[VIDEO] Ted McDonald bowling in 1921

[Robert]

This is amazing. It's like stepping into a time machine. To me, McDonald is a man out of legend, who with Gregory formed the first ever pace bowling opening pair.

The slip cordon was invented by skipper Warwick Armstrong for those two.

 

[Mamoon]

It is almost impossible to gauge his bowling speed and quality from this footage, but the standard of batting is comical.

Take a look at the technique of the “batsman” at 0:40 - I don’t know who he is and if he was a batsman or a bowler, but he is not even going to get selected in a street cricket team today.

 

[Mamoon]

From the above video:



That is one hilariously sad attempt at a cover drive. Either the batsman in the video picked up a cricket bat for the first time in his life, or the standard of batting at the time was so poor that it is impossible to rate/evaluate any bowler of that era.

 

[Zaz]

From the above video:

View attachment 101379

That is one hilariously sad attempt at a cover drive. Either the batsman in the video picked up a cricket bat for the first time in his life, or the standard of batting at the time was so poor that it is impossible to rate/evaluate any bowler of that era.

I believe that was a no shot and the clip is for the camera to pick up the bowling than a real attempt at a shot

 

[Bhaijaan]

That is blistering pace. If University of Western Australia having the best speed cameras in the world had recorded him, he would have easily clocked 155kph plus or maybe 160kph. This is some serious pace.

Having said that, i still maintain Allan Donald to be the greatest pure fast bowler ever.

Among the current lot, Mohammad Shami.

 

[Robert]

It is almost impossible to gauge his bowling speed and quality from this footage, but the standard of batting is comical.

Take a look at the technique of the “batsman” at 0:40 - I don’t know who he is and if he was a batsman or a bowler, but he is not even going to get selected in a street cricket team today.

Oh [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION].

You think that was actually a match situation? There is no keeper, the camera is right behind the batsman. The chap facing could be a film crewman. There are plenty of actual match shots otherwise.

I really hoped that people would be enthralled by this hundred-year dive into cricket history, as I am.

 

[Robert]

That is blistering pace. If University of Western Australia having the best speed cameras in the world had recorded him, he would have easily clocked 155kph plus or maybe 160kph. This is some serious pace.

Hmm. It's hard to get an idea because the footage him look quicker. From where the slips are standing I would say he was at Anderson / Broad pace, maybe 80-85 mph.

 

[Cric1234]

Very good footage the first making of fast bowling 100 years ago the slingy action used to generate pace has been used regularly throughout history by different bowlers.
It’s unlikely he could be quicker than 85mph based on the footage but shows the foundations were there 100 years ago Larwood a decade later was probably the first genuine quick capable of touching and surpassing 90mph at his peak.

 

[Junaids]

Very impressive!

It’s funny, the younger generation always think that they are the best at everything. And now with Coronavirus we see that the countries which responded on the basis of Spanish Flu lessons from 1918-20 are doing brilliantly and getting back to normal, while the “too clever by half we know better” countries have been rewarded with mass deaths and economic disaster.

Nothing ever changes!

 

[therealAB]

Great footage thanks [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION].

Could easily be 85/90 mph. For example much quicker than Watto and he bowled 135.
[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION].

Look at this re the batting. The bloke easily could have been a tail-ender. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehcpbe3ZqU

 

[Zaz]

Impressive footage Id say hes around 80mph

Id compare him with a M Asif etc medium fast not any quicker as the follow through and effort doesnt really compare with the 90mph genuine quicks of today

Interesting to see his slingy action

 

[gazza619]

That is blistering pace. If University of Western Australia having the best speed cameras in the world had recorded him, he would have easily clocked 155kph plus or maybe 160kph. This is some serious pace.

I disagree. If i were to make a wild guess i would say his speed was between 140 - 145 kph.