A history of fast bowling

[Starfighter]

George Pope was lively, high armed Derbyshire fast-medium bowler who played most of his cricket prior to to the war. Although reducing his first class participation and playing more league cricket afterwards, he was still selected for the Lord's test against South Africa in 1947. He made little impression and did not play again. He did the double the next year but promptly retired to look after his ill wife.

Cliff Gladwin was a fast-medium bowler who enjoyed a very long and successful career (also for Derbyshire) who played eight tests in the late forties. Though far from fast he was a tricky, devious bowler who curled the ball in (something very obvious from his action) and who cut it away off the pitch. Harold Rhodes, who played along side him towards the end of his career, estimated his pace as being about seventy miles per hour and even if we give that he was livelier younger we can see that what was considered 'fast-medium' then was considerably slower than today. He was picked for two tests against SA in 1947 and did little, and perhaps this was why he was not picked against Australia the next year despite heading the averages. He toured SA in '48/'49 and was unspectacular in all five tests, with a final test against NZ in 1949 yielding a single wicket.

(and a wicket at 0:41)

(also at 0:52, misattributed by the narrator, and a wicket at 1:29)

 

[Starfighter]

It is very popular these days to describe things (not just sportspeople) as underrated (or overrated). But in few cases is the epithet really deserved. This is one of those cases. Anyone who knows cricket in the forties and early fifties will know the fearsome names of Lindwall and Miller, (supposedly) carrying a hapless England side before them. Yet anyone who looks up series statistics from the era will often find someone else's name at the top of the wickets column, sometimes with a better average than the illustrious duo.
Bill Johnston is undeniably underrated, even if one does not accede to his arguable case to be the best bowler in the world at the time. Did he take more wickets because he had Lindwall and Miller behind him? Who knows. But take wickets he did, and plenty of them.
Johnston was a bowler of great variety. He begun as a left-arm orthodox spinner and only took reluctantly to bowling pace, but it proved his greatest asset though he still bowled effective spin with the older ball. He could bowl at quite brisk fast-medium, though usually settled for a somewhat slower to retain control, often with the keeper up. His action was most unusual and deceived batsmen into underestimating his pace. A casual, bounding run of ten paces ended with a Bill Voce-style sling, both arms starting tucked up then uncurling clearly showing his slow spin origins. He bowled sharp inswing with the odd ball cutting away, and his great accuracy made him very hard to handle. He was generally used as a stock bowler, plugging away for lengthy spells to chip out the middle order while Lindwall and Miller bowled shorter spells. This and being more medium than fast means his strike rate (69) is not so good as one might expect from his average, even in an era of very slow play.
He debuted against India in 1947/48 and from the 1948 Ashes on was Australia's highest highest taker in five successive series (once jointly with Lindwall). In 1952 against the West Indies he achieved a rare 900 rating using the ICC's retroactively calculated system. Only against SA in 52/53 did he average over 24. Yet this achievement tends to go almost unnoticed, with Lindwall and Miller's terror and Jack Iverson's mystery managing to hog the spotlight from the spectacular Johnston. Maybe had he been English, like Bedser, he would have been better appreciated.
It was in 1953 that the strangest quirk in his action would see his downfall. Almost all side-on bowlers (and many chest-on bowlers) land with the back foot parallel to the bowling crease and the front pointing down the wicket. Johnston was the opposite, with his back foot pointing down the wicket and his front along the popping crease. This put enormous stress on his right leg and he almost always bowled with his right ankle heavily strapped. Almost. Playing in an exhibition match at the very start of the 1953 England tour he did not have his ankle strapped, and to compound matters his new boots had longer spikes and gripped the ground harder. His knee gave way and, after recovering somewhat and bowling unpenetratively in two tests, it gave way again when fielding. After an operation to remove the damaged cartilage he was forced to change to an orthodox foot positioning, and he lost most of his swing.
He was successful on receptive surfaces in the 54/55 Ashes, but in the West Indies took only one wicket in two tests on flat pitches. His last two tests saw him re-injure his knee near the start of each, once having to be carried off on a bench, and he neither batted nor bowled in them. He gave away first class cricket at the end of the tour.

and a few more links

Cricket match in Australia (1951)

GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS)To license this film, visit https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA1HBKHXP0EDTCTSQ6I57N95PU-CRICKET-MATCH-IN-AUSTRALIAAustr...

youtu.be

Adelaide Cricket: Mighty Battle In 4th Test Aka 4th Test Match At Adelaide (1955)

