Stuart Broad 2.0

www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-engl...nt/story/963399.html

Dale Steyn is "the bowler of our generation"

James Anderson is "the best bowler England have ever had".

Broady 

The Jimmy vs Broad debate is an interesting one. From a raw numbers standpoint

Overall numbers:

Anderson: 3.83 wickets per Test at an average of 29.13 and a strike-rate of 58.0.
Broad: 3.66 wickets per Test at an average of 28.54 and a strike-rate of 56.4.

Anderson has 18 5-wicket hauls and 2 10-wicket hauls. Broad has 15 5-wicket hauls and 2 10-wicket hauls. Broad, however, has a better ratio of 5-wicket hauls per Test as Anderson has appeared in 22 more Test matches (6 vs 6.22).

Numbers in home Test matches:

Anderson: 4.22 wickets per Test at an average of 26.80 and a strike-rate of 53.6.
Broad: 4.14 wickets per Test at an average of 26.52 and a strike-rate of 50.9

Anderson has 14 5-wicket hauls and 2 10-wicket hauls. Broad has 11 5-wicket hauls and 2 10-wicket hauls. Anderson has a marginally better ratio of 5-wicket hauls per Test at home (4.5 vs 4.54).

Numbers overseas Test matches:

Anderson: 3.27 wickets per Test at an average of 34.87 and a strike-rate of 66.1. 
Broad: 3.02 wickets per Test at an average of 33.71 and a strike-rate of 66.3.

Anderson and Broad have both taken 5-wickets in an innings four times in overseas Tests. As Broad has played 9 fewer Tests, his ratio of 5-wicket hauls per Test is the better of the two.

Broad also has the better numbers against Australia.

Numbers versus Australia:

Anderson: 87 wickets in 26 matches at an average of 35.87 with 4 5-wicket hauls.
Broad: 84 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 27.69 with 6 5-wicket hauls.

One thing that should also not be discounted in the numbers, as the senior bowler, Jimmy always gets the pick of the ends to bowl at, this is a pretty big advantage.

As you can see, the overall numbers are extremely similar. Of course, neither is actually England's greatest fast bowler.

Only a fool would say that Broad and Anderson aren't world class, I'm not saying that at all, but I just think there's been times when Broad as lost his way when his arsenal of attack hasn't reaped the rewards.

I live in England and so obviously watch Broad in the domestic league so maybe I'm basing my judgment on that aswell as the earlier international games he played.

In regards to England's best ever fast bowler, there was an interesting piece written by the BBC that took into account all the stats and what teams and players certain bowlers had played against, and it was Hoggard who came out on top.

Now while do think hoggard is underrated, I'm not sure I'd agree he's England's best ever?