Who would you rather face?

[adharcric]

Highly doubtful that you've ever faced a swing bowler as quick or as high quality as Bond though. I think a lot of people here are equating very ordinary swing with what Bond can produce.

Considering that Akhtar and Lee rely mostly on pace and Bond can be just about as quick as well as swing the ball more than either...

It's really baffling that people here would prefer to face quick bowling that's swinging than quick bowling that isn't.

Barely anyone here would even be able to make contact against either of the three bowlers. Everyone must assume that their "pace-reacting ability" increases enough so that they can actually see 90 mph stuff. With Akhtar and Lee bowling at my body, I know I'd get owned every time and end up in the hospital. With Bond bowling a middle-and-off line, I might hit a few (even at my current ability) and would at worst edge it to the slips. This really isn't a comparison, but I've hit very good league-standard bowlers through the off-side but even a league-standard Ganguly could "rough me up" by bowling short at my body. I value my health more than my wicket.

 

[Robertinho]

Shoaib Akhtar (without drugs)

Definitely Shoaib without drugs. He'd be lucky to break 100km/h without the 'roids

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Barely anyone here would even be able to make contact against either of the three bowlers. Everyone must assume that their "pace-reacting ability" increases enough so that they can actually see 90 mph stuff. With Akhtar and Lee bowling at my body, I know I'd get owned every time and end up in the hospital. With Bond bowling a middle-and-off line, I might hit a few (even at my current ability) and would at worst edge it to the slips. I value my health more than my wicket.

Neither Brett Lee nor Shoaib Akhtar bowl as effective bodyline as people seem to believe.

 

[adharcric]

Neither Brett Lee nor Shoaib Akhtar bowl as effective bodyline as people seem to believe.

That's not the point. They try to bowl bodyline and that's good enough to screw me. Bond bowls on middle and off stump usually so I'll at least be able to attempt a shot against him.

 

[Dravid]

Brett Lee tries to kill the batsman, just look at that beamer he bowled to Marcus last year

 

[Jono]

If I was a lefty I'd hate to face Akhtar's around the wicket yorkers. Broken toe stuff that, or just clean bowled.

 

[Sir Redman]

Hmm, difficult one. Whichever one I'd choose I know I'd get sconed, so I'd have to choose who is least likely to get me out. Considering that I generally play outswing better than inswing, that would have to be Lee. Though I'd be hoping like hell that he wouldn't bowl a beamer.

I know one person who has faced Shane Bond. It was at the NZ Academy a few years ago, and he said that he could barely see the ball and that when he woke up the next morning his enitre chest was a solid bruise.

 

[Matt79]

Brett Lee tries to kill the batsman, just look at that beamer he bowled to Marcus last year

I don't think its deliberate. But that doesn't help you as you pick your nose out of what used to be your cerebral cortex.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I have faced 83mph in the Yorkshire League a few times, and I can handle it very average. A block and a leg glance are pretty much the only things that I could do to anything over 80 mph, and under 86. Anything above 86, I couldn't play at all to be honest.

I'm very interested to find out more about the bloke who said he had faced 90mph before, because unless he is a county player playing against an overseas fast bowler, ie Bond, Lee, Akhtar, Sami; or playing against Harmison or Mahmood in County level, he must be lying, or being an international pro in disguise.

 

[Tomm NCCC]

Akhtar, it would be an adventure

 

[Turbinator]

I have faced 83mph in the Yorkshire League a few times, and I can handle it very average. A block and a leg glance are pretty much the only things that I could do to anything over 80 mph, and under 86. Anything above 86, I couldn't play at all to be honest.

I'm very interested to find out more about the bloke who said he had faced 90mph before, because unless he is a county player playing against an overseas fast bowler, ie Bond, Lee, Akhtar, Sami; or playing against Harmison or Mahmood in County level, he must be lying, or being an international pro in disguise.

He could be, cause how many of us will actually believe, lets say Ponting, if he was on CW. Like if I said I was Tendulkar, you guys wouldn't believe me. Okay but TBH I am Tendy!

 

[PhoenixFire]

Fair point. He might be Tendulkar because he commented that he was rather small. But how would The Little Master 2.0 make time to post here?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I myself would pick Bond, because I know he's not injured NOW, but by the time he completes his run-up he will be.

Thats cold.

It's also fairly obvious that the starter of this pointless thread did so purely to able to use that joke.

 

[open365]

I have faced 83mph in the Yorkshire League a few times, and I can handle it very average. A block and a leg glance are pretty much the only things that I could do to anything over 80 mph, and under 86. Anything above 86, I couldn't play at all to be honest.

I'm very interested to find out more about the bloke who said he had faced 90mph before, because unless he is a county player playing against an overseas fast bowler, ie Bond, Lee, Akhtar, Sami; or playing against Harmison or Mahmood in County level, he must be lying, or being an international pro in disguise.

Not so, there are plenty of quick bowlers who play in club cricket in their offseason.

Sami was playing in my clubs leauge 2 years ago, and Allan Donald spent some time in the Lancashire leagues.

 

[Turbinator]

Fair point. He might be Tendulkar because he commented that he was rather small. But how would The Little Master 2.0 make time to post here?

He's got an 11 day break!

 

[PhoenixFire]

Fair point, but I doubt any club player could handle 90mph pace with any real success. Maybe some top players in the Yorkshire/South Australian league, but I doubt any average player would have any hope of it really.

 

[open365]

Fair point, but I doubt any club player could handle 90mph pace with any real success. Maybe some top players in the Yorkshire/South Australian league, but I doubt any average player would have any hope of it really.

Mmmmm...

I thought that a few seasons ago when i heard sami joined the leagues, i thought he'd have an average of 6 orsomething stupid, but he ended up with 25 @22 i think, a good return but not what i was expecting.

But think about it, there are a lot of first team players who have been heavily involved in the county age group set ups for a lot of their life, there are a lot of quality players in first team cricket.

Think about, tail enders at international level can handle 90+(look at Simon Jones in the ashes) and most first team batsmen are better than Simon Jones so why wouldn't they be able to handle it?

 

[Burgey]

Mmmmm...

I thought that a few seasons ago when i heard sami joined the leagues, i thought he'd have an average of 6 orsomething stupid, but he ended up with 25 @22 i think, a good return but not what i was expecting.

But think about it, there are a lot of first team players who have been heavily involved in the county age group set ups for a lot of their life, there are a lot of quality players in first team cricket.

Think about, tail enders at international level can handle 90+(look at Simon Jones in the ashes) and most first team batsmen are better than Simon Jones so why wouldn't they be able to handle it?

That's right. Even the McGraths in this world get on bowling machines and crank it up (different I know). Look how well Lee and Warne handled it last Ashes series.

I think it's a reaction-training thing. If you play at a level where the average is about 77-80 mph, then you go into a league where you regularly face blokes at 80-85, you get used to it (doesn't mean you enjoy it of course).

Imo, I'd like to face either Lee or Bond, not Akthar sans juice. I just reckon his slinging action would be even harder to pick up than the other, and I'd need every advantage I could get!

 

[luffy]

Lee. Cause there is also hope that he could bowl a bouncer.

 

[R_D]

I think i'll take on the best bowler out of the lot.
Bond..
Lee and Akhtar look like they are otu their to murder the batsman most of the time