Cinesound Review item.Footage of the fourth test match Adelaide, Australia.Cricket players mentioned include: Arthur Morris, Brian Statham / Steadham, Ian Ma...

youtu.be

A link to a recently uploaded video (embedding disabled) of the dying moments 1953 Ashes that I had never seen before, with Johnston and Lindwall at the other end (bowling a less than intimidating looking pace). The rate of scoring gives some indication as to why the calls for 'brighter cricket' became increasingly loud throughout the decade, and do note Lindwall's use of a leg trap - contrary to popular belief it was not outlawed after Bodyline and would remain until the two behind square rule was introduced in England in 1959.

 

[The Sean]

Spot on, great post - Johnston was a fantastic bowler, and I've read that even though he was often used as the stock bowler there were a number of batsmen in his era who found him more dangerous and difficult to face than Lindwall when the ball was new as well. He seems to have been universally liked as well, with a wonderful droll sense of humour.

It probably speaks to how underrated he is as a bowler that despite his brilliance with the ball, the cricketing achievement he is arguably best remembered for is to do with his batting (and he was a genuine tailender). In England in 1953 just 102 FC runs across the entire tour - but was dismissed only once, and so shares with Bradman the distinction of being one of only two Australians to average more than 100 in an English FC season!

His response when told of his achievement? "Class always tells."

 

[Starfighter]

One name, well known from the era, whose test career didn't last was that of Sam Loxton. A hard hitting allrounder, his brisk fast-medium bowling took useful wickets domestically but was not good enough in tests, with only eight wickets in twelve matches. Bill O'Reilly for one thought he should have given away bowling to focus purely on batting. After unimpressive batting in the 1950/51 Ashes he was dropped and never came into test contention again despite playing another seven years. He became one of the few politicians (outside of England at least) to play first class cricket while a sitting member.

 

[AndrewB]

The rate of scoring gives some indication as to why the calls for 'brighter cricket' became increasingly loud throughout the decade, and do note Lindwall's use of a leg trap - contrary to popular belief it was not outlawed after Bodyline and would remain until the two behind square rule was introduced in England in 1959.

It's strange how virtually every article says that the "only two behind square" rule was brought in as a response to bodyline, when it didn't happen for over 20 years.

 

[Slifer]

Ken Higgs. Curious about this name. Recently, watched highlights of the 1966 Wisden series in England and the man did very very well considering the batting line up WI had then. Yet, for whatever reason, he only played 15 tests...

 

[Starfighter]

The West Indies struggled to find specialist pace bowlers after the war. This is not say there weren't ones with some potential, but all faded away for one reason or another. One issue was inter-island politics, which meant that bowlers were rotated depending on who was an acceptable selection for the host country. They also did the same with captains.
Probably the best of the lot rejoiced with the resplendent name of Hophnie Hobah Hines Johnson. Tall and bowling an attacking length, the Jamaican took 10/97 on debut against England in the last test of their disastrous 1948 tour, which was also the last West Indies tour that England did not take a fun strength XI on. On the return tour in 1950 he took only three wickets in two tests, his 40 years counting very much against him.
The younger Prior Jones stuck around a little longer, debuting against England and then enjoying a good series in India. He did little in England in 1950 as John Goddard came to depend totally on Ramadhin and Valentine, and finished with a single test in Australia in 1952. Of an ordinary fast-medium pace he never threatened to set the world alight.
Lance Pierre was the youngest and might have been expected to have a good career. Instead a wicketless test against England in 1948 was his only appearance. He toured England in 1950 but struggled with injuries, lost pace and never threatened to get into the team.
Overall these bowlers formed an adequate at best lot, with Bill Bowes noting that on the 1950 tour none were faster or more threatening than Loxton.

Johnson

Jones

Pierre

 

[Starfighter]

The other notable West Indian pace bowler was a bit more durable, but that was almost entirely down to his batting. Although he began as an orthodox slow bowler, on the 1950 tour to England Frank Worrell adopted fast-medium pace, still invariably around the wicket, and with Goddard preferring to only use one specialist pace bowler he became a regular opening bowler. As his low rate of wicket taking and high average show he was rarely dangerous but he had a couple of good moments, taking 6/38 at Adelaide in 1952 and 7/70 at Headingley in 1957, although in very favourable conditions both times. He became no more than military medium later but continued to turn his arm over until he retired.

