Why does Pakistan traditionally produce better fast bowlers than India?

[a massive zebra]

If we go back through the history of Pakistan cricket, we see they have a great tradition of consistently producing world class pace bowlers. From Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad in their very early years, to Imran in the 70s and 80s, to Wasim and Waqar in the 90s, and finally the likes of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in recent years.

However, Pakistan’s big rivals and near neighbours, India, simply do not have anything like the same tradition. It is probably true to say that India’s best ever fast bowler would struggle to make Pakistan’s all time second eleven on bowling alone. This huge disparity in the quality of fast bowling is probably one of the main reasons why, over their first 50 years of Test cricket, Pakistan usually had a stronger side than India and were certainly much more successful at winning outside the subcontinent.

Given that:

a) India has many times the population of Pakistan.
b) Cricket is probably even more popular in India than Pakistan.
c) The nations border eachother and have relatively similar climates.
d) They are both members of the same race and will probably have similar genetic backgrounds.
e) The BCCI is far richer than the PCB and has much more money available to invest in developing young fast bowlers.

Why has Pakistan traditionally produced better fast bowlers than India?

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Food

Butter Chicken. Beef Curry. Pashtun

 

[mr_mister]

Vegetarian diet breeds weaker crop

 

[vcs]

Vegetarian diet breeds weaker crop

That's just not true.

 

[fredfertang]

Seems improbable to me, but could their differing religions be of any significance, directly or indirectly?

 

[smash84]

The difference is simply Imran Khan tbh. Pakistan didn't really have an out and out quick. Both fazal and Khan Mohammad were medium pacers. Nobody quick really came along until Imran came along. And Imran then inspired a whole generation. Simple as that.

 

[smash84]

Seems improbable to me, but could their differing religions be of any significance, directly or indirectly?

That might still just affect it through other mechanisms though, like diet etc. Plus India still has a Muslim population comparable to Pakistan.

 

[a massive zebra]

The difference is simply Imran Khan tbh. Pakistan didn't really have an out and out quick. Both fazal and Khan Mohammad were medium pacers. Nobody quick really came along until Imran came along. And Imran then inspired a whole generation. Simple as that.

Irrespective of his pace, Fazal was a more effective seam bowler than anyone India has ever produced. And he was the beginning of a long line of great Pakistani pacemen. Perhaps I should rename the thread "Why does Pakistan traditionally produce better seam bowlers than India?".

 

[Adders]

Oh look, another 35 page food thread incoming.....

 

[Starfighter]

Less weird cultish worship of batsmen?

 

[cnerd123]

This had been discussed so much already. The suggested threads below make for good reading

Basically - cricket culture and grassroots/domestic cricket schedules and infrastructure play big roles in this

 

[Cow]

I've always thought Malaysia has the best 'Indian food'.

 

[TheJediBrah]

India doesn't produce fast bowlers? You've obviously never heard of Debasis Mohanty or Stuart Binny

 

[Black_Warrior]

I'm pretty sure there are already 50 threads on this issue on Cricket Chat. Merge it with one of those and get to 100 pages quick

 

[Jack1]

Role models, culture, genetics, coaching, diet, training could all be factors at play. I'm sure there are other factors. As mentioned perhaps more people want to be bowlers in Pakistan and more want to be batters in India. That being said it's not like Pakistan have actually produced that many express fast bowlers.

India do currently have several good seamers. Bumrah looks very good and it's surprising he hasn't had more chances in tests.

You might mean 90+mph on a regular basis by fast however, in which case there aren't many across all teams

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Oh look, another 35 page food thread incoming.....

Beats being another 35 page thread about a drug cheat and a chucker.

 

[Starfighter]

Fred Trueman, Jack Bannister and Jonathan Agnew once had a productive discussion on the production of fast bowlers in England, particularly with respect to role models. Perhaps some of the same thoughts apply to India.

 

[cnerd123]

Fred Trueman, Jack Bannister and Jonathan Agnew once had a productive discussion on the production of fast bowlers in England, particularly with respect to role models. Perhaps some of the same thoughts apply to India.

god this is so awkward to watch

Some decent points tho

 

[Burgey]

Apart from the obvious non-vegetarian thing, is it because Pakistanis have had to live in a rougher and more rugged environment, whereas Indians are more cosseted and effete, hence why they bowl spin and threaten to go home when they don’t get their way?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

god this is so awkward to watch

Some decent points tho

It was a pisstake, Brian Johnston was getting back at Aggers for various pranks they used to pull. Golden days of TMS.