How fast were Merv Hughes and Craig Mcdermott in 1991/92 series vs India

[HeavyBall]

There were no speed guns back then. But how fast they could have been?
What were their speeds range?

 

[Burgey]

170-180kph IMHO.

 

[weldone]

Yeah must be that fast, otherwise a 17-year old should have scored more than 2 centuries.

Edit: In before Spark's strict moderation

 

[vic_orthdox]

Neither of the blokes were renowned for being super quick. Reckon they would have operated mainly in the mid 130s, and pushing above 140 when they were in good rhythm.

 

[weldone]

On a serious note, from whatever little memory I have of the series, my estimate of McDermott's speed would be around 140 kmph.

 

[Burgey]

Neither of the blokes were renowned for being super quick. Reckon they would have operated mainly in the mid 130s, and pushing above 140 when they were in good rhythm.

Healy said Hughes bowled consistently faster than anyone else he kept to, fwiw.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah must be that fast, otherwise a 17-year old should have scored more than 2 centuries.

Edit: In before Spark's strict moderation

The other day, an Indian supporter in the tour thread mentioned how people from that part of the world don't do satire at all well (GI Joe excepted I think the call was).

I hadn't given it a lot of thought before, but they may have been right.

 

[weldone]

The other day, an Indian supporter in the tour thread mentioned how people from that part of the world don't do satire at all well (GI Joe excepted I think the call was).

I hadn't given it a lot of thought before, but they may have been right.

Nah that was truth. Satire was the 5th post of the thread.

 

[Burgey]

Then that poster was indeed right

 

[zaremba]

I'd say Hughes was capable of bowling really quite quick. He was easy to under-rate because he was such a ridiculous figure and looked so unathletic, but he was capable of bowling pretty fast - 90mph at a guess, or, in French, 145 kph. That's not to say he was always up there, of course.

 

[Burgey]

I'd say Hughes was capable of bowling really quite quick. He was easy to under-rate because he was such a ridiculous figure and looked so unathletic, but he was capable of bowling pretty fast - 90mph at a guess, or, in French, 145 kph. That's not to say he was always up there, of course.

Think Mervyn bowled something of a "heavy ball", as befitted his frame.

 

[Himannv]

such a ridiculous figure and looked so unathletic

Think Mervyn bowled something of a "heavy ball", as befitted his frame.

You don't mess with the Mervynator!!

 

[Spikey]

certainly not as quick as the west indian bowlers of the time

 

[uvelocity]

agree with 140. Found 180 to be the perfect post in the conditions.

 

[Furball]

The other day, an Indian supporter in the tour thread mentioned how people from that part of the world don't do satire at all well (GI Joe excepted I think the call was).

I hadn't given it a lot of thought before, but they may have been right.

Eh?

Indians shouldn't ever attempt satire.

edit: except G.I. Joe.

 

[fredfertang]

Had the most ridiculous mincing run up did Merv, not helped by that silly facial hair that made him look like one of the Village People - useful bowler nonetheless

 

[Burgey]

Eh?

My apologies. Indian, Scottish. Whatever.

The point stands...

 

[weldone]

On a serious note, from whatever little memory I have of the series, my estimate of McDermott's speed would be around 140 kmph.

And the only memory of Hughes I have is of a fat man with a huge moustache running in to bowl. Don't remember how fast or how good he was.

To my young eyes, he seemed quite similar to David Boon in appearance.

 

[Burgey]

And the only memory of Hughes I have is of a fat man with a huge moustache running in to bowl. Don't remember how fast or how good he was.

To my young eyes, he seemed quite similar to David Boon in appearance.

He was a fair bit taller, but they were a bit alike. Was the tail end of the era of the 'tache. Merv started off as a joke really. He came in in 85-86 when Lawson was diagnosed with stress fractures. he sprayed the ball everywhere and could not hold a bat. After he'd played three tests he was asked his ambition and replied "to score a test run".

After the Ashes series in 86-87 Ian Chappell described him as a joke and an embarrassment. Hughes, iirc, was out of the side for a little while bu when the Windies toured in 88-89 he came back and trimmed down enormously. Bloke was fit as.

In the first test or second test of that series in Perth, Lawson had his jaw broken by Ambrose and Hughes had to carry the attack. I think he got five in the first innings, and with the first ball of the second took a hat trick by getting Greenidge lbw. He took 8 fer in that innings and basically never looked back really. Benaud said that was the standard he had to bowl to - not results wise, but the level he bowled at.

He was third seamer behind Lawson and Alderman on the 89 Ashes tour, but bowled ok (not great). He was pretty much a mainstay from that point on until the 93 Ashes tour where he basically bowled himself into retirement on a dodgy knee. Took 34 wickets that series.

He was very aggressive. I recall he was more a seam bowler han a swing bowler, but he could get alarming bounce at times. When he came back in his second incarnation he was a lot more consistent and was pretty well capable of troubling most anyone.

He enjoyed roughing blokes up. Tortured Hick in 93. I think it was to Hick wh he said "How about I bowl you a piano? Maybe you can play that you ****ing Pommie ****". Liked a sledge.

Also worked hard on his batting. Went from complete bunny to taking the 88-89 Windies attack for 80 odd at Adelaide, and made a 70 odd in a test in England too. I think he was much under rated. 200 plus wickets at a decent average. He and McDermott (and to a lesser extent Reid) kind of filled the gap between the Lillee and McGrath eras.

Those are my memories of him.

 

[weldone]

Remember Paul Reiffel and another guy (forgot the name) were the other fast bowlers on that tour...my first memories of a test series, and my first memories of my childhood hero Tendulkar...