Who was the fastest bowler of the 20th century?
Our readers give their opinions on cricket's greatest speed-merchants, the future of West Indies cricket, the protective-gear paradox, and get nostalgic about Hyderabad
10-Oct-2015
"Jeff Thomson would dig one in short, and it would still be rising as it passed over the batsmen, easily clear the leaping keeper, and hit the sightscreen on the half-volley" • Adrian Murrell/Getty Images
User: Jonathan_E
I read a Geoff Boycott tour diary book - of the Windies tour of 1980-81, "In the Fast Lane" - in which he said that, while he believed Thomson was marginally the faster bowler in short spells, Michael Holding was nearly as fast - indeed, as fast on all but Thomson's fastest days - and able to bowl long spells without dropping in pace: and the two were the fastest bowlers he himself had ever faced.
I read a Geoff Boycott tour diary book - of the Windies tour of 1980-81, "In the Fast Lane" - in which he said that, while he believed Thomson was marginally the faster bowler in short spells, Michael Holding was nearly as fast - indeed, as fast on all but Thomson's fastest days - and able to bowl long spells without dropping in pace: and the two were the fastest bowlers he himself had ever faced.
In 1992-94, the debate over who was fastest included Waqar Younis, Ian Bishop (when fit) and Pat Patterson - usually with Waqar coming out on top, and Patterson fading from the scene because, although fast, he wasn't really that accurate and never really kicked on from his debut series in 1986.
Of course, Frank Tyson was either retired or well past his best, I am not sure which, by the time Boycott's career began. And also, thanks to there being a good 20 years and a world war in between, very few people ever faced both Tyson and Larwood, certainly not when both were at their peak.
User: Cloudmess
Bowling speeds across the different eras have always fascinated me. Did they have 90mph bowlers in the Edwardian era? How fast was Harold Larwood? (He was said to be 95mph, yet Jack Hobbs in his late 40s could comfortably take centuries off him). Batsmen suffering cricket-ball injuries only seems to have become more common in the last 50 years, despite the greater protective gear. And did Tyson and Thomson hit speeds which are now unexceptional among today's super-fit speedsters? Pitches are generally better looked after than 40 years ago. If you look at the 74-75 Ashes on video, the wickets seemed to offer plenty of unpredictable, uneven bounce, which is surely what made the fast bowlers seem so lethal.
Bowling speeds across the different eras have always fascinated me. Did they have 90mph bowlers in the Edwardian era? How fast was Harold Larwood? (He was said to be 95mph, yet Jack Hobbs in his late 40s could comfortably take centuries off him). Batsmen suffering cricket-ball injuries only seems to have become more common in the last 50 years, despite the greater protective gear. And did Tyson and Thomson hit speeds which are now unexceptional among today's super-fit speedsters? Pitches are generally better looked after than 40 years ago. If you look at the 74-75 Ashes on video, the wickets seemed to offer plenty of unpredictable, uneven bounce, which is surely what made the fast bowlers seem so lethal.
User: Aus_Trad
There'll always be debates about who was "the quickest". I was born too late to see Tyson, but I saw a lot of Thommo (both live and on TV) in those 2 seasons when he was at his absolute quickest (74-75 & 75-76), and he did something at least a couple of times that I've never seen anyone else do (Ian Chappell also recalls this): he would dig one in short, and it would still be rising as it passed over the batsmen, easily clear the leaping keeper, and hit the sightscreen on the half-volley (no exaggeration). As I say, I've never see anyone else do that; so for mine, Thommo will always be the quickest of my time (since 1970).
There'll always be debates about who was "the quickest". I was born too late to see Tyson, but I saw a lot of Thommo (both live and on TV) in those 2 seasons when he was at his absolute quickest (74-75 & 75-76), and he did something at least a couple of times that I've never seen anyone else do (Ian Chappell also recalls this): he would dig one in short, and it would still be rising as it passed over the batsmen, easily clear the leaping keeper, and hit the sightscreen on the half-volley (no exaggeration). As I say, I've never see anyone else do that; so for mine, Thommo will always be the quickest of my time (since 1970).
