Harold Larwood VS Jeff Thomson

[Cricket Bliss]

Better Bowler?

 

[Line and Length]

Larwood could bowl to a plan. Thommo simply relied on speed/fear.

 

[Coronis]

Larwood could bowl to a plan. Thommo simply relied on speed/fear.

Wasn’t the plan Larwood bowled to literally speed/fear personified?

 

[Line and Length]

Wasn’t the plan Larwood bowled to literally speed/fear personified?

That was Jardine's plan, and Larwood applied it.
Larwood's FC career extended from 1924 to 1938 during which time he took 1,427 wickets at an average of 17.21 and gained a reputation for, not only his pace, but his accuracy and ability to swing the ball. It's unfortunate that his reputation is clouded by one episode in cricket's history.

 

[Johan]

Larwood was considered a better pacer at the time than Trueman and Lindwall, that has to mean something.

 

[Bolo.]

That was Jardine's plan, and Larwood applied it.
Larwood's FC career extended from 1924 to 1938 during which time he took 1,427 wickets at an average of 17.21 and gained a reputation for, not only his pace, but his accuracy and ability to swing the ball. It's unfortunate that his reputation is clouded by one episode in cricket's history.

His reputation may have been clouded by bodyline in the past, but today it is greatly enhanced. More so for a single series than just about any other player (Barnes and Barry may be exceptions). Without bodyline, Larwood would be pretty much forgotten. He was a FC great with a meh test career. Not many of these players are known at all.

 

[shortpitched713]

His reputation may have been clouded by bodyline in the past, but today it is greatly enhanced. More so for a single series than just about any other player (Barnes and Barry may be exceptions). Without bodyline, Larwood would be pretty much forgotten. He was a FC great with a meh test career. Not many of these players are known at all.

Simon Jones for Ashes 2005?

 

[trundler]

His reputation may have been clouded by bodyline in the past, but today it is greatly enhanced. More so for a single series than just about any other player (Barnes and Barry may be exceptions). Without bodyline, Larwood would be pretty much forgotten. He was a FC great with a meh test career. Not many of these players are known at all.

He's basically pre-modern Duanne Olivier

 

[Bolo.]

Simon Jones for Ashes 2005?

He's basically pre-modern Duanne Olivier

Who dem?

 

[Line and Length]

Who dem?

Jones was a fine bowler until injury struck.

Olivier temporarily gave up on his Test career when he signed a Kolpak deal to play with Yorkshire. He has since resumed his Test career with SA.

 

[Coronis]

Who dem?

Olivier - yet another SA pacer - took 24 @ 14.7 in a 3 test series vs Pak in 18/19, averages 30.8 outside of that. 59 wickets overall

Jones - random mid English pacer of the 00’s - took 18 @ 21.00 to help England win the 05 Ashes, averages 31.4 outside of that. 59 wickets overall

Larwood - random English pacer between the wars - took 33 @ 19.51 in Bodyline, averages 34.8 outside of that. 78 wickets overall

 

[Cricket Bliss]

Wouldn't compare Larwood to the likes of Jones or Oliver. Larwood was considered as the quickest English pacer atleast by 1926 (not sure whether he was considered quicker than Gregory and McDonald by then). He picked 9 wickets @ 28.00 4.5 WPM in that flat series... Top 3 Batsmen averaged 81, 94 and 78 and top 3 bowlers 42,29 and 31.
The series deciding match was won because of Rhodes and Larwood with the ball.
The problem was he paced peak Bradman and got obliterated unless Jardine found a way to reduce Bradman's effectiveness.

 

[Johan]

Wouldn't compare Larwood to the likes of Jones or Oliver. Larwood was considered as the quickest English pacer atleast by 1926 (not sure whether he was considered quicker than Gregory and McDonald by then). He picked 9 wickets @ 28.00 4.5 WPM in that flat series... Top 3 Batsmen averaged 81, 94 and 78 and top 3 bowlers 42,29 and 31.
The series deciding match was won because of Rhodes and Larwood with the ball.
The problem was he paced peak Bradman and got obliterated unless Jardine found a way to reduce Bradman's effectiveness.

This is true.

Barring the 1930 Ashes, he has 74 @ 25.9 without the 1930 Ashes.

 

[Coronis]

This is true.

Barring the 1930 Ashes, he has 74 @ 25.9 without the 1930 Ashes.

He was always inconsistent outside of Bodyline, I think I’ve posted about this before. Could never connect a few good games together.

Usually had one good match a series.

1926
3/136, 6/116
1928
1/27, 5/87
1928/29
8/62, 4/182, 4/164, 1/152, 1/164
1929
5/69, 2/82, 1/35
1930
2/21, 1/139, 1/132

 

[Cricket Bliss]

This is true.

Barring the 1930 Ashes, he has 74 @ 25.9 without the 1930 Ashes.

Even including that Ashes he might be the greatest fast bowler of the 1930s, in the flat era.

 

[Coronis]

Even including that Ashes he might be the greatest fast bowler of the 1930s, in the flat era.

Pretty sure that’d be Bowes or Voce.

 

[Cricket Bliss]

Pretty sure that’d be Bowes or Voce.

Did they enjoy atleast half of the reputation Larwood gets?
Cricketers like Boycott rates Larwood as his second greatest bowler…although exaggeration none of Bowes or Voce enjoyed Larwood’s 20% reputation… even before Bodyline Larwood enjoyed a reputation of being faster than all. Voce is mostly remembered as the bodyline partner of Larwood.

 

[Coronis]

Did they enjoy atleast half of the reputation Larwood gets?
Cricketers like Boycott rates Larwood as his second greatest bowler…although exaggeration none of Bowes or Voce enjoyed Larwood’s 20% reputation… even before Bodyline Larwood enjoyed a reputation of being faster than all. Voce is mostly remembered as the bodyline partner of Larwood.

Faster =/= better

Thomson was faster than Lillee

Lee was faster than McGrath

etc.