut-off pace is required at international level.   All fast or bouncy bowlers won't be good bowlers but among the good pacers a very high % would be fast or bouncy bowlers.

Edited January 24, 2016 by express bowling

[Vijy]

I would add that because of the unique qualities and performance requirements associated with fast bowlers, their compensation and benefits should be much higher as well. 

Ideally would rate 1 McGrath = 1.5 Tendulkar = 3 Dhoni. But, unfortunately, in India, the equation would be 1 Tendulkar = 2 Dhoni = 3 Mcgrath 

 

Better not start the Tendu vs X comparison. For what it's worth, I'd prefer Lara or Kallis over McGrath. Besides, where is the allrounder in your equation? FOr instance 1 McGrath = How many Kallis?

[Vijy]

Asif averaged 42 in Pakistan I think..not really Srinath-esque that way. Also, he too was a tall pacer who got extra bounce when needed.

Pollock was a tall deck hitting fast-medium bowler who got steep bounce ...during the first half of his career. He became a trundler during his last few years.

I am not saying that pace is everything but a cut-off pace is required at international level.   All fast or bouncy bowlers won't be good bowlers but among the good pacers a very high % would be fast or bouncy bowlers.

Never saw Pollock get that much steep bounce. He was 6'1 or 6'2 and got a lot of bounce only on the ultra-helpful home pitches. Elsewhere, he relied on impeccable line and length, sufficient pace (mid to high 130s) and swing.

[zen]

Better not start the Tendu vs X comparison. For what it's worth, I'd prefer Lara or Kallis over McGrath. Besides, where is the allrounder in your equation? FOr instance 1 McGrath = How many Kallis?

Those names are examples of great cricketers in their respective departments. It is not a X vs Y players comparison.  I have written about the "Score runs, Save runs" (SRSR) Indian cricketing culture, so if many Indians rate a good/great batsman higher than a good/great bowler, it would not be surprising.

Talking about relatively modern cricket 90s onwards, in tests with 200 or more wkts; 5000 or more runs:

• 7 fast bowlers average 25 or less Link
• 18 batsmen average 49 or more Link

So I would believe that a sensible captain, if he had the option, would pick a great fast bowler first .... Of those 7 fast bowlers, unfortunately, none of them are from India. While of the 18 batsmen, 3 are from India (Tendulkar, Dravid and Sehwag) 

For fast bowling to improve, the cricketing culture in Ind needs to change to "Score runs in all conditions, Pick up wkts in all conditions" which is why an additional premium needs to be attached to good fast bowlers in India 

 

As for equation for the all-rounder, I would not count Kallis as a strike bowler who could change the game with the ball. Neither his SR as a batsman would impact the outcome of the game "relatively" speaking. But considering his versatility, I would equate 1 McGrath = 1.5 Kallis / Tendulkar = 3 Dhoni .... If the all-rounder was like Sobers, who could change the game with his bat or like Imran, who could change the game with the ball, I would equate them equal to or higher than McGrath 

 

Edited January 24, 2016 by rett

[Vijy]

Those names are examples of great cricketers in their respective departments. It is not a X vs Y players comparison.  I have written about the "Score runs, Save runs" (SRSR) Indian cricketing culture, so if many Indians rate a good/great batsman higher than a good/great bowler, it would not be surprising.

Talking about relatively modern cricket 90s onwards, in tests with 200 or more wkts; 5000 or more runs:

• 7 fast bowlers average 25 or less Link
• 18 batsmen average 49 or more Link

So I would believe that a sensible captain, if he had the option, would pick a great fast bowler first .... Of those 7 fast bowlers, unfortunately, none of them are from India. While of the 18 batsmen, 3 are from India (Tendulkar, Dravid and Sehwag) 

For fast bowling to improve, the cricketing culture in Ind needs to change to "Score runs in all conditions, Pick up wkts in all conditions" which is why an additional premium needs to be attached to good fast bowlers in India 

 

As for equation for the all-rounder, I would not count Kallis as a strike bowler who could change the game with the ball. Neither his SR as a batsman would impact the outcome of the game "relatively" speaking. But considering his versatility, I would equate 1 McGrath = 1.5 Kallis / Tendulkar = 3 Dhoni .... If the all-rounder was like Sobers, who could change the game with his bat or like Imran, who could change the game with the ball, I would equate them equal to or higher than McGrath 

 

I assume that no. of spinners below 25 avgs must be very few as well. Only Warne and Murali come to mind. Ashwin is close to that cutoff you imposed though I'd hardly consider him a great bowler.

If you talk about impact players, Tendulkar hardly won any Tests for India (a proven enough fact). Wasn't enough of an impact player to win or change matches single-handedly. Better to go with McGrath = 1.5 Lara instead. Even Sehwag is a better choice since he did change matches single-handedly, albeit in the SC mostly.

[Adi_91]

Umesh can't even turn around his own bowling let alone the team's fortunes.

[SELVAM]

Very very poor series for  umesh. Don't see any improvement in him

[The Realist]

30 next year and a record of 65 wickets in 25 tests at a SR of 62 is nothing to shout about. Difficult to see Yadav becoming much better at this stage of his career.

 

 

[Vilander]

But he ia phast.  He will play or will be replaced by Aaron who is phaster. 

Edited December 17, 2016 by Vilander

[CG]

Umesh Yadav to all his haters and op.

[King Tendulkar]

Last 12 months pace as usual always there 

 

but so accurate . Has it on piece of string now . Amazing improvement . Plus reverse swing 

 

bloke is quality now 

[CoverDrive]

* this thread now. he started the slide to give us a really good chance for the series

[King Tendulkar]

Really think kohli and Kumble take massive credit for this . Really backed fast bowlers.

 

kohli always refers to his seamers as "fast bowlers " . Cultural change 

 

today we saw it epitomised by ashwin drop of yadav . Yadav went nuts . Empowered 

[Mosher]

Massive improvement in his accuracy. Bowled his heart out this season. Never let the pace dip which is a testament to his fitness. Made valuable contributions with wickets at crucial moments in the game. Unsung hero IMO. Can't wait to see Shami and Umesh bowling together in the next test we play. 

[speedheat]

OP as brainless as ever !! Lol

[kubrickian]

What a fiery spell first up from Umesh in second innings that started the slide. Hats off. He has put India in a great position.  

[speedheat]

Losers who believes in line and length should watch our pacers performing in this series, all three pacers umesh bhuvi and ishant bowled with hostile pace and accuracy something which is very pleasing and some earlier captains could never achieve!

[Late Cut]

3 hours ago, Mosher said:

Massive improvement in his accuracy. Bowled his heart out this season. Never let the pace dip which is a testament to his fitness. Made valuable contributions with wickets at crucial moments in the game. Unsung hero IMO. Can't wait to see Shami and Umesh bowling together in the next test we play. 

Let's not forget the 10 or so catches dropped of this guy. His is quick, consistent, and durable, and great at reverse swing.

[rahulrulezz]

I felt so bad for him when Ashwin dropped a simple catch of Yadav. So many catches dropped of Yadav's bowling in this season. Yadav could been the man of the match if Ashwin had taken that catch. 

 

Yadav has easily outbowled Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood in this series