21st century ball of the century.

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah it was because of the crack, doesn’t need to land directly on it

Bro it barely even moved off the surface that's not what made it a good ball

Why you obsessed with cracks you pervert

 

[Prince EWS]

TJB has always had a weird fascination with that particular delivery for some reason. I stand by these posts I made the last time he brought it up:

I think you're wrong anyway. That ball barely moved at all, was just a good line and length. Obviously a good nut but it's remembered much more fondly because if it was the first ball of the innings and in the Ashes than the actual quality of it in a vacuum, a bit like Starc to Burns.

Jimmy bowled some absolute jaffas that moved miles late and were much better than that ball. Ironically predominantly before he actually became a world class bowler.

TJB's description of a delivery from a right arm over bowler that pitched middle and hit the top of off to a left hand bat is a great example of how writers can embellish what a ball actually did.

Late career Harris did have a way of making it hard to immediately see what a ball was actually going to do in the air until late - a bit like Asif - but there was no second splitter on that delivery. I did indeed rewatch it before telling TJB to GAGF.

 

[subshakerz]

None are close to the Harris ball, but a tough fight for no. 2

The Asif delivery is close to the Harris ball. Basically an 80mph off-spinner.

The only reason Harris is better is because the changing line of the delivery makes a wicket unavoidable.

 

[TheJediBrah]

PEWS I refuse to believe you've ever actually watched it because there's no other explanation that you could be so wrong

no need to single me out either, you're the one in the minority here

 

[TheJediBrah]

The Asif delivery is close to the Harris ball. Basically an 80mph off-spinner.

The only reason Harris is better is because the changing line of the delivery makes a wicket unavoidable.

Great ball of course but not really that unique. Just cut back in, that's it.

Harris ball swung in, pitched, then swung away after pitching. Never seen anything else like it.

 

[Nintendo]

PEWS I refuse to believe you've ever actually watched it because there's no other explanation that you could be so wrong

no need to single me out either, you're the one in the minority here

TJB once again hating on minorities......m

 

[subshakerz]

Great ball of course but not really that unique. Just cut back in, that's it.

Harris ball swung in, pitched, then swung away after pitching. Never seen anything else like it.

I have. Note, this is 2001, so it belongs in the conversation.

 

[TheJediBrah]

^that's actually pretty close damn

not quite as much movement though so Harris still king

 

[subshakerz]

^that's actually pretty close damn

not quite as much movement though so Harris still king

I find it hard to separate them. Harris' swung it more, but Waqar's swung a touch later and was a touch fuller meaning less time for Thorpe to adjust.

But the strange thing is nobody will even mention the Waqar delivery because it wasn't as high profile. In fact, Waqar fans won't likely put it down as one of Waqar's top five either.

It needs to be a 'moment' to be a great delivery too. Some drama.

 

[subshakerz]

The balls of the century, No. 11: Simon Jones to Michael Clarke (thecricketmonthly.com)

Just sticking this one in there coz there's a lovely piece of Benaud commentary in the analysis of the delivery......"well outside off stump there....but not there"!!

Here is Waqar bowling a version of the Simon Jones ball that is as good if not better. Waqar and Wasim are the jaffa kings.

 

[OverratedSanity]

A delivery I think 100% deserved to make that cricinfo list was the one Johnson bowled to Faf in that Centurion spell. 150 kph, not quite a half tracker but just exploded off the pitch and gave Faf no chance. Deliveries that get batsmen clean bowled always look visually more unplayable but this was equally as difficult to negotiate.

 

[subshakerz]

A delivery I think 100% deserved to make that cricinfo list was the one Johnson bowled to Faf in that Centurion spell. 150 kph, not quite a half tracker but just exploded off the pitch and gave Faf no chance. Deliveries that get batsmen clean bowled always look visually more unplayable but this was equally as difficult to negotiate.

More that the delivery was the expression of shock on Faf's face. This wasn't a normal rising delivery.