I sense a Lancashire connection with those comments. Jimmy may do more with the old ball but Steyn is still slightly ahead.

Steve Waugh was on record last week saying that Kallis is the greatest player ever....

Taking only Jimmy's average in this 'great year' it is still below Steyn's career average. Puts things in perspective.

I think it s a close call both are quality bowlers and Jimmy is at his best at the moment. Steyn is quality but agree I think Jimmy does just do more with the ball

"Taking only Jimmy's average in this 'great year' it is still below Steyn's career average. Puts things in perspective.."


No it doesn't. You have to take a lot of other things 'into perspective' as well - the other bowlers in the team who can help you out, conditions to bowl in, fielding, the list is endless... Averages don't always mean the be-all-and-end-all. If they were then Neil Mallendar who played 2 tests and took 10 wickets is a better bowler than Jimmy! You need to have a bit more 'perspective'!!

Seems to remember Steyn coming out on top with ease last summer when SA played England.

Steyn is the world no1 bowler.

Any mug can bowl these rubbish aussie batsmen out.

No it doesn't. You have to take a lot of other things 'into perspective' as well - the other bowlers in the team who can help you out, conditions to bowl in, fielding,
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As far as im concerned, England has probably the no1 spinner in Swann, very good fielders and conditions in England are usually great for bowlers + Finn, Bres and Broad aint too shabby in the bowling department.

Styen is easily the best bowler in the world.

"Any mug can bowl these rubbish aussie batsmen out."

REALLY? Seem to remember SA - Steyn included - having some difficulty in THEIR recent test series?!!

Still remember SA Winning the Test Series.

India made them look like right mugs in India too even though their bowling department isnt really too strong.

"Still remember SA Winning the Test Series."

Yeah, but they were lucky. Coming out with a comment like 'any mug can bowl this lot out' is counting without one of teh greatest batsmen in the world right now in Clarke.
You are guilty like others of playing too much on stats and figures

its a opinion and he hes entitled to it, dnt agree with him, its like pele having el hadj diuof in his top 100 players of all time, doesnt mean its right

@drbantam

No perspective needed. Jimmy has had easy opposition this year, good bowling conditions. Being lauded as the best currently yet even in this amazing year he has not reached what Steyn has over his whole career. FYI: 2013: Anderson 7 matches 32 wickets average 23 Steyn 5 matches 33 wickets average 12.5

When England won in India last winter with both Swann & Panaser bowling very well, Dhoni stated that Jimmy was the difference. Almost 600 international wickets right in his prime, Jimmy as he is bowling now would be a fine bowler in any era. So too Steyn.

England has probably the no1 spinner in Swann
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Very debatable that as I would have Ajmal ahead of Swann.

Im not saying Jimmy rubbish far from it.

He just the no2 bowler i nthe world nothng bad about that.

Steyn is just a little bit better.

"He just the no2 bowler i nthe world nothng bad about that.

Boss, thats just the point - in the actual test stats he is down as number 5, which is just ridiculous. Those ICC bowling rankings must be made up by a guy with very dark glasses and the back of a cigarette packet!!

Steyn is a top bowler but to say he is easy the number 1 in the world is wrong, yes he is good but Jimmy for me is up there, I wouldn't say they are miles apart and I am sure if you asked Syten he would agree.

As for SA wining the test series, yes they played well, but we will never know what would have happened if KP wasn't dropt and all the shlite that went on about that.

England have done well the last year against India and Lucky against NZ.

Why are people even bringing up Anderson? He isn't even No.2, that would be Philander. I get that the English like to hype up their players and use comments from former pros as a benchmark but the fact is Steyn is clearly better than Anderson. And regarding the Anderson does more with the ball than Steyn comment, imagine doing more with the ball and taking less wickets than Steyn? Steyn is the best in the world.

Frankie Aye right not even number 2 in the world I will leave that there

1 905 D.W. Steyn SA
2 890 V.D. Philander SA
3 831 H.M.R.K.B. Herath SL
4 819 Saeed Ajmal PAK
5 794 P.M. Siddle AUS
5 794 J.M. Anderson ENG
7 789 G.P. Swann
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Jimmy was a bit below par in NZ while bowlers like Siddle did well in India and has been performing well in England too however we all know Jimmy is better.

Philander has had a phenomenal start to his test career with an average of 17 but has yet to play in the sub cont but that has still allowed him to pick up ranking points for performances in SA and England.

Herath and Ajmal are top spinners who have been taking wickets everywhere.

No one is saying Anderson is a rubbish player, but it certainly isn't as close as you guys are making it out to be..

Frankie for me and this is my opinion I think he is up there with Steyn, and I am sure there is allot more people who would say the same. Steyn is quality but at the moment so is Jimmy

Jimmy over his career has been a good bowler, in the last few years a very very good bowler and I would have him at 2 closely followed by philander but people are underestimating just how great Steyn is. In an era where batsman are thriving and bowlers struggling especially fast bowlers Steyn has figures surpassing truly great bowlers like Wasim, Younis, Donald etc. Imagine how good he would be if he was playing in the 90's when pitches were more bowler friendly.

Cricket for a bowler is all about taking wickets especially at important times and is really what a bowler should be judged on. It's not about trick bowling etc. And as such Steyn is a very clear number one.

In an era where batsman are thriving and bowlers struggling especially fast bowlers Steyn has figures surpassing truly great bowlers like Wasim, Younis, Donald etc. Imagine how good he would be if he was playing in the 90's when pitches were more bowler friendly.
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That's a myth about the 90s being bowler friendly. Styen has benefitted a lot bowling in SA where the wickets are green, bouncy and fast and he's blown away batsman. He also gets the same conditions in England, Aus and NZ. However he has also produced the goods in the Sub Cont which is what the other greats have done. He will go down as one of the best no doubt but there is no difference from the 90s to today In pitches.

Philander has the added benefit of bowling after steyn when pressure will have been exerted. This may make opponents target philander through necessity therefore batsman are susceptible to giving away their wickets against him.

Anyone who thinks the bowling rankings atm are a true reflection and that philander is better than Jimmy, Ajmal and even Siddle is premature at best.

Would love to see how he would get on if he was leading the attack mind

Ain't no myth and numbers back it up. Ex pros have often mentioned that pitches now are more bounce consistent and that's batsman can play their strokes with more peace of mind. Having watched SA cricket obsessively my whole life I can say with little doubt that they do less than in the past.