New Golden Era for Fast Bowling?

[smalishah84]

a lot of hard work picking that out FBU

[Howe_zat]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

IMO Jimmeh is the most complete fast bowler in the world just now.

Not sure about that, due to his relative lack of pace. Obviously Jimmy is no slouch, and he wouldn't be able to swing it like he does if he bowled 90+, but there have been times when Steyn has found it tough to swing the ball, only to bowl a fair bit quicker than he usually does in order to provide a different threat. It's minor but it's a weapon Anderson lacks.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by Howe_zat

Not sure about that, due to his relative lack of pace. Obviously Jimmy is no slouch, and he wouldn't be able to swing it like he does if he bowled 90+, but there have been times when Steyn has found it tough to swing the ball, only to bowl a fair bit quicker than he usually does in order to provide a different threat. It's minor but it's a weapon Anderson lacks.

Jimmy certainly used to have the ability to crank it up to 90. Since his renaissance he hasn't yet bowled in conditions where that might need to be an option - the UAE will be interesting to see a) if he needs to do that and b) if he's actually capable of it.

[shankar]

Originally Posted by Spark

There is a reason he holds the record for dismissing Tendulkar the most times.

His method for combating big hooping outswingers seems to be bat right in front of his stumps and plant his front foot down and play from there, hoping to frustrate the bowlers into pitching straight in search of the magic ball and into his zone. All well and good until one pitches outside off then comes back in.

So when both Broad and Anderson got the ball to move away and then also getting a few to nip back sharply (2nd innings @ Lord's especially) it's no surprise he was well and truly ****ed.

It's why I say Pattinson really needs the ball that comes back in to have Tendulkar in deep trouble. Siddle has it but he doesn't swing it away. He's too good to miss straight balls.

That second inning at Lord's was the one where he became ultra-defensive and refused to play any shots and he was always going to be out to an incoming delivery. But apart from that the incoming delivery didn't play a big part in his dismissals IMO. He does have a weakness to the incoming delivery when it's full and just outside off. But Anderson didn't get the inswinger in those areas throughout the series. And most of his dismissals of Sachin from the past are from standard outswing bowling.

The difference for me between the SA series and the England series wasn't the incoming delivery, but the fact that in SA Sachin played out Steyn and scored against the rest. Whereas vs England the entire attack kept the pressure on him. If you took out Anderson from the England attack and replaced him with Steyn, IMO he'd have been more succesful against Sachin. What Steyn lacks in terms of an incoming delivery he makes up for with pinpoint control of the hooping outswinger unlike any other bowler I've seen.

[Daemon]

When I called this a while ago everyone laughed

[Cabinet96]

I think the stocks are quite good. You have to remember that things are stacked against fast bowlers a lot more nowadays. With the introduction of helmets and certain pitches becoming a lot flatter and slower over the years, it definitely isn't easy for the average fast bowler.

But I think the current crop are fairly promising. Anderson. Broad, Bresnen, Tremlett and Finn from England. Steyn, Morkel and Phillander from South Afirca. Pattinson, Cummins and a few others from Australia, while Pakistan continue to produce pretty good fast bowlers.

Obviously many of those bowlers are yet to reach their peak, and may turn out to be no more than average test fast bowlers, but at least the future is promising.

[ret]

some good bowlers on the scene but notenough good batsmen are around too

[sreeku7]

Originally Posted by hang on

With Steyn already close to all time great status, and a new crop of excellent quick bowlers around, particularly in England, Australia and South Africa (with honourable mentions to the West Indies and Pakistan -- Oh, Aamer and Asif!), one could argue that a new golden age of fast bowling is right around the corner. Hell, even India have a couple who can hit the 90 mph mark more than just once in a flukey blue moon!

What are your thoughts on this? Apart from Steyn, who do you think will be the leading fast bowler for the decade?

Also, what do you think has been the greatest era/decade(s) for fast bowlers so far? The late 70s through the 80s? Or the 90s?

Happy chuntering....

For what it is worth, my money is on Cummins being the next great fast bowler, just beating out Philander, Pattinson and Finn.

IMO the standard of fast bowling has gone down during the last seven years.Now there are no bowlers who can consistently bowl at 150+.Brett lee used to do that easily.So did Shoaib.For England Simon Jones and Harminson clocked 150 occasionally.Steyn and Morkel were faster a couple of years ago.Now they are struggling to clock 150 kmph.The present crop of English and Australian fast bowlers are definitely inferior to the likes Simon Jones,Harminson, Flintoff Brette Lee,Gillesppie and of course Mcgrath.

[smalishah84]

more good batsmen around than good bowlers and also as cabinet mentioned that odds stacked in favor of the batsmen these days so good bowlers more valuable

[smalishah84]

Originally Posted by sreeku7

IMO the standard of fast bowling has gone down during the last seven years.Now there are no bowlers who can consistently bowl at 150+.Brett lee used to do that easily.So did Shoaib.For England Simon Jones and Harminson clocked 150 occasionally.Steyn and Morkel were faster a couple of years ago.Now they are struggling to clock 150 kmph.The present crop of English and Australian fast bowlers are definitely inferior to the likes Simon Jones,Harminson, Flintoff Brette Lee,Gillesppie and of course Mcgrath.

dude....speed isn't everything

[flibbertyjibber]

Some good prospects but at present that is all they are and if half of them become the bowlers people think they can then all of a sudden we will have a ruck of good fast bowlers worldwide, as it is, right now Steyn and Anderson are miles ahead of the rest (Zaheer left out till he proves his fitness) and they need to improve dramatically to get to the level of the top 2.

[social]

Originally Posted by Woodster

Yes Jimmy and Steyn are pretty clear from the chasing pack at the moment, they've countered having to bowl in all kinds of conditions over a long period of time. But the future of fast bowling looks good providing these young players can be managed well and do not get swayed by earning fortunes in a mickey mouse format of cricket.

Sorry but Jimmy has literally had about 2 top quality years in test cricket and the vast majority of his great performances have been in perfect bowling conditions

He is light years behind Steyn (as their respective records indicate, I might add)

[flibbertyjibber]

Originally Posted by social

Sorry but Jimmy has literally had about 2 top quality years in test cricket and the vast majority of his great performances have been in perfect bowling conditions

He is light years behind Steyn (as their respective records indicate, I might add)

Maybe, but Jimmy is light years ahead of all the Aussie bowlers at present. It is 3 years Jimmy has been quality anyway.

[hazsa19]

Originally Posted by social

Sorry but Jimmy has literally had about 2 top quality years in test cricket and the vast majority of his great performances have been in perfect bowling conditions

He is light years behind Steyn (as their respective records indicate, I might add)

'Light years' ahead of Jimmy? Are you mad? I would put Steyn slightly ahead yes, but if you were picking a dream current bowling attack, they would instantly be on the list. You would have to think hard about the third.

Hes also shown he can do it on not so great bowling conditions. Last years Ashes springs to mind, you're telling me that Adelaide, MCG and SCG were bowling paradises? Our batsman didn't think so. I wouldn't call Lords, Edgbaston and the Oval notably great for bowling either.

Their respective records of course favour Steyn, hes been great for longer. Can't look past Jummys record in the last 2 years though.

[social]

Originally Posted by flibbertyjibber

Maybe, but Jimmy is light years ahead of all the Aussie bowlers at present. It is 3 years Jimmy has been quality anyway.

You'd hope he would be ahead of the Aussie bowlers as most of them are still in diapers

Anyway, Jimmeh was completely rank during the '09 Ashes and averaged 35 in SA shortly thereafter

He is a massive beneficiary of juiced up tracks and declining batting standards and not in the same class as Steyn