The Thommo method of Bowling

[social]

I think the fact that they bowled so much probably hampered their average speed. There’s little doubt in my mind that the average player today is fitter than back in the day in the sense that they can bowl faster for longer. They may be more injury prone for whatever reason though, maybe because they’re bowling quicker than what their body can support. Again this is average, not your freaks.

The disdain for strength training is slightly unwarranted imo, it 100% helps the average fast bowler bowl faster. Not sure about whether it somehow makes you more injury prone because of the increased stress you put on your body by pushing it to bowl quicker, maybe it does idk.

@Starfighter probably knows more on this topic than most

Only stands to reason that average bowling speed will decrease if a bowler is delivering many more overs per day but top speed doesn’t

When it comes to weights & fast bowlers, too much bulk can be a bad thing as it might hinder the action

Most quicks are relatively thin & wiry while Wayne Daniels body types are a rarity

 

[Daemon]

Yeah obviously don’t become tremlett. Not that anyone could if they wanted to.

 

[Coronis]

Only stands to reason that average bowling speed will decrease if a bowler is delivering many more overs per day but top speed doesn’t

When it comes to weights & fast bowlers, too much bulk can be a bad thing as it might hinder the action

Most quicks are relatively thin & wiry while Wayne Daniels body types are a rarity

Are individual pace bowlers really bowling that many more overs per day now compared to then?

 

[social]

Are individual pace bowlers really bowling that many more overs per day now compared to then?

Overall, fast bowlers used to bowl a lot more than they do today

Fred Trueman often bowled 1000+ overs in an English summer which is > 30% of the overs that Starc, Cummins or Haze have bowled in their respective test careers

Lillee averaged roughly 10 overs more per test than those guys while Hughes was > 5 more plus they played shield and grade where they were expected to carry the attack as load management wasn’t a thing

I played a grade game with a test bowler after he had an arthroscopy on his knee during the week as he needed to prove his fitness for the next shield game

No way he’d be allowed to play today (& nor should he be)

Different time with no central contracts/retainers so CA had no say plus convention at the time was to prove fitness & form in the middle

 

[Coronis]

Overall, fast bowlers used to bowl a lot more than they do today

Fred Trueman often bowled 1000+ overs in an English summer which is > 30% of the overs that Starc, Cummins or Haze have bowled in their respective test careers

Lillee averaged roughly 10 overs more per test than those guys while Hughes was > 5 more plus they played shield and grade where they were expected to carry the attack as load management wasn’t a thing

I played a grade game with a test bowler after he had an arthroscopy on his knee during the week as he needed to prove his fitness for the next shield game

No way he’d be allowed to play today (& nor should he be)

Different time with no central contracts/retainers so CA had no say plus convention at the time was to prove fitness & form in the middle

Ah yeah as I thought. I thought fsr you were arguing that test pacers today would bowl more often and thats why top bowling speeds have stagnated.

 

[social]

Ah yeah as I thought. I thought fsr you were arguing that test pacers today would bowl more often and thats why top bowling speeds have stagnated.

Nah

Quick then would be quick now but they played under different conditions

 

[social]

Len Pascoe just posted this photo of Thommo on Facebook

Takes a lot of flexibility and strength to get into that position

 

[reyrey]

Javelin's a bit weird because they redesigned it to be less aerodynamic to stop people getting skewered.

Also so it sticks in the ground on landing.

 

[Coronis]

Speaking of Javelin, I was worried for a while there Vetter was finally going to break Zelezny’s world record. Glad he didn’t lol.

Made me sad when Bubka’s pole vault records got broken.

 

[howitzer]

Speaking of Javelin, I was worried for a while there Vetter was finally going to break Zelezny’s world record. Glad he didn’t lol.

Made me sad when Bubka’s pole vault records got broken.

Personally feel like the guy who broke Bubka's records is a worthy usurper tbh.

 

[Coronis]

Personally feel like the guy who broke Bubka's records is a worthy usurper tbh.

Oh I’m not saying he isn’t but you get a bit attached after 25 years.

 

[howitzer]

Oh I’m not saying he isn’t but you get a bit attached after 25 years.

Yeah I get that.

 

[reyrey]

The long jump world record is the special one. They are trying to change the rules now to make the event easier, by taking the board and foul jumps out of the equation.

 

[social]

The long jump world record is the special one. They are trying to change the rules now to make the event easier, by taking the board and foul jumps out of the equation.

Rationale is that competition has become a bit of a farce due to the number of fouls and spectators are turned off by it

 

[mr_mister]

Rationale is that competition has become a bit of a farce due to the number of fouls and spectators are turned off by it

How do you fairly remove fouls?

 

[social]

How do you fairly remove fouls?

Jumps will be measured from point of take off rather than the edge of the board

https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/tentoglou-soars-second-world-indoor-long-jump-title-2024-03-02/

 

[Line and Length]

Jumps will be measured from point of take off rather than the edge of the board

https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletics/tentoglou-soars-second-world-indoor-long-jump-title-2024-03-02/

Which takes away a basic skill. Carl Lewis spoke out against this move.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

This is from the Perth Test in 1975/76:

View attachment 39291

This is probably the most reliable bowling speed recorded in Thommo’s career.

If we are tend to believe this, which is probably fair looking at other quicks then Thommo is easily the fastest ever by a distance.

 

[Line and Length]

This is probably the most reliable bowling speed recorded in Thommo’s career.

If we are tend to believe this, which is probably fair looking at other quicks then Thommo is easily the fastest ever by a distance.

The readings are from a test rather than a Test match. As noted before, Thommo bowled full tosses to record these speeds and 'win' the test prizes ($5,000 each for speed and accuracy).

 

[Starfighter]

The readings are from a test rather than a Test match. As noted before, Thommo bowled full tosses to record these speeds and 'win' the test prizes ($5,000 each for speed and accuracy).

Read a bit more closely next time. The ones I posted are from the Australia vs West Indies test in 1975/76.