Extreme Skill Bowlers who Weren't Very Good...

Dazinho · 11-09-2012, 02:31 PM

Thought of this thread after looking at the career of Andre Van Troost and, to a lesser extent, Duncan Spencer.

There's something to be said for the 'extreme skills' way of looking at competitive sport. Bowlers who can swing, cut or spin the ball a serious distance are generally highly valued commodities and so in theory should be a bowler of ridiculous speed.

Alas, it doesn't always work that way for whatever reason, be it due to lack of control with the ball that effectively nullifies their strengths, mental fragility, maybe a poor captain or mismanagement.

So - which bowlers were possessed of a single 'extreme skill' be it swing, seam, spin or speed, but were ultimately mediocre players? Is someone like Van Troost perhaps the best example, or does their overall 'not very goodness' perhaps lead to an exaggeration of that one area of strength?

flibbertyjibber · 11-09-2012, 02:39 PM

The hype about Salisbury in his younger days springs to mind. Shame he was absolutely rubbish. Same goes for Schofield.

Dazinho · 11-09-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flibbertyjibber

The hype about Salisbury in his younger days springs to mind. Shame he was absolutely rubbish. Same goes for Schofield.

Salisbury could certainly spin the ball a long way, but his lack of control meant that he just couldn't apply any sort of pressure at international level.

Never saw anything in Schofield at all to be honest. May be wrong, but I don't remember him even being a big spinner of the ball.

The common ground was that they were both leg-spinners and could both bat, which gave us the luxury of six down not equating to all out...

Shri · 11-09-2012, 02:57 PM

Venkatesh Prasad. Bowled the best slower balls in the world. No one could tell which of his deliveries were intentional slower ones.

BoyBrumby · 11-09-2012, 03:04 PM

Mohammad Sami the obvious one, I suppose. Regularly over 90mph, which is a decent lick by any estimation, but sadly his average was nearly as high as his speed gun reading too.

"Mystery" spinners have a habit of getting found out after early success as well; John Gleeson ended up with a bowling average closer to 40 than 30 and Mendis's is already well north of 30.

fredfertang · 11-09-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shri

Venkatesh Prasad. Bowled the best slower balls in the world. No one could tell which of his deliveries were intentional slower ones.

Never saw much of him but he was the leading Test wicket taker one year wasn't he?

Viscount Tom · 11-09-2012, 03:09 PM

Ishant Sharma springs to mind and Saj Mahmood.

Vaughan too perhaps? Phil Hughes.

fredfertang · 11-09-2012, 03:22 PM

I vividly recall Kevin Emery who I've just looked up on Cricketarchive - in 1982 at 22 he took 83 wickets for Hants at 23 - looked a class act too as an opening bowler, although from my recollection calling him fast medium might create the wrong impression as he was far fro quick - next season it was 5 at 50 odd and then he never played again - imo that's what comes of having St John as a christian name

Rather better known example is Bob Massie - never ever seen swing like he produced at Lord's in 72, but he sunk with barely a trace within a year

KungFu_Kallis · 11-09-2012, 04:04 PM

Steve Harmison - capable of 150+ pace and vicious bounce
Mitchell Johnson - capable of 150+ pace and vicious in-swing (mainly in Perth & Durban)

Both fragile-minded scatterguns averaging over 30 but rated as the best bowler in the world at some point. Underachievers or overachievers?

Scaly piscine · 11-09-2012, 04:28 PM

Could mention KP's bowling. Gets plenty of turn and bounce, hardly gets anyone out though.

sledger · 11-09-2012, 04:29 PM

Brett Lee. Fast and rubbish.

zaremba · 11-09-2012, 04:34 PM

Devon
Salisbury

Probably other parts of the west country too. Cornwall must be rubbish. You could extrapolate further, but that would be scilly

uvelocity · 11-09-2012, 05:19 PM

shaun tait

SteveNZ · 11-09-2012, 06:24 PM

Lance Cairns - swung it round corners off the wrong foot. Had his moments but nothing particularly outstanding over a period of time.

vic_orthdox · 11-09-2012, 06:55 PM

Jason Krezja probably gets as much work as any non-subcontinental fingerspinner on the ball.

