Greatest Ever Fast Bowler?

shortpitched713 · 13-04-2007, 11:18 PM

Well we've done similar things in the past, first with the Battle of the Pace Bowlers then with adharcric's Ranking the Bowlers Thread, but some might say both of these methods might have their flaws in determining point blank who is the greatest fast bowler of all time. For example only 12 people voted in adharcric's thread on the number 1 bowler.

So I've decided to put up a simple poll to determine who CW thinks is the greatest fast bowler using as many fast bowlers as possible from adharcric's list.

Personally I found it extremely difficult to choose between Glenn McGrath and Richard Hadlee. In the end I barely went with McGrath because he has played in a period that has been so difficult for bowlers.

Perm · 13-04-2007, 11:44 PM

Malcolm Marshall, Glenn McGrath and Richard Hadlee would be my top 3 fast bowlers of all time. I voted for Hadlee being #1, mainly because I'm a Kiwi. Those three I mentioned are all so close, although I'm sure posters like archie mac who are a bit more familiar with the game all those years ago will contest that Barnes and Trueman are better.

Pratters · 13-04-2007, 11:52 PM

Malcolm Marshall. 376 wickets at an average just under 21 is damn good. However, it is the strike rate, 46.7, which makes him absolutely lethal, when you consider that he played in an era when test cricket was renowned for draws and slow batting.

oz_fan · 14-04-2007, 12:01 AM

I rate Marshall just ahead of Hadlee and McGrath. His average, strike rate and consistency are marginally better then the other bowlers on that list in the past 50 years.

adharcric · 14-04-2007, 12:08 AM

Malcolm Marshall

andyc · 14-04-2007, 12:19 AM

Probably Marshall or Hadlee tbh, but of all the bowlers I've seen, fast or otherwise, I'd put McGrath at the top, so he gets my vote.

Matt79 · 14-04-2007, 01:31 AM

Marshall. They all could be the greatest - ultimately anything beyond a straight statistical comparison is a subjective judgement. That said, in this elite company its the few flaws, relative weaknesses etc that what makes the difference, and Marshall stands out in not really having any marked weaknesses or failures. Its the commonly used description, but its apt - he was the complete fast bowler. Died tragically young.

pup11 · 14-04-2007, 03:18 AM

For me its Glen McGrath because like most of the other fast-bowlers he didn't had the pace or the physical attributes to intimidate his opponents, but he still inflicted fear in the hearts of batsmen world over with his unmatchable line and length, accuracy and consistency (though the same can be said about Hadlee).

But the stand-out feature of Pidge's career has to be that even today he is as effective as he was when he made his debut.

pup11 · 14-04-2007, 03:26 AM

All the fast-bowlers on that poll are all-time greats but still they didn't had the best ends to their careers.

But Pidge is still picking wickets for Australia and he is retiring on his own terms, i just wish from the bottom of my heart that Pidge ends up as the highest wicket-taker in this WC and also as the part of the WC winning side for the 3rd time in a row.

archie mac · 14-04-2007, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perm

Malcolm Marshall, Glenn McGrath and Richard Hadlee would be my top 3 fast bowlers of all time. I voted for Hadlee being #1, mainly because I'm a Kiwi. Those three I mentioned are all so close, although I'm sure posters like archie mac who are a bit more familiar with the game all those years ago will contest that Barnes and Trueman are better.

Yes it can be tough with so many great bowlers, I decided against Barnes because I don't think he was considered a fast bowler. Reading about Trueman he must have been something special but I will just go for Lillee

Ash_A55 · 14-04-2007, 03:33 AM

No Walsh?

archie mac · 14-04-2007, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ash_A55

No Walsh?

There are lots of players who could have been listed

Richardson
McDonald
Lindwall
Gregory
Miller
Tyson
Larwood
Garner
Roberts
Thomson
Statham
Younis

Just to name a few

PhoenixFire · 14-04-2007, 04:00 AM

I'd go with anyone of Marshall, Barnes or McGrath, I chose because he had more pace than the others, but it could just have easily been McGrath.

nightprowler10 · 14-04-2007, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pup11

No D.Underwood?

Underwood wasn't a fast bowler.

pup11 · 14-04-2007, 04:08 AM

No D.Underwood?

EDIT: Though he was a combination of a spinner and a seamer.

View Poll Results: Who was the very Best?
Malcolm Marshall	25	39.06%
Glenn McGrath	12	18.75%
Curtly Ambrose	6	9.38%
Richard Hadlee	8	12.50%
Fred Trueman	0	0%
Dennis Lillee	4	6.25%
Sydney Barnes	1	1.56%
Imran Khan	0	0%
Allan Donald	0	0%
Wasim Akram	5	7.81%
Michael Holding	3	4.69%
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll

14-04-2007, 12:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
oz_fan International Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 3,977	I rate Marshall just ahead of Hadlee and McGrath. His average, strike rate and consistency are marginally better then the other bowlers on that list in the past 50 years. __________________ Member of CW Black Goalkeeper for the Northside Power NZI Manager in WCC

14-04-2007, 03:33 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ash_A55 U19 Captain Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: England Posts: 626	No Walsh? __________________ Proudly supporting pink bat grips The best FC player in the dev league 189 on debut

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13-04-2007, 11:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pratters Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 20,794	Malcolm Marshall. 376 wickets at an average just under 21 is damn good. However, it is the strike rate, 46.7, which makes him absolutely lethal, when you consider that he played in an era when test cricket was renowned for draws and slow batting.

14-04-2007, 12:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
adharcric International Coach Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 10,898	Malcolm Marshall

14-04-2007, 03:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
pup11 International Coach Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 12,134	For me its Glen McGrath because like most of the other fast-bowlers he didn't had the pace or the physical attributes to intimidate his opponents, but he still inflicted fear in the hearts of batsmen world over with his unmatchable line and length, accuracy and consistency (though the same can be said about Hadlee). But the stand-out feature of Pidge's career has to be that even today he is as effective as he was when he made his debut.

14-04-2007, 03:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
pup11 International Coach Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 12,134	All the fast-bowlers on that poll are all-time greats but still they didn't had the best ends to their careers. But Pidge is still picking wickets for Australia and he is retiring on his own terms, i just wish from the bottom of my heart that Pidge ends up as the highest wicket-taker in this WC and also as the part of the WC winning side for the 3rd time in a row.

14-04-2007, 04:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
pup11 International Coach Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: India Posts: 12,134	No D.Underwood? EDIT: Though he was a combination of a spinner and a seamer.

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