Afridi vs Harris

[Goughy]

You are putting together an ODI team and are faced with the choice of taking Chris Harris or Shahid Afridi.

Consider them at their best over the past decade. Who do you pick?

For all of Harris and is accuracy and variation, I cant help but almost hate myself for taking Afridi

 

[Xuhaib]

If I'm looking for stability in batting then Harry is the choice if I want to bolster the bowling then Afritard.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Horses for courses.

 

[Richard]

Harris >>>>>>>> Afridi in bowling, under pretty well any circumstances.

Harris > Afridi in batting under plenty of circumstances, though every now and then Afridi >>>>>> Harris in batting.

All in all, Harris every time for mine. Due to his balding head and the fact that he's possibly the slowest seamer ever to have any particularly notable long-term success it's often missed that he's one of the best modern ODI all-rounders.

 

[tooextracool]

Harris is miles ahead of Afridi. It wouldnt be too far fetched to suggest that Harris was one of NZ's best ODI player of the 90s. He was the one who kept the lower middle order together and was responsible for tying the knot when the it came to run chases.

 

[tooextracool]

All in all, Harris every time for mine. Due to his balding head and the fact that he's possibly the slowest seamer ever to have any particularly notable long-term success it's often missed that he's one of the best modern ODI all-rounders.

Yeah not sure what in the world he bowled, but he did it damn effectively. A cross between a leg break bowler and a medium pace bowler.

 

[Jono]

Haha Chris Harris is such a legend. Just let the ball go out of the side of his hand and it did the job.

Was courageous when he batted despite a dislocated shoulder or something vs. Aus.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I'd easily take Shane Thomson over Shahid Afridi, so for me this really is a non-question. Harris was a massive player in one dayers, and could still be playing now and perform a decent job. Afridi... Well, I'd be slightly worried he'd spend his time teaching the other players how to dance!

 

[pup11]

Of course Harris, its a bit of no-brainer tbh, Harris might not have the same kind of natural talent like Afridi possesses, but Harris he was a gritty customer, and he was definitely one of those cricketers who gave nothing less than a 100%, whether he batted, bowled or fielded, i think lot of people don't really talk much about this aspect of Harris' game but afaic his fielding was really spectacular, so tbh his fielding itself is good enough for me to pick him ahead of Afridi.

 

[haroon510]

afridi.. simply cuz i have been his fan ever since he debute.. back in 96.. loyal fan lol

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Harris by so far that this poll is a bit of a farce.

 

[Precambrian]

Harris by a country mile and a town mile.

 

[SJS]

Harris by a zillion light years

 

[SJS]

This tortoise is not going to catch up

​

 

[sanga1337]

Thought you were referring to Paul Harris at first.

But yeah Harris over Afridi easily even if Afridi was perhaps more of a matchwinner.

 

[Craig]

Chris Harris was one of my first childhood cricketing hero's, for the exact reasons TEC and Richard explained. It seemed no matter what, Harris would come and get a half century and then get a few wickets and all would be good.Well that is how it seemed to me when I was 12 years old.

 

[NZTailender]

Tbf, I'd take Paul Harris over Afridi.








In tests.

 

[Goughy]

I should probably defend the reasons Id pick Afridi.

Firstly neither Afridi or Harris were/are IMO core players. Not top 4 batsmen, opening bowlers, primary spinner or the wicketkeeper.

They are both non-core, complimentatry, roles players. Harris was especially good at being a reliable force in this role.

However, Id be looking for my core players to be consistent and my complimentary players to offer something different. You can gamble with the complimentary players.

Afridi would be a luxury that could be afforded as he isnt required to perform every game as he is not a core player.

When Afridi plays well his team wins. Id include him (all 100s and fifers have come in wins) as he wouldnt be part of the main gameplan and would therefore be expendable but would be capable of changing a game with bat or ball.

The non-core, complimentatry, roles players do something such as provide balance or provide a slightly different approach or skill. I think Afridi fits the bill perfectly as he gives balance as an 'allrounder', brings ultra aggressive (if failure prone) batting and gives flexibilty in the bating order as he can float and can be used in different situations.

 

[SJS]

Thought you were referring to Paul Harris at first.

But yeah Harris over Afridi easily even if Afridi was perhaps more of a matchwinner.

I can understand why? I didn't think that its not obvious that I was referring to the race between Harris and Afridi

 

[Cevno]

I think afridi's bowling is bit underrated.
He has apretty decent bowling average in both tests and ODI's.

Very close to call but will go for afridi.