Top 5 test pace bowlers at the moment?

**breeno** · 19 Dec 2008, 19:00

I was talking to a few people and because there are so many, no one can really agree on who is in the top 5, I was leaning towards:

1. D.Steyn
2. I.Sharma
3. S.Clark
4. Khan
5. M.Johnson

It's really hard to say as I don't know many from SL and some other countries, opinions?

**mas cambios** · 19 Dec 2008, 19:30

Not in any order:

1. Flintoff
2. Steyn
3. I Sharma
4. Z Khan
5. M Johnson

It's very hard to choose to be honest. New Zealand, Bangladesh and West Indies don't really have any of note. Pakistan and Sri Lanka don't really play enough tests or at least they're not at the moment.

Asif (if not pending trials for various drug offences) would be up there, as would Malinga (if not injured). Lee is a proven performer and Clark is very steady. J Anderson can be a world beater but tend to only do it 1 innings in 10, Harmison should be up there but his mental frailties are plain for all to see.

Morkel has promise but needs more time and Ntini is coming off a slight dip in form.

**breeno** · 19 Dec 2008, 19:35

Yea In case you didn't notice I didn't put any England bowlers in as I didn't want to comment on a team that I had not seen play recently, I thought of Flintoff but didn't know how he was going form wise.

And you bring up some good points MC about West Indies, NZ, Bangladesh not having any of note.

Also on Morkel, your right, he needs a lot more time and experience against the better test nations and I believe in a few years he will be up there.

**mas cambios** · 19 Dec 2008, 19:46

I rate Flintoff highly but he's a pretty unlucky bowler plus you never know if he's carrying an injury.

Thinking of NZ then you could put Martin and O'Brien into the mix but the former is in poor form and the latter needs more time at international level and in a range of environments.

**breeno** · 19 Dec 2008, 19:51

O'Brien just took 6/74 MC

But I don't rate either of them, not very dangerous at all and they don't bowl with any venom, you know how with some bowlers when they come on you could just sense a wicket? None of the New Zealand bowlers have that trait.

The West Indies openers would be in the mix, but probably not the top 5.

**mas cambios** · 19 Dec 2008, 20:21

West Indies, hmm, maybe because of pace but little else. They are very inconsistent, I mean check out their averages, something like 39, 40 and 45 and I bet they've all played at least 20 tests.

**breeno** · 19 Dec 2008, 20:31

Very true, If they could manage to get some consistency going they would be very good, they clock nice speeds.

Watch out for Peter Siddle in a few years, pretty lively pace and fairly consistent.

**mas cambios** · 19 Dec 2008, 20:35

Not seen much of Siddle but he looks a prospect.

**breeno** · 19 Dec 2008, 20:40

He's only young, one thing that worries me is even though he bowls regularly around 145km/h, and finds nice lengths, he doesn't really show much venom.

Eternal Grin · 19 Dec 2008, 21:10

at the moment, i am suprised you guys don't rate Johnson higher

my list

1. Dale Steyn
2. Mitchell Johnson
3. Brett Lee
4. Inshant Sharma
5. Makhaya Ntini