11-09-2012, 02:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dazinho School Boy/Girl Cricketer Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NW England Posts: 66	Extreme Skill Bowlers who Weren't Very Good... Thought of this thread after looking at the career of Andre Van Troost and, to a lesser extent, Duncan Spencer. There's something to be said for the 'extreme skills' way of looking at competitive sport. Bowlers who can swing, cut or spin the ball a serious distance are generally highly valued commodities and so in theory should be a bowler of ridiculous speed. Alas, it doesn't always work that way for whatever reason, be it due to lack of control with the ball that effectively nullifies their strengths, mental fragility, maybe a poor captain or mismanagement. So - which bowlers were possessed of a single 'extreme skill' be it swing, seam, spin or speed, but were ultimately mediocre players? Is someone like Van Troost perhaps the best example, or does their overall 'not very goodness' perhaps lead to an exaggeration of that one area of strength? Last edited by Dazinho; 11-09-2012 at 02:36 PM.

11-09-2012, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Shri Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 8,937	Venkatesh Prasad. Bowled the best slower balls in the world. No one could tell which of his deliveries were intentional slower ones. __________________ RIP Craigos. Owe you a beer.:( http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/2186298-post7381.html 4-0; 5-0; 4-0; 3-0; 4-0 Banter is a two way street. Deal with it.

11-09-2012, 03:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
BoyBrumby Englishman Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Doing the stance Posts: 42,613	Mohammad Sami the obvious one, I suppose. Regularly over 90mph, which is a decent lick by any estimation, but sadly his average was nearly as high as his speed gun reading too. "Mystery" spinners have a habit of getting found out after early success as well; John Gleeson ended up with a bowling average closer to 40 than 30 and Mendis's is already well north of 30. __________________ *- As featured in The Independent.* "This is not the time for namby-pamby promising youngsters who might just do something; not the time for building for the future. Pragmatism rules and they don't come more pragmatic than Rogers." - Victor Marks makes the case for stiff-legged and stiff-armed 35 year old left-handers in Ashes squads

11-09-2012, 04:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
Scaly piscine Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North East England Posts: 18,511	Could mention KP's bowling. Gets plenty of turn and bounce, hardly gets anyone out though. __________________ National Scrabble Champion 2009, 8th in 2009 World Championships, gold medal (team) at Causeway, 2011 Masters Champion 24 Hour Scrabble World Record Attempt for Charity, in aid of Daisy Chain and End Polio Now Countdown Series 57 Champion King of the Arcade Reply from mods to my prank bans in public: Reply from mods to my prank bans in private: MSN - evil_budgie @ hotmail.co.uk

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11-09-2012, 02:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
flibbertyjibber Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: England Posts: 7,931	The hype about Salisbury in his younger days springs to mind. Shame he was absolutely rubbish. Same goes for Schofield.

11-09-2012, 03:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
fredfertang Cricket Web Staff Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: high dudgeon Posts: 9,716	I vividly recall Kevin Emery who I've just looked up on Cricketarchive - in 1982 at 22 he took 83 wickets for Hants at 23 - looked a class act too as an opening bowler, although from my recollection calling him fast medium might create the wrong impression as he was far fro quick - next season it was 5 at 50 odd and then he never played again - imo that's what comes of having St John as a christian name Rather better known example is Bob Massie - never ever seen swing like he produced at Lord's in 72, but he sunk with barely a trace within a year

11-09-2012, 04:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
KungFu_Kallis U19 Debutant Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Kiwiland Posts: 398	Steve Harmison - capable of 150+ pace and vicious bounce Mitchell Johnson - capable of 150+ pace and vicious in-swing (mainly in Perth & Durban) Both fragile-minded scatterguns averaging over 30 but rated as the best bowler in the world at some point. Underachievers or overachievers?

11-09-2012, 04:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
sledger Spanish_Vicente Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: cricsim, lol Posts: 28,060	Brett Lee. Fast and rubbish.

11-09-2012, 04:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
zaremba Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: chez les Ashes Posts: 8,726	Devon Salisbury Probably other parts of the west country too. Cornwall must be rubbish. You could extrapolate further, but that would be scilly

11-09-2012, 06:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
SteveNZ State Vice-Captain Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 1,298	Lance Cairns - swung it round corners off the wrong foot. Had his moments but nothing particularly outstanding over a period of time.

11-09-2012, 06:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
vic_orthdox Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24,363	Jason Krezja probably gets as much work as any non-subcontinental fingerspinner on the ball.

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