Where have all the 150km/h+ bowlers gone?

[undertaker]

Just something I was thinking about this morning...

I remember all the hype during the 1999 World Cup when Shoaib Akhtar was bowling, and the possibility of him breaking Jeff Thomson's speed (which he did during the 2003 World Cup). IIRC, 1999 was the first year the the ICC standardised speed-guns for use in cricket matches and became approved all around the world. Later that year was Ch9's first full summer using them (they did occasionally use them during the 1995/96 World Series finals vs Sri Lanka)

Later that year (1999), Brett Lee appeared on the international scene during the Boxing Day Test. It was an exciting time, with two 150km/h+ bowlers in international cricket terrorising batsmen. Akhtar's bowling in Hobart and his spell to Ricky Ponting on an old, traditional, fast WACA pitch stands out. Lee was lethal during that first year of his international career, before he damaged his elbow against the West Indies the following summer and wasn't the same bowler after that. Before that, he wasn't just fast but he also swung the ball very late; something he lost the ability to do after his elbow injury.

Then in the 2003 World Cup, you had 3 bowlers who hit 155km/h in that tournament: Shoaib Akhtar, Brett Lee and Shane Bond. Akhtar and Lee both hit 160km/h.

Over the past few years, there have only been a handful of bowlers in international cricket who've hit 150km/h+ compared to during the 2000s decade: Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Shaun Tait, Kemar Roach, Pat Cummins. Where have the rest gone?

 

[JJ]

Not sure any of those 4 "regularly" hit 150... Depends on what you mean by that - at the moment nobody does in a most balls/overs sense - you can add Ferguson and Milne to that list - but all seem to top out at 150

Wickets are part of it - and perhaps the radars are just more accurate?

 

[undertaker]

Other notable mentions:

- Peter Siddle was regularly bowling 145km/h+ when he first started out during 2008-11. I still remember his spell of bowling in an ODI against Pakistan at the SCG in 2010, where he hit 150km/h several times on a pitch that did quite a fair bit for fast bowlers that summer. Since he became a vegan a few years ago (I don't if this is to do with it), his speed dropped at least 10km/h to the point where he was barely hitting 130km/h.

- Shane Watson surprisingly was also quick before he dislocated his shoulder in 2005 and became a slow medium paced plodder after that. Regularly hit mid-high 140's during the 2005 Australia vs World XI ODI series.

- Jason Gillespie was very fast when he started out in 1996/97 before his career started to be decimated with injuries. Remember reading during the 1997 South African tour that he was clocked by someone at the ground at 154km/h (although this was unofficial/unconfirmed, as this was a couple of years before tv networks used speed guns). Even in this 1996 match vs World XI (a few days after the 1996 World Cup), you can see he was bowling with pace and venom as a 20 year old:


- Allan Donald, very easy to see he was nicknamed "white lightning". Watch footage of him online during the 1992 World Cup and 1993/94 tour of Australia vs 1997/98 tour of Australia, and you will see a big difference in pace. He was bowling about 140km/h max during 1997/98 (again, injuries started affecting him) and at about 10km/h faster in the previous Australian tour. Amazing to watch batsmen like Dean Jones during that 1993/94 summer facing him without a helmet on Australian pitches that offered much more to bowlers back then. That wouldn't happen these days as anyone facing a fast bowler without a helmet would be seen as irresponsible (in light of the Phil Hughes incident 2 years ago)

- Mohammad Zahid. He's an interesting case. Shoaib Akhtar and many others (including Brian Lara) said he was the fastest bowler they've ever played with or against. Vaguely remember hearing of him during the 1996/97 summer, especially the famous ODI at Hobart where Pakistan defended 149 on a rank green-top (still haven't seen nor found full highlights of that match to this day, as I was on vacation in Canberra at the time). The bouncers I faintly remember on the news later that night to get Greg Blewett and Shane Warne out were absolute beauties, right at the rib cage forcing bat pad catches.

Even after his shoulder was stuffed and made a comeback in South Africa, he was still able to bowl at about 145km/h, which makes me wonder how fast he was earlier in his career (especially when he toured Australia).

 

[Bazal]

I think that the obsession with raw pace is a thing of the past more than the bowlers themselves. There are certainly blokes around the world who are capable of that pace, but I think the modern game asks more for bowlers who can build pressure and bowl decent spells with variation. Truly express bowlers like Shaun Tait are an extinct breed because the game has moved past raw pace. Pace is used as a change up rather than the stock ball.

 

[Pete Cash]

Pace is still handy its just extremely difficult to bowl over 150

How many bowlers in cricket history have consistently bowled over 150. not many

 

[Bazal]

Plus I should add I think that coaches discourage ripping out top pace every single ball for reasons of longevity. I'd say most bowlers around the world operate at about 95%, leaving that little in the tank for a wicked spell or a change up faster ball

 

[Pete Cash]

Plus I should add I think that coaches discourage ripping out top pace every single ball for reasons of longevity. I'd say most bowlers around the world operate at about 95%, leaving that little in the tank for a wicked spell or a change up faster ball

Plus bowlers have to do more than just charge in and let it rip. test cricket requires spells. johnsons ludicrous spells during the ashes where he was unplayable are rare. its hard work to bowl fast

 

[Iafeta]

This Ferguson chap is the worst NZ quick since Roydon Hayes got a gig. Scratch that, since Andrew Mathieson filled in that one time. And he bowls 150. Pace is certainly not everything.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

The very fast bowler is very rare. Tyson, thommo, akhtar and lee are probably the quickest in history but all were at the peak pace for only a very short time.
The strain on the body is immense and it's very difficult to sustain an action that delivers fast, accurate bowling for any given time.
Thompson had 2 seasons at separate times of his most extreme pace. Lee and Akhtar a little longer.

