Best Players of Fast Bowling

[SamSawnoff]

You almost have to split this thread into pre and post protective equipment. I agree with most of the batsmen posted here although some batsmen seem to decline with age. Richardson and Ponting were probably best I have seen in their prime but both look to fade with age.

I think it's a weakness with Punter now from having been his strength. Due to reflexes slowing down.

 

[Athlai]

Jeff Crowe didn't mind express bowling too much.

 

[slowfinger]

Asad Shafiq

 

[zaremba]

Loved watching the Judge against quick bowling. He played it really bloody well but he always seemed to cop a lot of hostile stuff too. Made for great viewing.

 

[Ikki]

The best I've seen during most of my cricket watching has to be Ponting. Plays it with ease and seemingly all the time in the world - was simply on another at his peak. Of the batsmen of the last 2 decades I think he'd have had the most success against a 4 pronged WIndies attack. I'd go so far as to say that he'd enjoy facing them for the sheer thrill of being constantly on guard and tested.

 

[kingkallis]

i found robin smith pretty damn good against the fasties.

lamb was good too but vaughan not too sure about.

Fantastic player of fast bowling...

 

[Austerlitz]

Viv richards
Greg chapell
Gavaskar
Tendulkar/ponting/lara.

 

[akilana]

In the last twenty years, it's Sachin.

 

[kingkallis]

In last 20 years it has to be Ricky Ponting and not Sachin.

 

[Debris]

I think it's a weakness with Punter now from having been his strength. Due to reflexes slowing down.

It really is hard to tell how much is reflexes and how much is the poor form he has been in over the last 18 months. Guess the next year or two will tell, assuming he regains form.

 

[vcs]

The current crop of English batsmen are all very good against pace. Best I've seen overall would be Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis, Steve Waugh, Dravid, De Silva and Langer in no particular order.

 

[vcs]

Sangakkara, Lara, and Inzamam also deserve a mention.

 

[Migara]

Of the ones I've seen it has to be Richards.
and all those saffies were no slouches of playing pace. Cullinan certainly worth a mention.

On current form, I'd have a toss up between Sangakkara and Kallis

 

[Blaze 18]

The top three players of fast bowling in my time of watching would be Lara, Tendulkar and Aravinda de Silva - in that order.

 

[Spikey]

Hayden


LOL JK

 

[Borges]

Playing seam bowling - Ponting at his peak, of everyone I've seen. Didn't look like getting out, and could score at a Gilchrist-like pace if he wanted to. Pure pace is definitely Ponting too.

In terms of playing all kinds of pace in any conditions, especially in terms of difficulty of getting out, peak Dravid of the ones I've seen.

Agree with this completely - on both counts.

Going further back, Barry Richards would qualify as Ponting at his best plus Dravid at his best rolled into one.

 

[kingjulian]

It's hard to say who was the best....but i think i know was the most fearless when it came to pace.

His name is Lance Klusener. He would stand a yard out and make no compromise to his back swing against some one like Akhtar at his best.....that took courage.

I loved the way he butchered fast bowlers with very little style.

 

[Austerlitz]

In last 20 years it has to be Ricky Ponting and not Sachin.

Kemar roach says hello,speaking last 20 yrs its means whole career and not just peak.
Ponting's peak came aftr all the great fast bowlers of the game were gone.
No wasim,waqar,ambrose,walsh,donald.
I consider them equals more or less.

 

[Goughy]

Loved watching the Judge against quick bowling. He played it really bloody well but he always seemed to cop a lot of hostile stuff too. Made for great viewing.

I loved watching him too. What you say is true also. He seemed to get tangled up in wars. A lot to do with the fact that he looked to get forward early and ended up copping a lot on the body and hands or bending and ducking out of the way at the last second. He made for great TV but I dont think he would be up there as some have said.

Interesting that Michael Holding thought Peter Willey was the hardest for a fast bowler to bowl as it was not possible to intimidate him.

 

[Debris]

The top three players of fast bowling in my time of watching would be Lara, Tendulkar and Aravinda de Silva - in that order.

I had always thought that high-quality pace was the weakest area of Tendulkar's game. Not necessarily bad but not outstanding like the rest of his batsmanship. He certainly has performed worse against Pakistan and South Africa than other countries and the one thing they have had in common over his career is a production line of high-quality fast bowlers.

Lara basically ran hot and cold but when he was on, pace bowling was dismissed like everything else. McGrath did sort him out but that is not a huge cross against anyone.

I never thought Aravinda was that great a batsman so maybe a personal bias against him. Never noticed him being particularly great against pace.