Furball
Evil Scotsman
With all the bowling comparison threads kicking around recently, it got me thinking that we could do a futile, cross-era comparison with reams of stats and multi-quoting to bore the **** off everyone to decide on Australia's greatest ever fast bowler.
But then again, that question is pretty redundant isn't it? So many people recently have made arguments recently regarding the greatness of Dennis Lillee but to be honest, his record pales in comparison to the man who should rightfully be regarded as Australia's greatest ever paceman.
This man averages a full 7.21 runs less per wicket than the "great" Lillee, and strikes 14.3 balls faster. Over the course of his career, Lillee took a very respectable 5 wickets per match, which looks great until we delve into the record of the Great One who averages 7 wickets per match.
This statistical case becomes even more overwhelming when we consider their respective records in South Africa, where the Great One has picked up his wickets at just under 17 a piece. Lillee, on the other hand, has less Test wickets in South Africa than Albie Morkel, Munaf Patel, VRV Singh and Ryan Sidebottom. Hardly indicative of greatness is it? In addition, when you compare their records on the subcontinent, which is quite clearly and obviously the hallmark of a true cricketing great, the Great One has a significantly lower average than Lillee and only trails Lillee's wicket tally by 6 in Asia despite having bowled there a good deal less.
The statistical case for this great bowler is, in my eyes, irrefutable. But just who is this worthy specimen whos greatness is sadly un-appreciated by the masses? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Greatest Australian Fast Bowler of All Time...
But then again, that question is pretty redundant isn't it? So many people recently have made arguments recently regarding the greatness of Dennis Lillee but to be honest, his record pales in comparison to the man who should rightfully be regarded as Australia's greatest ever paceman.
This man averages a full 7.21 runs less per wicket than the "great" Lillee, and strikes 14.3 balls faster. Over the course of his career, Lillee took a very respectable 5 wickets per match, which looks great until we delve into the record of the Great One who averages 7 wickets per match.
This statistical case becomes even more overwhelming when we consider their respective records in South Africa, where the Great One has picked up his wickets at just under 17 a piece. Lillee, on the other hand, has less Test wickets in South Africa than Albie Morkel, Munaf Patel, VRV Singh and Ryan Sidebottom. Hardly indicative of greatness is it? In addition, when you compare their records on the subcontinent, which is quite clearly and obviously the hallmark of a true cricketing great, the Great One has a significantly lower average than Lillee and only trails Lillee's wicket tally by 6 in Asia despite having bowled there a good deal less.
The statistical case for this great bowler is, in my eyes, irrefutable. But just who is this worthy specimen whos greatness is sadly un-appreciated by the masses? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Greatest Australian Fast Bowler of All Time...
Patrick James Cummins
