Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,519
- Post of the Week
- 2
This is my list in order of merit of the pace bowlers who were not just genuinely fast but express pace.In my view the likes of Lillee,Roberts,Wasim,Ambrose,Imran,Marshall,Garner may have just missed the cut in the express pace category even if they were better than almost all of those who attained express speed.I agree Marshall and Roberts at their quickest may have reached close to 160 but consistently to me they were not express quick as Waqar,Thommo,Holding or Paterson.
Most lethal express pace bowlers in order.
1.Michael Holding
2.Jeff Thomson
3.Alan Donald
4.Waqar Younus
5.Shoaib Akhtar
6.Patrick Paterson
7.Sylvester Clarke
8.Mitchel Johnson
9.Harold Larwoood
10.Brett Lee.
It was neck to neck between Holding and Thomson but I chose Mikey because of his more consistent speed through the air and greater abilty to seam or move the ball.To me none was a consistently fast as Holding or posessed as perfect an action.Thomson caused the greatest terror at his best with the ball that exploded disconcertingly from a good length to rattle the batsmen .However he did not posess the control or movement of the greatest pacemen.Still no pace bowler was meaner or as intimidating
.Alan Donald and Waqar both had lightning pace but I felt Donald was the more acurate and intelligent even if Waqar was a fraction quicker and moved the ball more.I can never forget some of Donald's senstaional breakthroughs in England and the subcontinent while Waqar was the best ever exponent of the swinging yorker.
Shoaib Akhtar was the quickest bowler ever in the history of the game who for sheer pace could rip through the upholstery or ribcage of any great batsmen.I can never forget his dismissals of Tendulkar and Dravid or his best bowing in New Zealand and Australia.Sadly he never blended his astonishing speed with sufficient control or movement though there were days when he created reverse swing at astonishing heights.
Patrick Paterson was an epitome of terror in the late 1980's ripping through the flesh of many a batting line up,even in India.At his quickest he was more hostile than even Marshall or Ambrose.
Sylvester Clarke was the quickest of them all and was a terror in Pakistan in 1980 or in India in 1978-79.Sadly he had too much competition and could never do adequate justice to his complete reserves of talent.
Mitchel Johnson at his best took pace bowling prowess to regions of the sublime .blending pace,bounce and movement as few quickies ever did like in South Africa in 2014 and in the home Ashes series.
Harold Larwood took lethality in pace bowling to its zenith in the bodyline series.
Brett Lee was the perfect foil for Mcgrath and Warne able to blast out any batting side on his day.
Most lethal express pace bowlers in order.
1.Michael Holding
2.Jeff Thomson
3.Alan Donald
4.Waqar Younus
5.Shoaib Akhtar
6.Patrick Paterson
7.Sylvester Clarke
8.Mitchel Johnson
9.Harold Larwoood
10.Brett Lee.
It was neck to neck between Holding and Thomson but I chose Mikey because of his more consistent speed through the air and greater abilty to seam or move the ball.To me none was a consistently fast as Holding or posessed as perfect an action.Thomson caused the greatest terror at his best with the ball that exploded disconcertingly from a good length to rattle the batsmen .However he did not posess the control or movement of the greatest pacemen.Still no pace bowler was meaner or as intimidating
.Alan Donald and Waqar both had lightning pace but I felt Donald was the more acurate and intelligent even if Waqar was a fraction quicker and moved the ball more.I can never forget some of Donald's senstaional breakthroughs in England and the subcontinent while Waqar was the best ever exponent of the swinging yorker.
Shoaib Akhtar was the quickest bowler ever in the history of the game who for sheer pace could rip through the upholstery or ribcage of any great batsmen.I can never forget his dismissals of Tendulkar and Dravid or his best bowing in New Zealand and Australia.Sadly he never blended his astonishing speed with sufficient control or movement though there were days when he created reverse swing at astonishing heights.
Patrick Paterson was an epitome of terror in the late 1980's ripping through the flesh of many a batting line up,even in India.At his quickest he was more hostile than even Marshall or Ambrose.
Sylvester Clarke was the quickest of them all and was a terror in Pakistan in 1980 or in India in 1978-79.Sadly he had too much competition and could never do adequate justice to his complete reserves of talent.
Mitchel Johnson at his best took pace bowling prowess to regions of the sublime .blending pace,bounce and movement as few quickies ever did like in South Africa in 2014 and in the home Ashes series.
Harold Larwood took lethality in pace bowling to its zenith in the bodyline series.
Brett Lee was the perfect foil for Mcgrath and Warne able to blast out any batting side on his day.