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Who is the best fast bowler in the world right now - Tests

Who is the bet fast bowler in Tests - Any conditions


  • Total voters
    127

MrPrez

International Debutant
Yeah but the fact that it was longer means it's so much harder to improve. I mean if Broad's average was 36 before the SL series then he managed to get it to go down by about 6-8 runs in the India series, I'm assuming his average went up after Sri Lanka came over. I doubt Anderson would be able to improve his average by that much even if he took 20 wickets at 5 against SA.
Fair enough.
 

Jacknife

International Captain
Hyperbole none

Averaged 50 with the ball in the tests, didnt take a wicket in the ODIs until the fourth match of the series, fined for spitting the dummy and regarded as extremely fortunate to be preferred to Bresnan for the first test against India
Well if that's some of the worst bowling you've ever seen, you can't have watched much cricket then, there's even been a fair few worse just this past year or so, anyway meh.
 

zaremba

Cricketer Of The Year
S'pose the thing that has annoyed me most about Broad is that he has so many fans in the Sky commentary box claiming that he is a "thinking cricketer."

If that was the case then why did it take him so long to realise that he needed to pitch the odd ball up - hence the late 30s average until India
Yep. Even now you can't help thinking he's going to revert to bowling a succession of **** half-trackers when he's fairly decisively demonstrated that that just doesn't work. When he pitches it up, though, he looks the business.
 

Jacknife

International Captain
OK, we'll see this summer. It will give me great satisfaction to see the likes of Ian Botham forced to admit the South African attack is better. Just under a year ago, they were all criticising Broad for his lengths, saying that there is a risk he will be dropped. Now all of a sudden he and Anderson are the best in the world? Such short memories.



Well, statistics don't always reveal the full story. Look at how Steyn has been bowling recently, absolutely fantastic but just not been getting the luck (dropped catches, tons of plays and misses). If you're so into stats, how do you compete with a bloke averaging 18 in FC cricket and 2nd quickest to 50 wickets in Tests? Granted, it's a short period but if one of the England youngsters achieved that feat then I can't even imagine the hype he'd be getting. "He's the best new ball bowler going around" is the very least English fans would be saying.

I have been watching them bowl, just because I have a different opinion doesn't mean I haven't been watching. Jimmy and Broad (mainly Jimmy) are top quality bowlers, Jimmy has been excellent the last couple of years. It's just that Philander and Steyn are better. I reserve the right to be frustrated that lesser bowlers get praised over our new ball attack. Even if I am a little frustrated now, I know I'll feel much better this summer. :D
LOL your making out to be some huge injustice because people rate the English pair over your two. I'd suggest you're being a bit one eyed, if you think the English attack the past year haven't been the equal if not better than SA, each to their own I guess.

By the way prepare to be disappointed this summer.:cool:
 

Cabinet96

Hall of Fame Member
S'pose the thing that has annoyed me most about Broad is that he has so many fans in the Sky commentary box claiming that he is a "thinking cricketer."

If that was the case then why did it take him so long to realise that he needed to pitch the odd ball up - hence the late 30s average until India
Think you're a tad harsh on Broad here. Like it or not there is a huge reliance on coaches these days, and it's no doubt that David Saker had a big influence in Broad's tactics against SL, even claiming he was the "enforcer" after the series. Admittedly Broad went overboard with the tactics, but I think people criticise him a bit too much for that as he was most likely just trying to execute the plans given to him as well as he could. I think the whole board and Broad can be forgiven for the tactics set as well, as a few of the Sri Lankan players had reputations of being poor players of the short ball.
 

akilana

International 12th Man
In the past year or so Broad >>>> Morkel. Before that I'd have taken him over Broad.

Morkel's been pretty inconsistent and ordinary of late tbh.
Both have been inconsistent. Over the last two years Morkel has been the better bowler of the two.
 

zaremba

Cricketer Of The Year
I'm looking forward to seeing how Morkel does in England. He's got a lot going for him but has always been a bit disappointing when I've seen him. Awkward but a bit ineffective, really, and in many ways not unlike dear old Steve Harmison. But I suspect he's better than that, so it'll be interesting to see how he goes.

The real battle of course should be Steyn v Anderson. I have a sneaking suspicion that, in his home conditions, and at the peak of his powers, Jimmy may actually outbowl Ratface in this series. That's not to suggest that Jimmy's the better bowler of the two, btw.
 

Pothas

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I'm looking forward to seeing how Morkel does in England. He's got a lot going for him but has always been a bit disappointing when I've seen him. Awkward but a bit ineffective, really, and in many ways not unlike dear old Steve Harmison. But I suspect he's better than that, so it'll be interesting to see how he goes.

The real battle of course should be Steyn v Anderson. I have a sneaking suspicion that, in his home conditions, and at the peak of his powers, Jimmy may actually outbowl Ratface in this series. That's not to suggest that Jimmy's the better bowler of the two, btw.
Whole series is going to be great, even more interesting than the comparisons between bowlers are how the batting lineups are going to go, there has been plenty of evidence to suggest they could both really struggle but there is also an awful lot of talent there. Think it is pretty hard to predict how well any individual batsman will go.

Both opening pairs looks pretty vulnerable (Cook if he gets in aside) and I will be fascinated to see how both number 3s get on against quality fast bowling. Trott was our best bat against Pakistan when they were over here but struggled big time in SA. Then I wouldn't want to make any sort of predictions on how Bell and KP will go. Fancy DeVilliers may even further enhance his reputation though.
 

zaremba

Cricketer Of The Year
So far as batting v bowling is concerned, Matrix lovers will appreciate the fact that it will be Agent Smith against Mr Anderson once again. Hopefully there will be less punishment of the latter than he suffered back in 2003.

Jesus, that's nearly a decade ago. I feel very very old. And so to bed.
 

Pothas

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
The way Smith has looked even when getting runs the last few tines I have seen him then think Jimmy will easily have the best of it.
 

Cabinet96

Hall of Fame Member
Smith will be Jimmy's new bunny IMO, much like many lefties have been recently. Amla and Kallis will have to get used to the new ball.
 

Spark

Global Moderator
Both have been inconsistent. Over the last two years Morkel has been the better bowler of the two.
Not on your life. Has spent most of the last six months bowling some absolute filth, two innings aside (one of which was 47ao).

Good bowler, but a rung below the top drawer and rightly so.
 

FBU

International Debutant
Cook - Morkel 6 dismissals
Strauss - Morkel 6
Boucher - Anderson 6
Kallis - Anderson 6
Smith - Anderson 5
Pietersen - Steyn 3
Bell - Morkel 3
de Villiers - Broad 5
Amla - Broad 3

Finn and Philander will be the new boys. You wonder if the batsmen will get any runs with Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis, Tahir, Anderson, Broad, Finn, Swann bowling.
 

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