No comparison, warney actually bowled the ball as opposed to Murali. Murali I found to be quite a sook as well.
Tbh I've heard too many opinions like these on Murali, and it really irks me. Anyone who think's he's a 'sook' (as per the definition I just had to look up) just plain doesn't know him, and I'd say doesn't know cricket. MM was the backbone and catalyst of the whole team on and off the pitch, and any report of his persona easily comes down any page about him after snide, borderline racist comments on his action, so few people know about him (properly).
He's always come across as someone embarrassed, if not ashamed, of having the deformity, though it's given him no easy route to the success he's enjoyed. It was he himself that instigated most of the medical research into examining his action, a process that indeed corroborated his assumptions that so many international cricketers bowl the ball with a similar bend to their elbow. Of all the cricketers biographies I'd like to read, his would be at the top.
However, like most people, for whatever reason, I'd rather watch Warne all day long. As he's a hero of mine - as far as I'm concerned, I didn't learn to bowl spin, I learnt to 'Warne'.
I think most people can 'relate' to Warne as there's so much (western) focus on his deliveries, and, to an extent, they're copy-able. Not many people appreciate that MM's are copyable too, though you'd have to start practising 10 hours a day, every day, from the age of 11! A number of great bowlers can do MM's deliveries (the doosra etc), MM is just a bit special that he can do them all!
I think English people (myself included!) are the only nation that would state that they (would) fear Warne more than Murali, and I think that tells of the impact of Warne's words/ego/mind games (lol). I've always though Murali hid his deliveries more impredictability about them.
So down to statistics, for me, I don;t really care who took the most wickets. When you're at that level, both bowlers can just be classed as geniune greats. Owing to the nature of cricket and the innings structure, not to mention the lack of standardisation for opponents, home/away's etc, then I don't think you can really, fairly, pick between them.
All I know, is that the subcontinent have always had great spinners. It was Warne that genuinely revolutionised the game (and, to a lesser extent, every summer I've had since 1991!)
Plus I'd like to see MM try his luck on Liz Hurley...
Author
Topic: Shane Warne Still got it (Read 4385 times)