Are pace bowling speeds higher today?

[peterhrt]

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.

The most deliveries James Anderson bowled in a calendar year was 4770, in 2005. This includes first-class, List A and T20. Bumrah averages just over 2000 deliveries per annum.

Most deliveries by a fast bowler during a calendar year:

10363 - Tom Richardson 1895
9357 - Tom Richardson 1897
9299 - Graham McKenzie 1964
8480 - Graham McKenzie 1970
8471 - Fred Trueman 1960
8402 - Richard Hadlee 1984
8350 - Courtney Walsh 1986
8287 - Tom Richardson 1896
8203 - Malcolm Marshall 1985
8145 - Arthur Mold 1895
8091 - Andy Roberts 1974
8034 - Malcolm Marshall 1986

 

[the big bambino]

There was a reason Richardson's effective career was between 1894-1898 and the above stats explain it.