 

[Starfighter]

Most of the various bowlers who cycled in an out of the English team in the late forties were not unlucky when they were not given another chance. Yorkshire's Alec Coxon was one who perhaps was. In his only test in the 1948 Ashes he was convinced he had Don Bradman in front for nought. The umpire disagreed. Despite bowling well, if somewhat unavailingly, he was never considered again. He was known to be irascible even by Yorkshire standards, and in an era where personality counted even more for England than it does now, maybe he just didn't fit.
After being the county's leading wicket taker in 1950 he retired, claiming this was after being being omitted for the 50/51 Ashes tour (others suspected he'd been sacked). He certainly might have been more useful than some of the bowlers they did pick. Instead he went to play for Durham and various league sides for many years afterwards.

 

[Starfighter]

South Africa found a genuinely quick bowler in 1948 in the form of 19 year-old Cuan McCarthy. The first of a line of blond fast bowlers who would contribute to the increasing controversy over throwing as the decade progressed, he made his debut against England in at Durban, with his second innings 6/43 remaining his best test figures. He played all five tests in his three series (England and Australia at home in 48/49 and 49/50, and in England in 1951) but for often diminishing returns as continually preferred to pitch short. On the fourth day at Old Trafford in 1951 he was presented with a sticky wicket and only had to pitch the ball up to leave England tottering in a short period of play. He instead went for bouncers and England survived unscathed to get home by nine wickets the next day.
That 1951 tour also saw him called for throwing (Wikipedia claims the first bowler in England since 1908, but not sure I trust that). Frank Chester wanted to call him in the tests, but he enquired with the MCC first and was told he would receive no support as 'these people are our guests'. The last test of that series was also his last first class match, he chose to stay on and study at Cambridge and was lost to the test game aged only 21, playing only some minor counties cricket from then on.

And 0:30

And 1:28

 

[Burgey]

Pitching the ball up is massively over rated tbh.

 

[Starfighter]

These days it is a trope for allrounders to be dashing, hard-hitting batsmen and exciting, dynamic bowlers (hence why people forget Kallis, the best of the recent lot). Botham, Kapil, Imran and in more recent years Stokes all managed a distinct panache in at least one, and often both facets of their game. Anyone who doesn't conform to this mould cops flack, like Green in his first few matches.

The fifties featured an allrounder much more in tune with the times. Cynical even with his amateur status (he was employed as secretary of his County club), his batting famously sedate (a deliberate choice) but as tough and devious a competitor as anyone since, Trevor Bailey was perhaps the closest there was to a personification of nineteen-fifties cricket. While his batting average of 29.7 somewhat conceals his true quality (he was often employed as a makeshift opener and averaged a perfectly fine 33 at 6 and 7), we are here to talk about his bowling.

Bailey started off as a fast bowler, or so he thought. Windmilling his arms around twice is a fashion that might produce mirth today, from when he was still in school he had great things predicted, and as he matured and 1948 rolled around some considered him the fastest bowler in England. But one look at Lindwall and Miller rudely shattered any illusions of great speed. Henceforth there would be fewer windmills, not quite as much pace, but much more accuracy to go with a bit of movement. Nothing would be given away, a very fifties attitude. And if even he was not Earth-shatteringly quick, England finally had a bowler who could at least make the batsmen think twice.

Bailey's style managed that other hallmark of cricket back then, distinct idiosyncrasies unmarred by prescriptive coaching. His run was one, of fourteen paces, originally gradually accelerating to quite brisk but becoming more sedate and even over the years. Indeed if you saw him in 1950 it looked like any bowler today. But gradually, imperceptibly, it swung around. By the time of his last test in 1959, he was running an angle that would make Merv Hughes blush. The action itself, even simplified from its original form, was all arms and legs. Starting well before delivery he swung his hand higher and higher. With his right arm stretched out behind his head, his left shot up and curled dramatically back while his right performed a full circular swing. With his leg kicked high towards the square leg umpire, he was not classically side on and might be described as mixed but doesn't seem to have had any back issues over a twenty-one year career. One feature of his bowling was particularly irritating to the opposition and any of his teammates who wanted the same end. His steep drop into delivery, back foot pointing backwards, and high kicked front leg stamping down on the crease tended to rapidly dig up the ground. With groundsmen loath to repair footmarks bowling in the same match could not just be annoying, but hazardous to anyone landing the wrong way in his 'bomb craters'.

