Do you think this is true?

[no1_gangsta_786]

Do you think that shorter people are better at batting and taller people better at bowling?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Well I'm average height and I can't do either.

Malcolm Marshall and Matthew Hayden suggest this doesn't hold true as a fact, but as a general rule taller guys will obviously get more bounce, and shorter batsmen can pull and hook fuller balls, which are generally lower risk shots than drives.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Massive generalisation, but there is something in it, yes. I'd say tall blokes make better seamers rather than better bowlers per se tho. Neither Murali or Warne is very tall, although Vettori, Kumble & Gilo are.

 

[33/3from3.3]

im one of the better bowlers in my team but im "4ft8in"
but im one of the worst batsmen
so there you go

 

[PAKMAN]

no

 

[a massive zebra]

Batting geniuses like Bradman, Hobbs, Lara, Tendulkar and Gavaskar were/are all pretty short and it surely cannot be just coincidence.

 

[James90]

Lets not forget Mohammad Ashraful.

 

[deeps]

shorter batsmen can pull and hook fuller balls, which are generally lower risk shots than drives.

Not really. Steve Waugh stopped playing the hook/pull because it was a risky shot.

 

[Jono]

Well I'm average height and I can't do either.

Malcolm Marshall and Matthew Hayden suggest this doesn't hold true as a fact, but as a general rule taller guys will obviously get more bounce, and shorter batsmen can pull and hook fuller balls, which are generally lower risk shots than drives.

Huh? A pull or hook is clearly more risky than a drive.

 

[James90]

Being able to pull off almost anything must surely put the bowler off his length.

 

[irfan]

In response to the original question. no1gangsta makes a sweeping generalisation based purely on height rather than talent and skill on a particular facet (bowling/batting) of the game. In saying that, by and large he is right most succesful batsman are short and most great bowlers are tall but you will always get a few exceptions hayden, pietersen,edwards, marshall etc and having the suggested height doesnt make u an automatic bowler/batter but it's ever so slightly easier to succeed.

 

[Smudge]

im one of the better bowlers in my team but im "4ft8in"
but im one of the worst batsmen
so there you go

Yes, but we're talking about grown-ups cricket.

 

[Slats4ever]

definately...

tendulkar, ponting and lara... the contemporary greats and Bradman,Hobbs and Gavaskar the old blokes are all very short. Garner, Ambrose and Akram (three names that spring to mind) are all big guys.

Of course there are going to be exceptions to every rule, but this one you're spot on

 

[Run like Inzy]

I think it is an advantage to be a tall bowler or a short batsmen but it doesnt mean that a tall person is always going to better at bowling and rubbish at batting.

 

[honestbharani]

I think it is an advantage to be a tall bowler or a short batsmen but it doesnt mean that a tall person is always going to better at bowling and rubbish at batting.

again, I agree fully with Run like Inzy.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Huh? A pull or hook is clearly more risky than a drive.

I've clearly been scarred by growing up watching Mike Atherton get caught in the slips every other over.

No idea what I'm talking about...