Factors affecting changes in bowling pace down the years

[Junaids]

I am not seeking to use this thread to re-contest the issue of whether bowling really is getting slower. Apart from everything else, I'd rather take a skilled 154K bowler like Lillee over a 160K Thomson every time.

No, this thread is to consider whether other factors have influenced changes in bowling speed.

1. Factors which might have increased speed
- improved nutrition
- improved training regimens
- greater professionalism since around the early 1950s.
- increases in human size
- a massive reduction in the amount of First Class bowling undertaken by any players

2. Factors which might have reduced speed
- improved nutrition leading to excessive bulk
- maladaptive training regimes, e.g the focus on Rugby League sized bodies which damaged Craig McDermott and ruined Ryan Harris' career.
- reduced ability to use anabolic steroids.
- the end of rest days in Test cricket, since which time fast bowlers have suffered far more injuries.
- T20 cricket introduced a need for variation, and fast bowlers now have less repeatable actions because repetition is no longer viewed as good. The less repeatable the action, the more injuries that follow.
- international cricketers also spend less time in the domestic First Class game, which probably also makes for less repetition and repeatability.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Because the difference between 154 KPH and 160 KPH is massive, right? Pace exceeding 150 KPH feels more or less the same to the batsman.

Any-who, coming back to the crux of this thread; cricketers playing in this day and age have all the more reason go bowl quicker than their ancestors. And so they do. The only argument one could make for a reduction in pace would be the reduced interest in cricket in places like the Caribbean.

 

[Junaids]

Because the difference between 154 KPH and 160 KPH is massive, right? Pace exceeding 150 KPH feels more or less the same to the batsman.

Any-who, coming back to the crux of this thread; cricketers playing in this day and age have all the more reason go bowl quicker than their ancestors. And so they do. The only argument one could make for a reduction in pace would be the reduced interest in cricket in places like the Caribbean.

What are those reasons to bowl faster than their equally-professional predecessors?

 

[ExpressPacer]

What are those reasons to bowl faster than their equally-professional predecessors?

I think it's pretty obvious. Increased levels of professionalism, better coaching and most importantly - task focussed coaching. Professional athletes in this day and age can solely concentrate on improving one particular ability, be it pace, the ability to swing or seam the ball or even focussing on the set of bowling variations.

Their predecessors did not have the luxury or the coaches to train their bodies in a similar manner. Bhuveneshwar Kumae of India is the biggest example of this. When he burst onto the scene, and even until a year or so ago, he was a military medium bowler with the effort delivery going over 130. However, in the CT '17, it was evident he'd gained the ability to bowl over 140 KPH consistently. More and more cricketers are increasing their pace with task focussed coaching.

Cricketers who did something similar in the last were held to be greats simply for their hardworking attitude and because it was such a rarity, now it's becoming the norm.