Best delivery?

[thierry henry]

Slightly off topic, but...I went to http://3lib.ukonline.co.uk/cricket/ to see some of the clips, and downloaded one of Akhtar from his first test series against South Africa in 97/98. Anyway, I did a double-take, because his bowling action was completely different. I always thought his unique sprinting run up and slinging action was intuitive, yet back in 1998 he seemingly had a completely different run up, (he even had a totally different running style!) and a relatively orthodox arm-touching-ear bowling action.

 

[PAKMAN]

i agree he was quite different even when he bowled sachin middle stumps,he was quite different to what he is now

 

[thierry henry]

i agree he was quite different even when he bowled sachin middle stumps,he was quite different to what he is now

His action in 1998 was actually quite reminiscent of Waqar imo. Funny, because by 1999 he was even more round-arm than he is now. I think he put on a lot of weight as well, he looked skinny in 98.

 

[Hit4Six]

woah akhtars changed a lot, i think hes more intimidating now tho

 

[Jono]

I think you are referring to the one that bowled Gilchrist.

Nah, he's referring to the first test of Australia's tour to India in 2004. I think they played in Bangalore if I'm not mistaken. Pathan bowled a beauty to dismiss Langer on 50.

That ball was great, but Pathan's yorker to Gilly during the fourth test of India's tour to Australia in Sydney was even better. Not to mention it followed up another top delivery to dismiss the great Steve Waugh in his final test.

 

[Richard]

I was just kidding. I know exactly what you mean.

Nonetheless it's a point some of those less sensible than D m would do well to take note of.

 

[Richard]

You are sure your incredible delivery wasnt helped by the pitch? Then it wouldnt be such a great delivery would it. Kumble has bowled so many unplayable ones in India but they arent exactly great deliveries though they are unplayable.

A Great one would be one which was unplayable yet helped very little by the pitch and showed the mastery of the bowler more than most things for me.

Almost any truly great delivery will need help from the pitch, be it seam or cut.
Of course mine was no different.

 

[Pratters]

Almost any truly great delivery will need help from the pitch, be it seam or cut.
Of course mine was no different.

If there is more than normal help from a pitch, it will remain an unplayable delivery but not necessary a great one. Greatness is not fluke I would imagine.

 

[Richard]

It depends.
Personally I'd simply class a great delivery as one that did something extraordinary.
It doesn't have to be a great piece of bowling.

 

[twctopcat]

I think great and extraordinary are two different things. One is pre meditated by the bowler, whilst the other is somewhat out of their control (perhaps your leg cutter per chance??).

 

[willb88]

Courtney Walsh

The slower ball Courtney Walsh bowled to Graeme Thorpe a few years ago in England, the one Thorpe ducked to and was plumb LBW

 

[twctopcat]

The slower ball Courtney Walsh bowled to Graeme Thorpe a few years ago in England, the one Thorpe ducked to and was plumb LBW

That was epic, talking about scaring a batsmen into giving his wicket away!

 

[Richard]

A slower-ball that did Read in very similar ways (though Thorpe has always had problems with the full ball slightly slower than expected).
An illicit tactic, really - deliberately making the batsman think he's got a Beamer coming-up.

 

[Richard]

I think great and extraordinary are two different things. One is pre meditated by the bowler, whilst the other is somewhat out of their control (perhaps your leg cutter per chance??).

I can't bowl leg-cutters to save my life.
That ball hit something on the pitch - presumably a lump of some sort.
I think great = extraordinary, myself.
Great pieces of bowling are another matter.

 

[twctopcat]

I can't bowl leg-cutters to save my life.
That ball hit something on the pitch - presumably a lump of some sort.

I'm aware of that!

 

[willb88]

Dale Steyn

I think that the best ball, recently, as in the last year has to be the outswinger Dale Steyn bowled to Michael Vaughan on his Debut.
That is one ball that most batsmen would have trouble playing, even those in form, unlike Vaughan.
An outswinger that pitches on middle and leg you would be looking to play through mid-on/mid-wicket area that takes out your off stump, even the best batsmen would have to say that they have been "done" by the bowler.

 

[Link]

yeah fair enough. I can remember a very similar delivery from Corey Collymore that Robert Key could'nt put up with, in last summer's home series

 

[Richard]

Both outstanding deliveries - but they're not totally uncommon, James Anderson bowled a few (still comes darn close to bowling the odd one here and there - just a shame he churns-out the rubbish he usually does in between) in his first handful of ODIs and on Test-debut.

 

[deeps]

bradd hogg bowled a simply awesome flipper to andy flower in a world cup match... but nothing beats waqar absolutely r@ping bcl like that... i think that's the first and last time that bcl has looked so bad whilst playing a shot

 

[Richard]

I'm aware of that!

It was you on strike, then, was it?