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Are pace bowling speeds higher today?

Are pace bowling speeds in tests higher today than in the 80s and 90s?

  • Yes they are significantly higher

    Votes: 10 76.9%
  • No they have stayed the same

    Votes: 3 23.1%

  • Total voters
    13

PlayerComparisons

International Captain
Do you think that the average pace bowling speeds in tests are significantly higher today than they were in the 1980s and 1990s or do you think that they have stayed the same?
 

shortpitched713

Cricketer Of The Year
I think they are higher than they were in the 2010s, but somehow, lower than in the 2000s.

They then gradually increase as you go back further and further in the 20th century, reaching an unbreakable blistering peak in 1933, when Larwood broke the sound barrier in a particularly deadly short pitched delivery, but still managed to be hooked to the fence for six by Bradman.
 

Coronis

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I think they are higher than they were in the 2010s, but somehow, lower than in the 2000s.

They then gradually increase as you go back further and further in the 20th century, reaching an unbreakable blistering peak in 1933, when Larwood broke the sound barrier in a particularly deadly short pitched delivery, but still managed to be hooked to the fence for six by Bradman.
Daily reminder Bradman only had 6 6’s in his test career. 5 against England, 1 against India. 4 in a single series.

1932/1933 Ashes

Adelaide - Bradman 66 (69) hit a 6 on the penultimate delivery off Verity (c&b next delivery)

1934 Ashes
Leeds - Bradman 304 (465) hit 2 6’s, once against Verity and once against Hopwood, both in the mid 200’s, both in the final session of day two, where he went from 169 to 271 off 94 balls. Bowled by Bowes on Day 3.

The Oval - Bradman 244 (275) hit a 6 near the end of his his innings as he went from 150 to 244 in the final session of day one, off Verity. Possibly would’ve made it to 250 but was bowled Bowes caught Ames.

Bradman 77 (103) hit a 6 near the very start of his innings off Clark as he raced to 76 at the end of day three before being bowled by Bowes the next morning.

1947/48 vs India

Adelaide - Bradman 201 (295) hit a 6 during the final session of day one off Mankad as he raced from 94 to 201 before being bowled by Hazare.


Very notably, every single one of his sixes came against left arm bowlers - Verity and Mankad being left arm orthodox, Hopwood being a left arm medium and Clark being a left arm pacer.
 

Athlai

Not Terrible
Do you think that the average pace bowling speeds in tests are significantly higher today than they were in the 1980s and 1990s or do you think that they have stayed the same?
On average? 100%

But there are still outliers at the very top, certain players that are significantly faster than the 'average' of their time. That said I do expect the fitness standard of today would mean that their average speed across a Test would be higher today. But an express spell by a once a generation bowler in the 80s was probably as fast as any in the decades after.
 

Chin Music

State Captain
I think they are higher than they were in the 2010s, but somehow, lower than in the 2000s.
Akhtar and Lee are clearly the quickest bowlers of the last 30 years. I suspect thought that modern sports science keeps the current quick bowling quicker across their spells than back at that time though.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
The slower seamers are definitely faster now IMO, so the average will be higher. I don't think there are more express bowlers or that the express bowlers are bowling quicker though.
 

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