Better player of fast bowling?

[Al Salvador]

Better player of all types of pace

 

[govinda indian fan]

Brian charles lara

 

[Johan]

Lara.

 

[kyear2]

The Prince Brian Charles

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Better player of all types of pace

Who is better against pace in your opinion?

 

[Al Salvador]

Who is better against pace in your opinion?

Sangakkara easy.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Sangakkara easy.

Who else would you rate as better than Lara against pace?

 

[Migara]

Sanga was better. He was pretty ordinary to start against spin, but later became good. His spin playing colleagues prevented him being singled out by spinners most of the time.

 

[Burgey]

Who else would you rate as better than Lara against pace?

There's a number off the top of my head. Ponting was a better player of pure pace than Lara, as was Tendulkar (though it's closer between them than it is between either of them and Ponting). Aravinda was a better player of pace than Lara. Viv Richards and both Chappells too.

 

[Migara]

Who else would you rate as better than Lara against pace?

Tendulkar
Ponting
Blewett
S. Waugh
Martyn
Hudson
Richardson

are few off the top of my head post 90.

If you consider extreme pace Lara was pretty ordinary.

 

[Slifer]

Among West Indians, the following were better vs pace and by pace I mean the 85 mph+ stuff:

Viv
Garry
Lloyd
Richie
Kanhai
Maybe Alvin

But I would say this about Lara, although he was uncomfortable vs pace, he did manage to make runs every now and then. For example, he wasn't the most comfortable vs Lee but he still managed to make runs vs him. As for Donald, his issue with Donald was Lara tried in vain to dominate Donald in RSA and failed miserably. Against Wasim specifically he was just outfoxed. He was genuinely uncomfortable vs England's 4 prong (especially Harmisson) in the mid 2000s.

 

[Slifer]

Tendulkar
Ponting
Blewett
S. Waugh
Martyn
Hudson
Richardson

are few off the top of my head post 90.

If you consider extreme pace Lara was pretty ordinary.

Extreme pace would be limited to guys like Lee and Shoaib. Lara played Lee just fine. Lara played Shoaib once. What other extreme pace bowlers were they??

 

[Migara]

Extreme pace would be limited to guys like Lee and Shoaib. Lara played Lee just fine. Lara played Shoaib once. What other extreme pace bowlers were they??

Donald for example.

 

[Slifer]

Donald for example.

Hmm you might be right. Early to mid 90s Donald was pretty rapid, don't remember if he was still that fast when Lara faced him in 98. He certainly wasn't that fast in 2001 in the Caribbean.

 

[Migara]

Almost forgot Gilchrist, one of the best ever to play pace in recent past. Probably even better than Warner in the regard.

 

[Slifer]

Almost forgot Gilchrist, one of the best ever to play pace in recent past. Probably even better than Warner in the regard.

What express bowler did he face in their prime??

 

[Migara]

What express bowler did he face in their prime??

Gilchrist was a exceptional player of fast bowling, not necessarily express. He did play Shoaib, Donald, Wasim, Waqar, Bond and Walsh. All these bowlers could be rapid when they want to with probable exception of Waqar.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Gilchrist was fine against pure pace but I wouldn’t want him batting for me if there’s any swing or seam

 

[Migara]

Gilchrist was fine against pure pace but I wouldn’t want him batting for me if there’s any swing or seam

I think you are judging him from that 2005 Ashes where he was at his decline. He played Wasim and Waqar very well. Only man gave him trouble was Shoaib, but got out to him seldom.

 

[Slifer]

Gilchrist was a exceptional bowler of fast bowling, not necessarily express. He did play Shoaib, Donald, Wasim, Waqar, Bond and Walsh. All these bowlers could be rapid when they want to with probable exception of Waqar.

None of those bowlers were remotely in their prime. But one can only play what's put in front of you. Also, I'm curious to know if you don't think coming in later in the order vs the top order made a difference. Just food for thought.