Are pace bowling speeds higher today?

[DrWolverine]

 

[DrWolverine]

An express spell by a once a generation bowler in the 80s was probably as fast as any in the decades after.

I am not surprised by Jeff Thomson being in the list.
I am surprised Michael Holding is not in the list.

 

[Kirkut]

The **** this have to do with T20s?

Not only the format but the volume of cricket as well. As much as we dislike T20s, it has vastly changed the game overall in every aspect like Kerry Packer did with ODI popularity.

 

[sayon basak]

I am not surprised by Jeff Thomson being in the list.
I am surprised Michael Holding is not in the list.
View attachment 49391

The bottom four would barely make it in the top 20. And the 159 Kmph delivery wasn't actually from Roberts, but from Thomson. It's mistakenly attributed to Roberts in this page.

All matches | Miscellaneous records | Bowling speeds (1) | ESPNcricinfo

Find records of Bowling speeds (1) in All matches only on ESPNcricinfo.

www.espncricinfo.com

Here's the actual record:


Thomson later clocked at 160.6 Kmph in the 1979 study. That mean's Thomson has 3 deliveries (that are recorded) that would make it in the list. Andy Roberts clocked at 157.4 Kmph.

 

[shortpitched713]

Not only the format but the volume of cricket as well. As much as we dislike T20s, it has vastly changed the game overall in every aspect like Kerry Packer did with ODI popularity.

That's correlation, which has corresponded to the progress over time, not due to the actual format in question. It's not like T20s are some kind of WW2 Era Manhattan project, that it would bring scientific advancement beyond the fact they are popular and competitive.

I would say 4 over spells of T20 would encourage bowlers to be in a mode of going flat out, and get higher speeds. But it would probably reduce longevity and increase injury rates, if you're not used to bowling longer spells. Ultimately though, it's speculation, as we can't exactly run some kind of experiment.

 

[the big bambino]

Are speed guns faster than the 80s and 90s?

 

[DrWolverine]

I would say 4 over spells of T20 would encourage bowlers to be in a mode of going flat out, and get higher speeds. But it would probably reduce longevity and increase injury rates, if you're not used to bowling longer spells. Ultimately though, it's speculation, as we can't exactly run some kind of experiment.

Shoaib has said on multiple occasions he is suffering from chronic pain because of the stress of bowling at such high speeds.

Maybe modern day cricketers are smarter. They could bowl at 150kmph to generate media interest and then reduce speed to prolong longevity.

 

[Coronis]

Not only the format but the volume of cricket as well. As much as we dislike T20s, it has vastly changed the game overall in every aspect like Kerry Packer did with ODI popularity.

Again, many players of yesteryear bowled far more overs a season than any current player. I’m not sure how many times this needs to be said.