Ranking the candidates for best fast bowler ever - ~20 contenders

[trundler]

We can surely express what they mean to us.

 

[smash84]

More the fact that while I'd define it purely by how a bowlers action looks I could swear I've seen one or two people on here use it in a much broader and more nonsensical sense, like player X having a certain aesthetic because they bowl more bouncers than player Y or something silly.

you've got to be kidding

 

[trundler]

Holding and Donald have everyone beat on aesthetics.

 

[weldone]

Holding and Donald have everyone beat on aesthetics.

except Wasim

 

[Starfighter]

Nah, Larwood's the most aesthetically pleasing on the list. Donald was way too chest-on.

 

[Bolo]

This guy wins the aesthics competion hands down: https://mobile.twitter.com/doncricket/status/903853247852634112?lang=en

This video is of him post retirement, but he actually bowled like this in 1st class cricket, and averaged 19 while doing it.

I saw him bowl in 1st class once. He was part of the visiting team and nobody in the stadium knew what was coming (pre internet etc). Cue an entire stadium collapsing laughing at his majesty.

 

[weldone]

More the fact that while I'd define it purely by how a bowlers action looks I could swear I've seen one or two people on here use it in a much broader and more nonsensical sense, like player X having a certain aesthetic because they bowl more bouncers than player Y or something silly.

Is player X Larwood?

 

[trundler]

I'll have Holding ahead still. I try to copy him and Larwood when I bowl.

 

[Starfighter]

Is player X Larwood?

I think it was an eighties/nineties discussion. I wish I can remember who it was or who made the comment.

 

[trundler]

Well Holding and Lillee were very fond of bouncers. Maybe one of them.

 

[Engle]

" It began intimidatingly far away. He turned, and began the most elegant long-striding run of them all, feet kissing the turf silently, his head turning gently and ever so slightly from side to side, rhythmically, like that of a cobra hypnotising its prey. Good batsmen tended not to watch him all the way lest they became mesmerised. To the umpires he was malevolent stealth personified so they christened him Whispering Death "

 

[mr_mister]

what a load of ****(rhymes with hank)

 

[cnerd123]

My fast bowling aesthetic?

I like curving twisting bodies and full swinging balls

 

[Zinzan]

Here's the real top 25 list:

1. Marshall
2. Hadlee
3. Ambrose
4. Steyn
5. McGrath
6. Barnes
7. Lillee
8. Wasim
9. Trueman
10. Lindwall
11. Imran
12. Garner
13. Davidson
14. Waqar
15. Holding
16. Donald
17. Tyson
18. Pollock
19. Adcock
20. Roberts
21. Philander
22. Larwood
23. Walsh
24. Bedser
25. Anderson

 

[Starfighter]

My fast bowling aesthetic?

I like curving twisting bodies and full swinging balls

So it's Ian Bishop, Shane Bond, Pat Cummins and other members of the stress fracture elite then?

 

[Burgey]

Holding and Donald have everyone beat on aesthetics.

Yeah i think Lillee would be in that discussion too. Hadle was well.

 

[steve132]

Marshall
Lillee
McGrath
Barnes
Wasim
Ambrose
Hadlee
Lindwall
Steyn
Trueman
Imran
Holding
Donald
Davidson
Garner
Waqar
Pollock
Roberts
Walsh
Tyson
Anderson
Philander
Bedser
Adcock
Larwood

I would have been inclined to omit Barnes and Bedser from this exercise. They should ideally be considered with Tate, Lohmann and C.T.B. Turner as the greatest medium pacers of all time. On the other hand, I'm surprised that no one seems to have considered Miller or Statham, or that Hall (who WAS mentioned) did not make the cut.

 

[cnerd123]

So it's Ian Bishop, Shane Bond, Pat Cummins and other members of the stress fracture elite then?

Yeaaa

 

[Migara]

My fast bowling aesthetic?

I like curving twisting bodies and full swinging balls

Sounds more like a porn movie

 

[Burgey]

Good from migara here.