Is Dale Steyn the worst ever best fast bowler in the world?

[fredfertang]

No helmets + inferior equipment. Means can easily intimidate lesser batsmen. ATG ones will not be intimidated whether a helmet is there or not.

I'd be interested to see the stats on finger injuries but it's always seemed to me that those have become more prevalent as time has passed rather than less so. As for batsmen being scared (all fast bowlers will always try to intimidate - that's their job) - I can't really see how that comes into the equation as techniques vary from batsman to batsman and evolve over time anyway

Using Larwood as the example it is true that the odd tailender would back away from him but then they do that to quicks now. Some of the Australians (eg Woodfull, Ponsford and Fingleton) just let him hit them, Bradman danced all over the place in order to find a way of playing him whilst McCabe and Richardson stood toe to toe with him and took him on - I don't think it can be said that any of them were scared

 

[watson]

Yeah but you don't see Dale Steyn downing pints in the drinks break. (would go from one of my favourite cricketers to my very favourite if he did.)

Plus Larwood had the good sense to emigrate to Australia.

 

[kyear2]

Can't an the analogy. But if Steyn is "worst ever" best fast bowler, Larwood has more claims for it.

Cannot understand the Larwood love here.

Me neither. Benaud though when selecting his 6 fast bolwer shortlist, chose Larwood, Mcgrath,Lillee, Linwall, Barnes and I believe Trueman. So are some who rate him quite highly.

 

[Manee]

I don't think it is at all likely that Larwood was better than Steyn, Ntini or Lee. However, I think that it is the wrong question to ask and the more relevant question is how much better he was than his peers. Analysis of the first kind can lead people to discredit Bradman as a "destroyer of poor bowling" and although this exaggerates the case, I think we can all agree that it would be totally irrelevant to state such a statement.

 

[fredfertang]

Yeah but you don't see Dale Steyn downing pints in the drinks break. (would go from one of my favourite cricketers to my very favourite if he did.)

I believe that on occasions he would use nasally ingested substances as well

 

[watson]

I believe that on occasions he would use nasally ingested substances as well

Interesting. Tobacco/snuff or cocaine?

 

[benchmark00]

Suffered from erectile dysfunction iirc.

 

[fredfertang]

Suffered from erectile dysfunction iirc.

Dunno about that benchy but he was keen on a pinch of snuff

 

[watson]

Dunno about that benchy but he was keen on a pinch of snuff

Snuff only? That's a shame.

Jardine: Fancy some 'Leg Theory' Harold
Larwood: Sounds a bit gay. What is it Douglas?
Jardine: It's where you snort lines of coke, down a six pack or two, get hammered, and then bowl 8 bumpers at Bradman's head in the same over. Interested?
Larwood: Er, yes.

Would have explained a lot.

 

[Jager]

More seriously though, the Larwood love stems possibly from the fact that all of his contemporaries speak/spoke so highly of him, his unique place in history, his remarkable talent and the fact he humbled Bradman

 

[Agent TBY]

I believe that on occasions he would use nasally ingested substances as well

You couldn't possibly be saying that he *gasp* enjoyed the odd bit of cocaine, could you?

 

[benchmark00]

Infract that man!!

 

[Agent TBY]

Infract? In my day, mods didn't have to play with the new infractions rule and could easily intimidate lesser posters!

 

[benchmark00]

They ran )swing( off the forums iirc.

 

[Prince EWS]

They ran )swing( off the forums iirc.

I never made aware of this and there's no evidence of it in the mod forum at all, but I'll take your word for it as you are the resident expert on )swing(.

 

[fredfertang]

More seriously though, the Larwood love stems possibly from the fact that all of his contemporaries speak/spoke so highly of him, his unique place in history, his remarkable talent and the fact he humbled Bradman

I'm a great believer in fairness, so worth pointing out Larwood was only getting his own back on Bradman after being slapped around in 1930 - one of the sadder aspects of the Bodyline saga was that the two of them didn't have a deciding contest in 1934

 

[benchmark00]

I'm a great believer in fairness, so worth pointing out Larwood was only getting his own back on Bradman after being slapped around in 1930 - one of the sadder aspects of the Bodyline saga was that the two of them didn't have a deciding contest in 1934

That's not how your ex wife tells it, Tangy.

 

[fredfertang]

That's not how your ex wife tells it, Tangy.

Which of them have you been talking to now?

 

[benchmark00]

Which of them have you been talking to now?

As the executor of your will, it's important I keep in touch with all the key stakeholders in your life to date.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd be interested to see the stats on finger injuries but it's always seemed to me that those have become more prevalent as time has passed rather than less so. As for batsmen being scared (all fast bowlers will always try to intimidate - that's their job) - I can't really see how that comes into the equation as techniques vary from batsman to batsman and evolve over time anyway

Using Larwood as the example it is true that the odd tailender would back away from him but then they do that to quicks now. Some of the Australians (eg Woodfull, Ponsford and Fingleton) just let him hit them, Bradman danced all over the place in order to find a way of playing him whilst McCabe and Richardson stood toe to toe with him and took him on - I don't think it can be said that any of them were scared

Small point, but wasn't leg theory devised after DRJ had a eureka moment that Bradman lacked a little testicular fortitude when faced with short, quick stuff?

"He's windy" is the quote that sticks in my mind and I remember Lol being particularly proud of a riser that hit Braddles "up the arse" when he turned his back on the Notts demon. One thinks of Old Siward's first question when the news of his son's death is broken "Has he his hurts before?".

I believe that on occasions he would use nasally ingested substances as well

TBF if Steyn nasally ingested anything he'd be at serious risk of an overdose. Wholly impressive proboscis he has.