Simply put.. Warne is not only the greatest spinner.. he is one of the greatest players ever..

All this talk of statistics is good for record books but Shane Warne changed the game of cricket.. he turned matches and series' on there head.. Statistically Stuart McGill is better than Warne in some aspects but you wouldnt dare say he is better than Shane Warne.. statistics dont always paint a true picture.. how much value do you place on Warne's haul in 1999 World Cup that motivated the Aussies.. or those 4 wickets from a magnificent day of bowling during the recent ashes second test in Adelaide.. or that first ball to Gatting in 1993..

As for Murali.. i believe he will take more wickets but in my opinion that doesn't bring him even close to Shane Warne's shadow.. His legacy will forever be tarnished by illegality and quality of wickets.. he isn't a matchwinner like Warne.. The reason Australia's batsmen are so good is because they faced Warne & McGrath in the nets.. that shows just how good Warne is.. he made our batsmen better!!! tactically he is a better thinker.. for people to debate this point is just an arduous waste of time.. he is the best to date..

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WACA home of the FAST bowler

Australia = Cricket

While I agree that Shane Warne has the better quality of wickets of the big two and is certainly the better matchwinner, I think you are being harsh on Murali is saying that his action is illegal. We have been through that before and several tests have proved that his action, though very unusual, is well within legal limits. It is not his fault that his captains often use him to finish off the tailenders; Murali has shown more than a few times that he is perfectly capable of troubling and getting out the best batsmen around the world.

no i didnt say his action is illegal... i said all this innuendo about illegality and quality has tarnished his legacy of having claimed the most amount of wickets.. i deem his action to be within the current laws of the game but that has no bearing on my opinion as to why i think Shane Warne is the greatest spinner to date...

As for the tests.. i live in Western Australia.. Murali was being tested at our University along with Shoaib Akhtar etc.. i was there to witness the human movement tests they performed and his stock action is legal... but what they were concerned about was the doosra or the odd "effort" ball he "throws" (figure of speech) in every over or two which certainly pushes the limits of the rules...

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WACA home of the FAST bowler

Australia = Cricket

Sadly, I can only agree. He is an inspirational cricketer as well as a brilliant one.

It is impossible to bowl a doosra without throwing the ball. To get your arm in that position your arm has to be bent over the legal amount. Muralitharans stock ball was originally illegal but they changed the laws, now his stock ball in 100% legal but his doosra is not. We are very lucky to see a bowler like Murali, we will never see another bowler like him. Plainly because they wont get through the system.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Murali bowls them beautifully.


Warnie bowls them and is simply the best spin bowler ever by far.

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Come on Aussies.

Another big cricket season in 2007/2008.

Absolutely right - whether he bowls or throws is for the umpires to call. Murali has enriched the game, enjoy it while it lasts.

No mention of Peter Such yet in this thread....!!!!

Murali remember was cleared of chucking, so we must assume he bowls his "doosra", and where did Peter Such come from, in the same breath as Warne.

Best ever three spin bowlers

First - Warne.

Second - Murali.

Third - Underwood.

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Ern

As per usual I change my mind a lot, which is a good thing. We all grow and learn

My Top 5

1. Bill O'Reilly
2. Muttiah Muralitharan / Shane Warne (can not seperate them)
3. Jim Laker
4. Keith Miller
5. Anil Kumble

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

I heard that Keith Miller was capable of bowling leg-breaks, but he wasn't a spinner. If he can be included, then I see no reason why Tim Zhoerer can't.