Deliveries hitting 160 are usually very full and innocuous, the speed gun doesn’t always tell the full story, how and where the keeper takes the ball and whether the batsmen is being beaten by pace is a better guide.

If a young bowler coming through does have extreme pace you play him because of its rareness and its potential to decimate teams.

 

[hineyrulz]

Bowling at over 150kms is a tough job, and the way the bowlers are molly coddled these days their chances of consistently bowling that pace without being injured are non existent.

 

[vvvrulz]

- Mohammad Zahid. He's an interesting case. Shoaib Akhtar and many others (including Brian Lara) said he was the fastest bowler they've ever played with or against. Vaguely remember hearing of him during the 1996/97 summer, especially the famous ODI at Hobart where Pakistan defended 149 on a rank green-top (still haven't seen nor found full highlights of that match to this day, as I was on vacation in Canberra at the time). The bouncers I faintly remember on the news later that night to get Greg Blewett and Shane Warne out were absolute beauties, right at the rib cage forcing bat pad catches.

I remember Mohammad Zahid clearly during that tri-series noting specifically how ridiculously quick he was, that ball was whizzing through like I had never seen. The great Brian Lara was hopping around and missing it, looking utterly bemused.

I remember insisting to my Saturday morning cricket colleagues (wouldn't call them mates) about this guy, but got laughed off pretty quick. Still went on about it when someone brought it up, and I'm so glad many years later Zahid's name gets surfaced on Youtube, forums and the Lara anecdote.

Apparently being over bowled and back injuries ruined him, a pity as it would have been great to see him combining with Shoaib Akhtar and an ageing Wasim and Waqar, what a pace battery that could have been.

 

[hineyrulz]

I remember Mohammad Zahid clearly during that tri-series noting specifically how ridiculously quick he was, that ball was whizzing through like I had never seen. The great Brian Lara was hopping around and missing it, looking utterly bemused.

I remember insisting to my Saturday morning cricket colleagues (wouldn't call them mates) about this guy, but got laughed off pretty quick. Still went on about it when someone brought it up, and I'm so glad many years later Zahid's name gets surfaced on Youtube, forums and the Lara anecdote.

Apparently being over bowled and back injuries ruined him, a pity as it would have been great to see him combining with Shoaib Akhtar and an ageing Wasim and Waqar, what a pace battery that could have been.

Pretty sure i've heard M Waugh mention he was as quick as he has faced as well, he hurt his back and played against us in 98 and sadly was many lengths slower than he had been.

 

[chigurh]

Tino Best might be the most consistent to bowl over 150kph in recent times and he averaged 40 lol

 

[Incorrect]

I remember the sign in the crowd when South Africa played in the 1992 World Cup here in Australia. All the talk around world cricket at the time was about Allan Donald and how quick he was...

The sign said - "Here comes Donald.... Duck!"

 

[Iafeta]

He had Geoff Marsh stone motherless caught behind first ball but it was given not out. That favoured South Africa though as Marsh got 25 off about 70 lol

 

[TheParraboy]

Shaun Tait has clocked over 160 a couple of times, once in England, one in ODI in Aust

From reports Any Roberts was the fastest from the great Windies era

Notch was quite quick at times, doing mid 150s quite often

Wasn't Brad Williams real quick at one point?


In no order, My top 12 pace bowlers last 30-35 years (test cricket)

GLENN MCGRATH
DENNIS LILLEE
ANDY ROBERTS
MALCOM MARSHALL
MICHALE HOLDING
JOEL GARNER
DALE STEYN
RICHARD HADLEE
WASIM AKRAM
WAQAR YOUNIS
ALLAN DONALD
CURTLY AMBROSE


Here's an interesting and odd thought. The best 11 pace bowlers of recent times v the 11 best batsman of recent times in a test match. How would that fare?

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Add Courtney Walsh to that list. Often overshadowed by others but he was a great fast bowler.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Shaun Tait has clocked over 160 a couple of times, once in England, one in ODI in Aust

From reports Any Roberts was the fastest from the great Windies era

Notch was quite quick at times, doing mid 150s quite often

Wasn't Brad Williams real quick at one point?


In no order, My top 12 pace bowlers last 30-35 years (test cricket)

GLENN MCGRATH
DENNIS LILLEE
ANDY ROBERTS
MALCOM MARSHALL
MICHALE HOLDING
JOEL GARNER
DALE STEYN
RICHARD HADLEE
WASIM AKRAM
WAQAR YOUNIS
ALLAN DONALD
CURTLY AMBROSE


Here's an interesting and odd thought. The best 11 pace bowlers of recent times v the 11 best batsman of recent times in a test match. How would that fare?

Lot tougher to pick but I'll have a go.
VIV RICHARDS
BRIAN LARA
RICKY PONTING
ALLAN BORDER
GREG CHAPPELL
SACHIN TENDULKAR
KUMAR SANGAKARRA
YOUNIS KHAN
RAHUL DRAVID
JAVED MIANDAD
JAQUES KALLIS

 

[Twizzle]

that game would depend on the surface, but I'd love to see that bowlers bat against the batsman bowling, there are some specialist no 11s there

 

[TheParraboy]

that game would depend on the surface, but I'd love to see that bowlers bat against the batsman bowling, there are some specialist no 11s there

What about a juicy WACA deck of the past? You bank on the great man Kallis taking 15 wickets for the match and a ton

You would imagine the batsmen would win it. Id have MARTIN CROWE and STEVE WAUGH in my line up somewhere, to what AG posted