Your bodyline battle

[Xuhaib]

Who would you choose as your 4 fast bowlers for a bodyline battle.

Only name cricketers you have watched in action.

My pick:
Wasim'
Ambrose
Shoaib
Tait

 

[Sir Alex]

Roy Gilchrist

 

[fredfertang]

Accuracy is the key for fast leg theory to work - my choice would be

Larwood
Voce
Marshall
Garner

 

[The Sean]

Accuracy is the key for fast leg theory to work - my choice would be

Larwood
Voce
Marshall
Garner

You saw Larwood and Voce in action? You're older than I thought Fred!

Agree completely with your sentiments about accuracy though - Bodyline was about more than just bowling fast short stuff like a madman. My attack would be:

Marshall
Lillee
Garner
Ambrose/Imran

 

[weldone]

Garner
Ambrose
Marshall
Waqar

 

[Teja.]

Imran deserves to be the first name to be entered IMO.

Lillee

Garner

Akthar

 

[Himannv]

Ambrose
Steyn
Bond
Lillee

 

[Flem274*]

Does on TV count?

If not, then we're rolling out Ewen Thompson baby. Ooooh yeah.

 

[fredfertang]

You saw Larwood and Voce in action? You're older than I thought Fred!

Should have read the OP properly - but then there is plenty of Larwood and Voce on film so in a sense I have!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Going on players i have seen i'd go

Marshall
Ambrose
Waqar
Flintoff

 

[Xuhaib]

I thought Waqar had a quite average bouncer, Wasim with his quick arm was the difficult one also Donald could be a good choice.

 

[Teja.]

I thought Waqar had a quite average bouncer, Wasim with his quick arm was the difficult one also Donald could be a good choice.

Waqar at his peak, had a bouncer which mixed with usual full to the stumps bowling, was a very good surprise element in his bowling. I'd agree that there a lot of bowlers with consistently better bouncers though.

 

[Himannv]

Since its a "battle", how about picking the batsmen as well? Which 4 players have you seen who can deal with bowling of this sort?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Since its a "battle", how about picking the batsmen as well? Which 4 players have you seen who can deal with bowling of this sort?

Alan Lamb and Sunny Gavaskar must be on the list as they were about the only ones to take on the Windies side of the 70's and 80's and come out on top.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Since its a "battle", how about picking the batsmen as well? Which 4 players have you seen who can deal with bowling of this sort?

Reckon Ponting would do especially well against it TBH.

 

[Teja.]

Sunny Gavaskar
Len Hutton
Viv Richards
Sachin Tendulkar
Greg Chappell
Ricky Ponting
Gary Sobers

Would be a darn good post-war line-up against Bodyline IMO.

 

[G.I.Joe]

I hear Bradman did pretty well himself.

 

[Teja.]

I hear Bradman did pretty well himself.

Averaged 57 IIRC.

 

[Pothas]

Since its a "battle", how about picking the batsmen as well? Which 4 players have you seen who can deal with bowling of this sort?

Have not seen him but Viv Richards against Bodyline would have been quite something.

From players I have seen, Sehwag for similar reasons to Richards and Steve Waugh as well for very different reasons.

 

[Himannv]

Not sure I'm all that convinced that some of the names mentioned would have performed that well. With consistent bowling at that sort of line and length and with leg slips, fine leg and deep square leg all in place, I'd say almost any shot would be a risk. I think Viv may be able to handle it and I somehow have a feeling that Lara and Tendulkar may be able to find a counter for it. Not so confident about any of the others.