What career records will current England bowlers end up with?

[DaveGillespie]

Having recently taken a gander at the list of top England wicket takers (http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/ENG/..._WKTS_ENG.html), I noticed the following.

D Gough              58  11821  369  6503  229  28.39  6-42   9  -  51.6  3.30
  MJ Hoggard           58  12168  436  6607  222  29.76  7-61   6  1  54.8  3.25

As of the end of the current England v Pakistan test series, Matthew Hoggard has played exactly the same number of tests as Darren Gough and has uncannily similar statistics. Given that I don't think of Hoggard as having played nearly as much test cricket as Gough did this came as something of a surprise. Also, given that Hoggard is both a lot younger and less crocked than Gough and has played nowhere near the number of ODIs, List A or First Class matches that Gough has it would seem he has a better chance of finishing his career with a fine test record.

Hoggard is also currently poised to overtake Gough, Caddick and Bedser in the wicket takers list. Probably deservedly in the case of Gough & Caddick but probably not in the case of Bedser. I see him finishing with almost of just over 300 wickets, probably maintaining an average of 28/29, which should place him up with the most successful bowlers of the last 20 years for England.

The others in short summary:

Steve Harmison - 179 wickets at the minute. I see him playing another year before having had a gutful of international cricket and probably finishing with about 220-230 wickets slightly over 30 before retiring. I reckon we'll see him retire from ODIs immediately following the world cup.

Flintoff - 186 wickets at the minute, and will probably also get to around 220-230 before breaking down for the last time and becoming a specialist batsman. A pity he was flogged almost to death before finding his real bowling self.

Simon Jones - Currently sitting on 59 wickets and will be lucky to make it to 100. I will be surprised if he goes on to play any serious amount of cricket in the future.

Ashley Giles - Amusingly, will overtake Hedley Verity and Fred Titmus if he plays many more tests, which is again highly debatable.

As for your Panesars, Mahmoods, Plunketts etc it's far too early to tell and the majority of these will be weeded out in the next 18 months and probably never heard from again at international level.

There's probably an equivalent thread for Batsmen to be had here, too.

[greg]

I don't think you are far wrong with your guesses Dave though i actually fancy Hoggard to last a bit longer and reach 350 wickets.As for Jones he may never take another test wicket which would be a shame.

[DaveGillespie]

I would be chuffed to see Hoggard reach 350. If for no other reason than to overtake the insufferable Willis and in doing so hopefully knock some of the smugness out of him.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by DaveGillespie

I would be chuffed to see Hoggard reach 350. If for no other reason than to overtake the insufferable Willis and in doing so hopefully knock some of the smugness out of him.

Hey what's wrong with Bob? - he was a good bowler in his day, he was a much better bowler than a commentator, and there would have been no "Bothams Ashes" only for Bob Willis.

Harmison
Malcolm
Willis
Flintoff

Underwood

Would skittle out any side IMO.
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EDIT: if Flintoff does not break down, and that is possible if they stop him playing any more one dayers after a Test series, he is certain IMO to join the 300 club.

[DaveGillespie]

That may be true (probably bar Malcolm) Ern, but I'll take Hoggard over Harmison any day of the week for consistency of performance and effort.

Also I agree, regarding Flintoff as he has taken 60 wickets in his last 14 tests. The plain fact, though, is that he won't stop playing one dayers. The one day series at home happen during the football off season, where cricket is high in the media. Hence, the ECB needs Flintoff playing at that time to put cricket in the spotlight. So he will play.

[Collyisamackem]

Hoggard - Will continue until he's 35 and notch 350 IMO. The rock on which our attack rests, though how many of his wickets have been batsmen attempting to have a go at him when Harmy has roughed them up?

Harmy - has already stated that he will retire from ODIs after the World Cup. I think this will rejuvenate his test performances even more than Old Trafford's 11-79 did. I'd back him to take 300 wickets.

Freddie - If they continue with this ridiculous overloading/captaincy lark, he'll be finished in two years. Giving Strauss the captaincy and letting him use Monty and Hoggard for longer spells will give Freddie a longer career of better quality. I'm sure we all want to see that.

Jones - Who knows?

Giles - Monty's staking quite a claim, but I don't think Gilo is finished yet. It's interesting that GIles is #37 in the world rankings and at #38 is a certain Monty Panesar!

[DaveGillespie]

I forgot James Anderson - though once again I reckon he'll be lucky to take 100 wickets.

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

Giles - Monty's staking quite a claim, but I don't think Gilo is finished yet. It's interesting that GIles is #37 in the world rankings and at #38 is a certain Monty Panesar!

But Panesar will still have about another 10 tests to add to his rating before the oldest game drops off.

[darksideofthemoon]

Originally Posted by DaveGillespie

I forgot James Anderson - though once again I reckon he'll be lucky to take 100 wickets.

He should get 250+ ODI wickets.