Quarantine Day 23: I compared the career trajectories of Wasim, Waqar and Imran. Three completely different development curves.

Compared the three most popular opening fast bowling partnerships. Quite bizarre how Anderson/Broad never breached the elite 25 line even once over the course of their (very long) careers while the 2Ws stayed below 25 for over 50 tests.

The rivalry with Waqar did wonders for Wasim.

Compared great fast bowlers from past and present. Anderson (thick blue curve) sticks out like a sore thumb. Waqar was head and shoulders above all till his 40th test (thick green curve).

The four great all-rounders of the 80s. Imran ended up as the greatest of the four but Botham's peak was unbelievable. Don't think even Kallis and Sobers would be able to top it.

If you calculate peaks of fast bowling all-rounders over slabs of 20 tests, Kallis comes out on top comfortably with Sobers, Keith Miller and Imran following. Kapil it seems did not have a 'peak'. He operated at the same level throughout his career.