The Numbers Game: Why Glenn McGrath is a better Test bowler than James Anderson

They are two of the greatest pacers in Test cricket history. Between them, they have played a staggering 280 Tests, and have made even the greatest willow wielders appear clueless. Glenn McGrath and James Anderson have etched their names in the hearts of fans and can easily stake claim to being two of the greatest pacers of all time in the longest format of the game. But then, who was the better pacer between the two?

Home and away records of McGrath and James Anderson

The numbers clearly prove that Anderson edges out McGrath as far as home performances are concerned by a very small margin. While the Aussie pacer has a better average than Anderson, the latter’s strike rate is better than that of his counterpart. Also, while McGrath has taken a five-wicket haul in every 6th match that he has played at home, Anderson has taken five scalps in an inning in every 4.04 games at home.

Also, Glenn McGrath’s away average is just 20.81, as compared to Anderson, who averages 32.06. The former’s strike rate is just 48.97, whereas Anderson’s is 66.94. McGrath has taken 18 five-wicket hauls in 58 away matches while the England pacer has taken only seven fifers in as many as 67 matches, which translates to 9.57 matches for evety haul.

When we analyse the away performances of these two legends, we find out that McGrath dominates Anderson in almost every single aspect. He has taken 58 wickets more than Anderson despite featuring in 9 matches lesser than the English pace man.

Glenn McGrath and James Anderson- Record in every country

Now, let us delve even deeper and analyze the performances of McGrath and Anderson in  every country that they have played Test cricket in.

In fact, even in England, which is Anderson’s home, McGrath has a better average and a better strike rate than him.  In India, the Australian pips his England rival. In New Zealand too, McGrath averages almost half as Anderson, and has a much better strike rate as well. McGrath dominates Anderson as far as performing away from home is concerned. In fact, there is not a single place where Anderson averages better than McGrath in Test cricket and the numbers show it.

McGrath and Anderson- The Ashes

The Ashes is the oldest and the most important Test series in the sport. Two of the oldest Test playing nations fight it out, and it is a series where everything is at stake. So, let us see how McGrath and Anderson have performed in the Ashes.

As far as The Ashes is concerned, it is the Pigeon again who comes out on top. Despite playing a couple of games lesser than Anderson, McGrath has picked up 53 wickets more than the English pacer. His average in the Ashes in a miserly 20.92, as compared to Anderson, who averages a high 34.56. Also, McGrath has taken double the number of five-wicket hauls as compared to Anderson, in spite of playing two games lesser than him.

Performances in a Win or a Draw

When a bowler runs in at full throttle, his aim is to rattle the batsman, pick up wickets and ensure that his performances result in a win for his country. And since we are talking about Test cricket, the second best option is to settle for a draw.

McGrath averages slightly better than Anderson, and has also taken 27 wickets more than the England pacer. The numbers show that there is nothing much to chose between the two legends in this aspect. McGrath and Anderson almost have the same number of five-wicket hauls in a draw or a win and have almost played the same number of matches as well.

Performances in a Win or a Draw away from home

Now, let us delve deeper. Let us take a look at the performances of Anderson and McGrath in a win or a draw and see how they have performed when they have been taken out of the comfort zone of playing at home.

Anderson has picked up just 3 five-wicket hauls in 34 matches, which translates to a fifer in every 11.33 matches played. It is only when we analyse their records in a win or a draw away from home do we actually find that McGrath has been a much better performer than Anderson in a win or a draw away from home as he averages a miserly 20.01, as compared to Anderson, who averages 28.64. Also, McGrath has taken as many as 12 five-wicket hauls in 43 matches, which translates to one such effort in every 3.58 matches played.

In Conclusion

Anderson created history by becoming the only pacer to take 600 wickets in the longest format in the third Test against Pakistan, and will occupy the pole position for some time. But then, through the analysis that we have done, McGrath will qualify as a better pacer than the English legend.

He has performed better than Anderson in every country that both of them have played Test cricket in and has outperformed the England legend in the Ashes, and has had a higher impact in a win or a draw away from home as compared to Anderson.

While Anderson is a legend in his own right, the man nicknamed ‘The Pigeon’ and someone who was blessed with relentless accuracy certainly emerges on top.

Note: All the stats have been taken from Howstat cricket and Cricinfo and have been updated as on 30th August 2020