Although he effectively played as a specialist bowler when he was young and inexperienced (England having no-one else), Bailey's bowling displays the typical allrounder pattern of a few good performances interspersed with short, often wicketless ones, being employed less as his career went on. Just over two wickets a match was the result. He took six-fors in his first two tests then took five only three times in the next fifty-nine. His main weapon was a modest bit swing, mainly out, and seam, but a few times it produced remarkable results. At Sabina Park in 1954 England lost the toss on the famously reflective pitch that had a par score of 700 according the the groundsman. Four hours later Bailey was opening the batting with Hutton, having taken 7/34 on the rock hard track. In late 1956 South Africa found themselves disposed of for 72 (Bailey 5/20) on a dead slow track. Finally at Lord’s in 1957 he consigned the West Indies to an innings defeat with 7/44 and 4/54. But in between these performances he tended to mainly chip in with a wicket or two at best.

Finally in at age 35 1959, as part of the fallout of the disastrous 1958/59 Ashes series, England finally disposed of one of the players who had lead them out the post-war wilderness. He continued to play on though, with his last appearance for Essex being against Middlesex in August 1967.

1951

1953

1957

1959 (not his best moment it should be said)

 

[Starfighter]

And in 1942

Since it's been a while since I've posted in here, now would be good time to repeat the request at the start of the thread:

Please don't post other videos or photographs in this thread.

 

[jayjay]

Great thread! I've always found it so interesting at how fast bowlers in the early 20th century had much more sling in their action than most modern pacers, more Malinga than McGrath.

It's also always funny t obe how many of them would be called for chucking in the modern game.

You can really see bowling and batting techniques tighten up in the 30s and 40s and start to become more reminiscent of the techniques of today in the 50s.

 

[Blenkinsop]

This is indeed a top thread.

It looks as though most of these pre-1960s pace bowlers were not super quick by today's standards, but probably delivered the ball from a yard closer to the batsman thanks to the back foot no-ball rule?

 

[Line and Length]

Looking forward to the revival of this thread. One aspect one can't help noticing is the number of times the clips show the 'keeper standing up to 'quicks'.

 

[Starfighter]

Our last test pace bowler of the forties only played three tests, though in an earlier era he might have played many more. Geff Noblet (that spelling is genuine) was perhaps an unusual quantity for Australia, a fast-medium bowler in a similar mould to Bedser and a very good one at that. He was South Australia's post-war stalwart, taking 282 wickets at 19.26 in a career of modest length (thanks to the war he did not debut until he was 29). He was selected on the 1949/50 tour of South Africa but with plenty of competition played only at Port Elizabeth, taking three wickets. This was followed by two similarly moderate performances at home against the same team three years later. He might have been expected to do very well in England in 1953 (where the pitches ended up being very favourable and Bedser cleaned up) and would have been invaluable once Johnson broke down, but the much faster teenager Archer was selected instead.

 

[Starfighter]

And our final notable bowler from the forties:

Alan Walker shared his middle name (Keith) and bowling arm with another notable Alan from New South Wales (Davidson, who we'll get to). The diminutive left armer played 94 First-class matches, and despite his lack of stature also played rugby union for Australia (hard to see that happening these days!). He toured South Africa in 1949/50 but with Lindwall, Miller (not even in the original squad) and Johnston in the team his chances were limited, and when a spot did open it went to Noblet instead. As a result he never played a test match.

His action was extremely distinctive with his wrist curled up high - and backwards - by his head and his arm seeming to circumscribe an impossible angle. His early career, especially a little after he emerged in Sydney grade cricket, was dogged by accusations of throwing.
After being omitted from the 1953 Ashes tour he moved to England and played for Rawtenstall, and then Nottinghamshire from 1956. A shoulder injury from playing rugby (no surprises) saw his career splutter to a halt in 1958 and he moved back to Australia.

And at 0:36

And at 1:16

 

[HookShot]

Fantastic thread. Thanks Starfighter.

 

[Starfighter]

Looking forward to the revival of this thread. One aspect one can't help noticing is the number of times the clips show the 'keeper standing up to 'quicks'.

I've expressed before that 'fast medium' often (though not always) meant what is equivalent to the higher end of medium (or sometimes medium-fast) these days, something that persisted up until the mid fifties (Bedser was 'fast medium', but Cartwright was just 'medium'). And it was quite rare for teams to have more than one bowler who would be fast-medium by today's definition. The big shift seems to coincide with pitch covering becoming increasingly common, which destroyed the genuine medium pacer's place in the game.