TheJediBrah
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Sarwan could probably think of a better insult
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Top 10 Greatest Fast Bowlers of All Time in Tests?
- Thread starter gggsaffa12
- Start date
The last time I saw McGrath getting massive seam movement was in Lord's when England were 20/5, but it was more of the Lord's slope doing the damage than movement.
Asif's 2006 Karachi spell is comparable to this ODI spell from McGrath, Laxman got dismissed exactly the same way in both the spells!
TheJediBrah
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One of the great tragedies Mohammad Asif. Could have been ATG mentioned alongside McGrath, Marshall and Hadlee.
nightprowler10
Global Moderator
It wasn't just that spell. He was unplayable in the following tour to Sri Lanka, and the only one consistently keeping us competitive in South Africa. He was great in England as well whenever he did play.
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
Not really. Asif was pretty anodyne on surfaces that didn't offer seam movement, especially when he returned from injury in 2009 and lost his pace. This was pretty clear in the 2009 Australia series when his only penetrative spell was in Sydney first innings on a seaming deck.
I actually consider Shoaib more of a tragedy than Asif personally. Shoaib when on song could take the pitch out of the equation. Shoaib's main issues were fitness and lack of pace bowling support.
TheJediBrah
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There was no way a bowler with Shoaib's mode of operation could have had a long injury free career though. It's a miracle he played as much as he did. Tremendous strength and fitness
subshakerz
Hall of Fame Member
He could have shortened his runup, that would have helped, but his ego didn't allow him to do that.
Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
When discussing, the "Top 10 Fast Bowlers of All Time in Tests" I'm surprised that the name Frank Tyson isn't brought up occasionally.
Despite his Ashes debut Test in Brisbane in 1954 yielding an unflattering 1 for 160, Tyson's first 9 Tests resulted in 52 wickets at an average of 15.56 including a remarkable 7 for 27 at the MCG. Before his Ashes debut, Tyson had played just one Test. This was against Pakistan and, despite his 4 for 35 in the first innings (and 1 for 22 in the second) England lost by 24 runs.
Severe blistering due to ill-fitting footwear and a physically demanding action curtailed Tyson's career but he still played 17 Tests during which he claimed 76 wickets at 18.57 including match figures of 8 for 78 in a losing side against South Africa in 1957.
Sir Don Bradman, Richie Benaud and Dicky Bird all say Tyson was the fastest bowler they ever saw. England Test player Tom Graveney wrote, "I cannot believe any bowler was faster than Tyson at that time". When fielding in the slips he had "to stand 40 yards off the bat, and still the ball was often going over our heads from edged shots."
I can understand that being an ATG requires a certain degree of longevity in the game but, for a brief time, Frank Tyson was the quickest and most devastating fast bowler in Test cricket. In the 54/55 Ashes series Tyson's victims were no 'bunnies' - he claimed the wickets of Neil Harvey and Arthur Morris on multiple occasions.
Despite his Ashes debut Test in Brisbane in 1954 yielding an unflattering 1 for 160, Tyson's first 9 Tests resulted in 52 wickets at an average of 15.56 including a remarkable 7 for 27 at the MCG. Before his Ashes debut, Tyson had played just one Test. This was against Pakistan and, despite his 4 for 35 in the first innings (and 1 for 22 in the second) England lost by 24 runs.
Severe blistering due to ill-fitting footwear and a physically demanding action curtailed Tyson's career but he still played 17 Tests during which he claimed 76 wickets at 18.57 including match figures of 8 for 78 in a losing side against South Africa in 1957.
Sir Don Bradman, Richie Benaud and Dicky Bird all say Tyson was the fastest bowler they ever saw. England Test player Tom Graveney wrote, "I cannot believe any bowler was faster than Tyson at that time". When fielding in the slips he had "to stand 40 yards off the bat, and still the ball was often going over our heads from edged shots."
I can understand that being an ATG requires a certain degree of longevity in the game but, for a brief time, Frank Tyson was the quickest and most devastating fast bowler in Test cricket. In the 54/55 Ashes series Tyson's victims were no 'bunnies' - he claimed the wickets of Neil Harvey and Arthur Morris on multiple occasions.
Starfighter
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Tyson doesn't come up for two reasons. Firstly, he played a very long time ago, prior to the television era, and in a time when many people think that cricket wasn't as good as it was later.
Secondly, people don't include players with very short/sparse careers are almost never rated as highly, hence why Bond doesn't come up all that often despite having a rather dedicated fan base in my observation.
Secondly, people don't include players with very short/sparse careers are almost never rated as highly, hence why Bond doesn't come up all that often despite having a rather dedicated fan base in my observation.
Line and Length
Cricketer Of The Year
While I accept your reasoning, I'd dispute "a very long time ago" as I remember watching him. As for "prior to the television era", we did have TV and I remember seeing Laker taking 19 wickets on 'the box' in an earlier series.
I did preface my piece with the comment "I'm surprised that the name Frank Tyson isn't brought up occasionally" and I closed by mentioning Tyson's brief career. In so doing, I'm making sure that, like Bond, Tyson has a dedicated fan base (even if it is only one member).
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Lillian Thomson
Hall of Fame Member
John Snow was as good a fast bowler as any England have produced, and certainly superior to Anderson and Broad. But 200 wickets in 49 Tests isn't going to get him in this discussion. Had he been around in an era of Central Contracts and only played international cricket without what he considered to be the daily grind of County Cricket, and had he not had run ins with authority, he would have been in the 100 Tests and over 400 wickets bracket. (Yes I know it's the proverbial aunty with balls argument, but just saying he was a great bowler who doesn't get mentioned).
Gob
International Coach
like genital viral warts?
JBMAC
State Captain
Burgey
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Yeah, widely regarded as England's best fast bowler since Trueman, isn't he? Everyone who saw him or faced him rated him really, really highly.
nope. What if one bowler had worse fitness or his action expends significant energy and he is unable to bowl as much (eg how spinners can bowl more)
Calm_profit
State Vice-Captain
What about Bob Willis?
fredfertang
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Fine bowler, but there were occasions (probably not helped by him not always being 100% fit) when he could look ordinary - Snow on the other hand always looked dangerous - a great shame their career peaks didn't coincide