Allan Knott vs Ben Stokes

[Cricket Bliss]

Did he included the WI pacers or just compared Larwood with the Post Gregory/McDonald and pre Lindwall/Miller Aussie ones??

Not sure about the West Indies ones. But Australian bowlers most probably. My guess is he might be referring to the Bodyline Series. Almost all the media then had opinion that Larwood was the quickest ever, so he must be quicker than Gregory or McDonald.

 

[Cricket Bliss]

Geoffrey Boycott is the clear case, he was making hundreds against Marshall and Holding after crossing 40, Gooch also made a hundred against Ambrose after crossing 40. Nowadays Teams phase players out after an age, not true back then.

There was a video of Bradman telling that a chmapion player will become champion player in any era because he would got adjusted to that era, players get better with era changes and stuff. It was in a youtube channel named Chris Law or something. Couldn’t find the video or the channel now.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Not sure about the West Indies ones. But Australian bowlers most probably. My guess is he might be referring to the Bodyline Series. Almost all the media then had opinion that Larwood was the quickest ever, so he must be quicker than Gregory or McDonald.

I don't think most of us are arguing whether Larwood was the fastest mid Wars pacer, but rather so how much faster. Post Gregory/McDonald Aussie pace stocks were pre 2014s India level poor. Think that exaggerated the difference to him.

 

[Coronis]

I don't think most of us are arguing whether Larwood was the fastest mid Wars pacer, but rather so how much faster. Post Gregory/McDonald Aussie pace stocks were pre 2014s India level poor. Think that exaggerated the difference to him.

Too bad Gilbert never got a shot

 

[capt_Luffy]

Too bad Gilbert never got a shot

Tbf, he very likely chucked.

 

[Coronis]

Tbf, he very likely chucked.

ima call him a hyperextension. Innocent til proven guilty.

 

[Cricket Bliss]

Here is Bradman saying in 1993, that the overall standards have improved in Cricket, which must imply that the pace of fast bowlers also should have improved.

 

[Cricket Bliss]

I don't think most of us are arguing whether Larwood was the fastest mid Wars pacer, but rather so how much faster. Post Gregory/McDonald Aussie pace stocks were pre 2014s India level poor. Think that exaggerated the difference to him.

yeah

 

[Johan]

Ben Stokes, What a player.

 

[Coronis]

Ben Stokes, What a ****.

ftfy

 

[peterhrt]

My guess is he might be referring to the Bodyline Series. Almost all the media then had opinion that Larwood was the quickest ever, so he must be quicker than Gregory or McDonald.

It wasn't just about speed. In the moral landscape of the time, hitting a batsman by mistake was unfortunate. Doing so deliberately was beyond the pale. The term 'bodyline' implied intent. And it was the word "unsportsmanlike" in the cable to MCC from the Australian Board that almost led to the tour being called off. It was also why Larwood later claimed that he never tried to hit a batsman. He was not telling the truth. He and Voce used to bet beer and cigarettes which one could hit a particular batsman first when playing for Notts.

The first fast bowler to hit batsmen regularly was Jack Gregory, landing twenty blows in Ashes Tests, with Sutcliffe struck most often. Hendren said Gregory was the fastest he ever faced. By the end of the 1932-33 series Larwood had doubled Gregory's tally. Before that series he had twice struck Bradman painful blows, once at Melbourne in 1928 and again at The Oval in 1930 when Bradman was on 175. Play was held up for five minutes with Bradman in considerable pain from a blow under the heart. During the first Test at Trent Bridge overnight rain had damaged the pitch, and England's close fielders observed Bradman flinching against Larwood before being cheaply dismissed by Tate. On most other occasions Bradman was quick enough on his feet to avoid injury.

Packed leg-side fields were nothing new either. In the 1920s and early 1930s they had sometimes been accompanied by bouncers from the likes of Constantine and Ted McDonald, as well as Larwood and Voce. Jardine was one of those on the receiving end.

 

[Johan]

Stokes is winning now, nice.