User: Gujratwalla
I saw Thomson in action when he toured England. He was very fast but I would think that there have been others who have approached his pace like the West Indians of Clive Lloyd 's awesome team, also Dennis Lillee was no slouch as a raw bowler in 1972! Chappell has first-hand experience of both Lillee and Thomson also Shoaib Akhtar, Steyn etc. so I guess he knows a thing or two about pace! That about being a first-class athlete is most important for a budding fast bowler; some people have the build, like Trueman, others have to work on it, Lillee etc. I still marvel how Trueman went on for years on end with so basic a training and exercises!
I saw Thomson in action when he toured England. He was very fast but I would think that there have been others who have approached his pace like the West Indians of Clive Lloyd 's awesome team, also Dennis Lillee was no slouch as a raw bowler in 1972! Chappell has first-hand experience of both Lillee and Thomson also Shoaib Akhtar, Steyn etc. so I guess he knows a thing or two about pace! That about being a first-class athlete is most important for a budding fast bowler; some people have the build, like Trueman, others have to work on it, Lillee etc. I still marvel how Trueman went on for years on end with so basic a training and exercises!
User: brahms
Look at the history of any art (and I am regarding batting and bowling as an art here) and you will find that performers who stand head and shoulders above the rest always occur in any generation, but occasionally there are some who are so good they have yet to be surpassed. There are many legendary violinists but Heifetz is still regarded as the best there has ever been. The same applies to pianists - Horowitz is still regarded with awe although there are several more who can approach him in some respects and even surpass him in others. Think of authors - Hugo, Dickens, Shakepeare - the lists go on. The same applies to sculptors and painters. So it does not surprise me that there are batsmen and bowlers who stand above the rest. They are, in many ways, freaks of nature.
Look at the history of any art (and I am regarding batting and bowling as an art here) and you will find that performers who stand head and shoulders above the rest always occur in any generation, but occasionally there are some who are so good they have yet to be surpassed. There are many legendary violinists but Heifetz is still regarded as the best there has ever been. The same applies to pianists - Horowitz is still regarded with awe although there are several more who can approach him in some respects and even surpass him in others. Think of authors - Hugo, Dickens, Shakepeare - the lists go on. The same applies to sculptors and painters. So it does not surprise me that there are batsmen and bowlers who stand above the rest. They are, in many ways, freaks of nature.
User: Nampally
Another fine narration of Hyderabadi Cricket, Mr. RamNarayan! I knew Jaisimha as a fellow school boy + in a competitive way playing cricket matches vs. his team, at the back of his house almost every evening after school. Even then he exuded authoritative sway as captain of his team. Later the same "school boys" played for MCC in League as did Pataudi much later. I knew Abid as a State Bank Wk/bat & we used to have pitched battle between Osmania Vs. Bank.
Another fine narration of Hyderabadi Cricket, Mr. RamNarayan! I knew Jaisimha as a fellow school boy + in a competitive way playing cricket matches vs. his team, at the back of his house almost every evening after school. Even then he exuded authoritative sway as captain of his team. Later the same "school boys" played for MCC in League as did Pataudi much later. I knew Abid as a State Bank Wk/bat & we used to have pitched battle between Osmania Vs. Bank.
I was very surprised to see WK Abid as an opening bowler for India in 60's when I was a Research student in UK. I only played once vs. Abbas - who played for Aliya School. But knew his brothers, Mutruza & Mazhar very well. Those were glorious days where we played hard but enjoyed Cricket with many guys from different religions, enjoying the true Hyderabadi humour & culture even on Cricket field- arguably the finest in the World, as I realise now!
User: Sanbod
Wow, for a little bit this article took me back to Hyderabad. I grew up watching Jai (a great human too) and later played with Vidyuth but was a regular in Gymkhana and RRC and was there when Jyothiprasad bowled Gavaskar in a Moinudowla tournament. Hyderabad did not capitalize its content. The confidence has always been a missing element in its complete picture.
Wow, for a little bit this article took me back to Hyderabad. I grew up watching Jai (a great human too) and later played with Vidyuth but was a regular in Gymkhana and RRC and was there when Jyothiprasad bowled Gavaskar in a Moinudowla tournament. Hyderabad did not capitalize its content. The confidence has always been a missing element in its complete picture.
India as such suffered not being able to take advantage of such players. Narsimha Rao was always underutilized as was Shivlal Yadav (relegated to understudy status than being a dominant player). When we look at Pochaiah Krishnamurthy's record it is a shame that he could not get more games and God knows how his days went by off the cricket.
All said, Hyderabad then and Hyderabad now, like rest of India are past their glory. Maredpally then was a cricket hub and a great place to be at (but for water problem) and a posh colony before Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills!
