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The fastest bowler you have ever faced?

silentstriker

The Wheel is Forever
My rough estimate is I've faced around 75-80mph. I faced a bowling machine a couple times, and that was the speed the balls were coming...and a couple people seem about as fast by my rough estimate. It's not too bad for me when facing them, except when the deliveries happen to be short, good length or full.
 

Dasa

International Vice-Captain
^I've faced a bowling machine at about the same pace. One of my mates can crank it up to about that pace, I think he was clocked at 130-135kmh. I haven't had a problem with his pace, more with the swing he can get.
 

TT Boy

Hall of Fame Member
Probably Dewald Pretorius, took my off stump at with a full toss, did not see it. Also Jade Dernbach was at least 10mph to quick for me.

My eldest brother's faced a couple of pace bowlers in the past ('competitively') Mervyn Dillon, Bradley Scott (cleaned my brother up), Franklyn Rose, Steven Jack, Lance Klusener and Brett Schultz. Just some of the bowlers he said who were fairly 'rapid'.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
You serious? Even I have probably come close to 65 ... don't think I've ever troubled anyone with sheer pace.
Really? I have, and that's about the fastest I can bowl, too (that is, I bowl slower than that mostly).

Don't underestimate the ability of seriously low-class batsmen to be troubled by even slow speeds.
 

Jungle Jumbo

International Vice-Captain
You serious? Even I have probably come close to 65 ... don't think I've ever troubled anyone with sheer pace.
I don't think people really understand that the 75mph medium pace seen in domestic cricket is still pretty quick. I have trouble with 65-68mph with the bowling machine, but that's probably more me struggling against a machine (which can be quite awkward) than sheer pace.

At school, we have two real genuine quicks: one brilliant fast bowler in the upper sixth, one big strong, erratic lad in the year below. In the nets, even with shortened run-ups, I'm reduced to planted my front foot as they bowl.

I've seen a bowling machine at 80mph at one of the best young batsman I've ever seen, and it was seriously quick.
 

Neil Pickup

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Haven't ever really faced anything with any real pace in a match.

Against a machine, fastest I've faced is 81mph. First one I got forward to and defended fairly easily, second one was three yards shorter and hit me on the arse.
 

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
Had heard what 99mph is like in our indoor nets. The noise it makes when it hits the back wall is enough to make you feel ill...
 
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Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Faced a bowling-machine at 80mph once, to see what it was like. Only on the assurance that it would be something I'd not need to play. Aimed way outside off and I'd not have had the slightest chance of moving my bat had I had to make contact.
 

Pup Clarke

Cricketer Of The Year
Not faced a bowling machine more than 75mph and I don't feel it's necessary as it's unlikely that I'll face 80mph+ ( for a while least). The fastest bowler i've faced in my career was probably mid to late 70s.
 

andyc

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Had heard what 99mph is like in our indoor nets. The noise it makes when it hits the back wall is enough to make to make you feel ill...
We turned the bowling machine at school up to 99mph and aimed at the stumps. They broke after two or three balls.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
Had a training session where we had to go in and face the bowling machine at 90mph. Was pretty good fun, TBH, mainly because the balls were full though!

Also faced it cranked up to the full amount with tennis balls, and bowled short onto a piece of polished wood so it skids off. Bit of bouncer practice. It's awesome fun. Seriously. You spend the first little while just trying to avoid them, and then after a while you work up the confidence to hit them. You get pinged a few times, but it's worth it.

On another note, I tend to find that a bowling machine's speed is always a bit "quicker" than facing a bowler of the same speed, because you're used to following the ball in the bowler's action. When it comes out of "nowhere", that extra little bit it takes to locate the ball makes your reactions a bit slower. Or that's my theory, anyway.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Had a training session where we had to go in and face the bowling machine at 90mph. Was pretty good fun, TBH, mainly because the balls were full though!

Also faced it cranked up to the full amount with tennis balls, and bowled short onto a piece of polished wood so it skids off. Bit of bouncer practice. It's awesome fun. Seriously. You spend the first little while just trying to avoid them, and then after a while you work up the confidence to hit them. You get pinged a few times, but it's worth it.

On another note, I tend to find that a bowling machine's speed is always a bit "quicker" than facing a bowler of the same speed, because you're used to following the ball in the bowler's action. When it comes out of "nowhere", that extra little bit it takes to locate the ball makes your reactions a bit slower. Or that's my theory, anyway.
Well... yeah, time taken to locate the ball does tend to impact on reaction-time, yeah. :dontgetit
 

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
Andy Bichel - he bowled to me when we had some cricket clinic at Bankstown Oval. Top bloke too.

To be totally honest, he wasn't bolwing all that fast - 3 step run up. But on a technicality, he is the fast bowler I've faced.

Fast ball I've faced...geez, some bloke from Bankstown sports anmed Steve Burt or one of the Scottish under 19 players I faced last year.
 

gettingbetter

State Vice-Captain
Not at all.

I remember other players, but don't remember the bowlers who I faced. I think one of te guys last name was Wareenetha of something like that. not exactly sure though.
 

adharcric

International Coach
Really? I have, and that's about the fastest I can bowl, too (that is, I bowl slower than that mostly).

Don't underestimate the ability of seriously low-class batsmen to be troubled by even slow speeds.
I don't think people really understand that the 75mph medium pace seen in domestic cricket is still pretty quick. I have trouble with 65-68mph with the bowling machine, but that's probably more me struggling against a machine (which can be quite awkward) than sheer pace.

At school, we have two real genuine quicks: one brilliant fast bowler in the upper sixth, one big strong, erratic lad in the year below. In the nets, even with shortened run-ups, I'm reduced to planted my front foot as they bowl.

I've seen a bowling machine at 80mph at one of the best young batsman I've ever seen, and it was seriously quick.
65 mph may not be slow but I can't see how club or league batsmen would be troubled by such pace. I certainly can't imagine any such batsman around here being troubled by that and I'm sure English cricket leagues are far superior to what we have here. 75-80 mph can be good pace in club of league cricket though.
 
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