fredfertang
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I'd be interested to see the stats on finger injuries but it's always seemed to me that those have become more prevalent as time has passed rather than less so. As for batsmen being scared (all fast bowlers will always try to intimidate - that's their job) - I can't really see how that comes into the equation as techniques vary from batsman to batsman and evolve over time anywayNo helmets + inferior equipment. Means can easily intimidate lesser batsmen. ATG ones will not be intimidated whether a helmet is there or not.
Using Larwood as the example it is true that the odd tailender would back away from him but then they do that to quicks now. Some of the Australians (eg Woodfull, Ponsford and Fingleton) just let him hit them, Bradman danced all over the place in order to find a way of playing him whilst McCabe and Richardson stood toe to toe with him and took him on - I don't think it can be said that any of them were scared