 In my opinion the above record should be in two categories i.e, the pacies and spinners.
Currently the record of 800 wickets is held by a spinner and so it will be in the future too. The chance of a pacie breaking that is virtually very slim. Hence it is unfair and not cricket to ignore the splendid achievements of pacies such as Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev and Glen McGrath. The pacies deserve greater merit and credit than a spinner for the following reasons.
(a) They have shorter playing years than a spinner. When aged 33 a pacie is on the decline whereas the spinner is at his peak.
(b) His bowling spells are few and far between, whereas the spinner may bowl right throughout the innings.
(c) The most important aspect is that he expends more energy and is more prone to injury and has to work hard to maintain line and length to earn wickets. Usually batsmen seldom take risks against him. Unlike the spinner his chances of getting ‘fluke’ or ‘gift’ wickets is rare.
Therefore for reasons stated above I feel that the great West Indian Courtney Welsh should duly be recognized as the current bowler of the record number of Test wickets taken in the pace category and Muttiah Muralitharan the holder of the coveted title in the spinner’ category. aThe division of honour, I am sure will be an encouragement to both types of bowlers.
Unlike the batsman who holds the highest Test score, which achievement is a ‘one man show’, whereas the bowler achieves his worth the entire eleven’s contribution, except when he clean bowls the batsman.
A.B. Marcellus
HENDALA |
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