User: cruisecontrol
Thanks for travelogue, Dave. When I visited Haverford College five years ago for my son's college admission, they claimed Haverford College as the site of the first every "international" cricket match between England and the USA. (Right next to what is now called Merion Cricket Club). There was a small plaque on their grounds which was consumed by their athletic field. Before writing this, I checked on the Internet and everyone else points to Bloomingdale Park in 1844. I wonder who (or how and why they) would have played in the intractable, undeveloped shrubland/marshland of Staten Island in those days. I'm curious and would like to dig into it.
Thanks for travelogue, Dave. When I visited Haverford College five years ago for my son's college admission, they claimed Haverford College as the site of the first every "international" cricket match between England and the USA. (Right next to what is now called Merion Cricket Club). There was a small plaque on their grounds which was consumed by their athletic field. Before writing this, I checked on the Internet and everyone else points to Bloomingdale Park in 1844. I wonder who (or how and why they) would have played in the intractable, undeveloped shrubland/marshland of Staten Island in those days. I'm curious and would like to dig into it.
I live close by in New Jersey where you'd have seen a lot more cricket on any given weekend if you'd taken any obscure country road in central Jersey around Princeton. Of course, you might doubt it's cricket but you wouldn't have provoked the ire of passionate, crew of South Asians and a smattering of Windies
User: Randytt
What kept West Indies great was the pride, professionalism and raw talent. The social fabric that kept teams together no longer exists within the Caribbean. Territories/nations/Islands have fared better being driven by National Pride rather than a bond that does not exist. The t20 franchise is a good example that as money talks it can still be accomplished but not driven by the same unifying factors of 20 years ago.
What kept West Indies great was the pride, professionalism and raw talent. The social fabric that kept teams together no longer exists within the Caribbean. Territories/nations/Islands have fared better being driven by National Pride rather than a bond that does not exist. The t20 franchise is a good example that as money talks it can still be accomplished but not driven by the same unifying factors of 20 years ago.
It is sad to say but maybe it is time for nations to do it on their own. I would not have said this a year ago but I do not see a resolution in the near 5 years and beyond.
Sad to say but like Jamaica is good at Track and field so other nations will excel eventually. It is equally sad that smaller islands like Grenada and St. Vincent may not have a team to compete against Bangladesh but they will compete against Trinidad and find their pride.
User: Whatsgoingoffoutthere
A cricketer I should have known more about but didn't. It's characters like these that make cricket the game that it is. You don't get it at quite the same level in other sports; it's one of the things that make the game unique. Spinner, and all those like him, you'll carry on living for ever, because people will remember you.
A cricketer I should have known more about but didn't. It's characters like these that make cricket the game that it is. You don't get it at quite the same level in other sports; it's one of the things that make the game unique. Spinner, and all those like him, you'll carry on living for ever, because people will remember you.
User: Venkat Hari
I was a young schoolboy in grade school in Madras (now Chennai) and used to wait eagerly for the News paper to see the county scores and Middlesex became my favorite county because of Bill Edrich and Denis Compton. Denis Compton was the poster boy of Brylcream ads. Since we had no TV those days all we could do was imagine based on the articles in the sports pages. Likewise, I used to lap up the excellent reviews of cricket games by Jack Fingleton(Aus) and years later by S.K. Gurunathan of THE Hindu..
I was a young schoolboy in grade school in Madras (now Chennai) and used to wait eagerly for the News paper to see the county scores and Middlesex became my favorite county because of Bill Edrich and Denis Compton. Denis Compton was the poster boy of Brylcream ads. Since we had no TV those days all we could do was imagine based on the articles in the sports pages. Likewise, I used to lap up the excellent reviews of cricket games by Jack Fingleton(Aus) and years later by S.K. Gurunathan of THE Hindu..
Yes, county cricket dominated by Edrich, Compton, Hutton, Bedser, Evans and later Truman and Statham and Sheffield Shield in Aus dominated by Bradman, Morris, Hassett, Lindwall, Miller, Tallon and our own Ranji Trophy with Merchant, Mankad, Amarnath, Gopinath, Vijay Manjrekar, Polly Umrigar and for that matter even the M.J. Gopalan trophy matches between Madras (TN) and Ceylon (SL) were exciting to read about. A good well written description of the games allow our imagination to do the rest.