This bloke should be considered in these discussions
Tom Richardson, born on this day in 1870, is widely regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the history of cricket. His achievements in Test cricket remain notable for their historical significance and statistical impact.
* Richardson reached 50 Test wickets in just seven matches, making him the second-fastest to achieve this milestone after Charlie Turner.
* He recorded five consecutive five-wicket hauls in Test matches, a feat surpassed only by Turner.
* His match figures of 13 wickets for 244 runs against Australia in 1902 rank as the fourth-best bowling performance in a losing cause in Test history.
* Over the course of 14 Test matches for England, Richardson claimed 88 wickets at an average of 25.22.
* In 1963, Wisden recognized his contributions by naming him one of the "Six Giants of the Wisden Century," alongside Sydney Barnes, Don Bradman, W. G. Grace, Jack Hobbs, and Victor Trumper.
Richardson's legacy is preserved not only through his remarkable statistics but also through his enduring reputation as a pioneering fast bowler of his era.
And i freely admit I had never heard of these achievements