Speed Guns into Context

[Richard]

He faced him over in England.

Is that all you know? No date?

EDIT: and this reaction time doesn't take things into account like bounce, how easy the ball is to pick up out of the bowler's hand, types of action, etc. along with many other factors that designate the speed.

None of that impact on the actual speed of the delivery, or the reaction-time, though, just how difficult it is to play. A delivery with X reaction-time which you pick-up later (due to poor sightscreen, tricky bowling-action, etc.) will be more difficult to play than one you pick-up immediately.

No-one would claim Courtney Walsh was faster than Michael Holding, for example, but I've heard many say that Holding was actually easier to face despite his extra speed, because he had the perfect classical action, whereas Walsh had a far more awkward one.

If batsmen actually think a bowler's bowling faster because he's more awkward to pick-up, they are wrong. As I said, though, I've not heard anyone claim such a thing.

 

[Richard]

Is there any proof of this. I have no problem believing that Thomson could not touch 150kph after his back injury.

Yeah, it's widely acknowledged that the speed was an average measured over the course of the delivery in that competition, which differs from the out-of-the-hand speeds used since 1998. Has been discussed quite a few times on various threads, though you'll forgive me that I CBA to look for them.

 

[Manee]

Yeah, it's widely acknowledged that the speed was an average measured over the course of the delivery in that competition, which differs from the out-of-the-hand speeds used since 1998. Has been discussed quite a few times on various threads, though you'll forgive me that I CBA to look for them.

I will forgive you

I understand that it is the common perception, but that does not make it true? Also, did you mean the average speed over 22 yards or 18?

My brother wants you all to know that he fixed a broken speed gun.

 

[Richard]

I understand that it is the common perception, but that does not make it true?

It's knowledge, rather than perception, TBH. The methodology used is known, and so is the impact upon what measurement this will result in the results being displayed in.

Also, did you mean the average speed over 22 yards or 18?

18. The bowlers don't bowl from stump to stump, but popping-crease to popping-crease. I presume the trial was conducted under normal match-esque conditions.

 

[Manee]

18. The bowlers don't bowl from stump to stump, but popping-crease to popping-crease. I presume the trial was conducted under normal match-esque conditions.

Oh, of course.

 

[bond21]

Thomson was banned that year, so he was basically a couch potato then channel 9 rung him up and asked him to participate, and hes basically saying he hasnt played for over a year and there was no point, then he won it.

Thats how much faster he was than the rest. Getting to 142km/h or whatever when he hasnt bowled for over a year is amazing.

 

[thierry henry]

I think bounce is a big factor on how fast a delivery seems.

People keep saying that the likes of Hopes (I think Luke Wright is also a good example) reaching well into the 130s is some sort of illusion, and that because 'keepers can stand up to them they must be military medium. I don't think it has anything to do with pace- to me, Hopes and Wright seem just as quick as other 130s bowlers (e.g. Wright seems just as fast as Anderson or Broad, or Hopes seems just as fast as Bracken or Clark) but the pretty obvious distinction is that Broad, Bracken and Clark are all 6'5"+, Anderson is 6'2", and Hopes and Wright are both under 6 foot, with lowish actions, and don't get much bounce. Therefore, batsman are more comfortable on the front foot, and 'keepers are less worried about copping one in the face.

Perceived pace has a lot to do with perceived danger, as opposed to simple reaction time, imo.

 

[thierry henry]

btw...just checked Luke Wright's cricinfo profile, and he is listed as 6foot....lol what a joke, I saw him fielding 10 metres in front of me at Eden Park and he might be 5'9".....

 

[thierry henry]

Looking at some pics, he might be close to 6 foot...it's funny then, he's not short, he bowls mid-130s, but Mustard stands up to the stumps without a second thought....I think he just has a low action...

 

[Richard]

btw...just checked Luke Wright's cricinfo profile, and he is listed as 6foot....lol what a joke, I saw him fielding 10 metres in front of me at Eden Park and he might be 5'9".....

You were at the game? Why didn't you tell us, we'd have watched out for you!

 

[Richard]

Looking at some pics, he might be close to 6 foot...it's funny then, he's not short, he bowls mid-130s, but Mustard stands up to the stumps without a second thought....I think he just has a low action...

He's just crap, really. An abomination of a bowler. And not much of a batsman either.

 

[thierry henry]

He's just crap, really. An abomination of a bowler. And not much of a batsman either.

Yes Richard, but we both know that that doesn't mean he's somehow slower than what the radar says.

Seriously, Wright has been mid 130s (close to mid 80s in mph terms) this tour, yet Mustard stands up to him easily.

 

[thierry henry]

You were at the game? Why didn't you tell us, we'd have watched out for you!

Actually, towards the end of the game a cameraman came by doing one of those between over crowd shots. I pulled the finger, which it seems is what the kids are doing these days whenever the camera is on them at a sporting event. Maybe someone saw me, as I appalled the sensibilities of the nation?

 

[Richard]

Yes Richard, but we both know that that doesn't mean he's somehow slower than what the radar says.

Seriously, Wright has been mid 130s (close to mid 80s in mph terms) this tour, yet Mustard stands up to him easily.

Crap bowlers are far more likely to have wicketkeepers stand-up to them. They *look* like they need it more than the better ones. And any half-decent wicketkeeper can stand-up to 130kph, they just don't always do it because they don't always feel they need to.

 

[Richard]

Actually, towards the end of the game a cameraman came by doing one of those between over crowd shots. I pulled the finger, which it seems is what the kids are doing these days whenever the camera is on them at a sporting event. Maybe someone saw me, as I appalled the sensibilities of the nation?

Makes me ashamed to count you as a friend TBH. What did the fiancee think? Think mine'd probably call-off the engagement if I did that.

 

[Top_Cat]

Anyways, I don't think speed readings are relevant at all. All that is relevant is how fast the batsman feels that you are bowling, which combines a lot of factors as well as what speed the ball is at one particular moment. Players talk often about how they faced a ball that they thought was particularly quick, or kept to a particularly quick ball, and the speed gun doesn't agree with them. I know what view is more relevant.

Yeah I'm in your camp on this one. I remember when Carl Rackemann was about to be shipped off for a junket to the WI in 1995, he had a good season behind him but Big Carl was clearly down on his pace from the 1980's and was around 'fast medium'. Yet, blokes were saying he was hitting the splice as hard as anyone in the country, bowling with a really heavy ball.

Speaking of Big Carl in 1995, how good was he travelling, eh? He had just participated in QLD's first ever Sheffield Shield win, was sent over to the WI for the final Test to cover injuries, didn't play and then spent the rest the rest of the trip celebrating Australia's first win in the WI for decades. Tough life, this professional cricket......

I think Mark Cameron is a good example to bring up here too. His pace is around the 140km/h mark which is damn quick but sometimes, judging by the reaction of the batsman, he's bowling 190km/h. Yet Shane Watson bowls at around the same pace yet still looks like a medium-pacer sometimes. It's a weird thing.

 

[Richard]

Cameron presumably just loses less pace off the wicket, and is harder to pick-up, than Watson.

ITSTL what a start he's had to his career, mind.

 

[bond21]

shorter bowlers lose less pace off the wicket but sacrifice bounce.