Harsh Thakor
First Class Star
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Runs
- 3,523
- Post of the Week
- 2
It has always been a challenge for an overseas pace bowler to adapt to the pancakes on the sub-continent.Unlike in England the conditions are not conducive to move the ball through the air and unlike Australia or West Indies there is minimal pace or bounce that can be obtained by a bowler.Some completely failed on the sub-continent with legend Dennis Lillee being the best example.
My best memories of great spells by overseas pacemen are of Andy Roberts,Ian Botham,Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding Courtney Walsh ,Lance Kluesener and Dale Steyn.
These are my choices in order of merit
1.Ian Botham 7-49 and 6-58 in the 1980 Jubilee test at Mumbai
Gave one of the most superlative exhibitions of seam bowling on a helpful track displaying mastery of the weaknesses of opponents .Sustained combination of pace and movement with accuracy and control at its highest depth.I have rarely seen a cricketer look more in charge.
2.Malcolm Marshal 4-19 and 4-47 at Kanpur in 1983-84
Rarely witnessed such a blitzkreig on a cricket field like a greek god exuding fire or a tank charging in..Displayed the agression of a lion with slithering bounce at a phenomenal pace.One of the most phenomenal strikes with the new ball displaying mastery in skidding a ball to create the most lethal bounce.Rarely have I seen batsmen look so perplexed ,including Sunil Gavaskar.
3.Andy Roberts 7-64 at Madras in 1975-75
For sheers skill could join the Gods of Olympus blending speed,control and movement in perfect proportion.
4.Patrick Paterson 5-24 at Delhi in 1987-88
Reminiscent of a bomber destroying an airbase bowling faster than any West Indian pacemen ever in India.Fury and agression written on his face.
5.Dale Steyn 7-51 at Nagpur in 2010
Took the skill of pace bowling to its highest zenith blending the skill of an architect with the power of a bulldozer.Destroyed a very strong batting line up.Superb blending of pace and movement revealing all the attributes of a perfect pacemen.
6.Malcolm Marshall 6-37 at Kolkata in 1983-94.
Literally blew the top of te Indian batsmen like a missile destroying an enemy base.Whirlwind pace.
7.Courtney Walsh 6-79 at Mumbai in 1994-95
Not express pace but displayed skill of a surgeon .Moved the ball deceptively and prodigiously and also created disconcerting bounce.
8.Lance Kluesner 8-64 in 1996 at Kolkata
Mastery of movement extracting the conditions of a deteriorating pitch.
9.Michael Holding 5-102 at Mumbai in 1983-84 and 3-29 at Kolkata
Not at his fastest but resembled a re-incarnated Andy Roberts displaying subtle variations and changes of pace on a flat track. at Mumbai.For sheer skill to me surapassed even Marshall but not as impactful.In the 2nd inings at Kolkata broke the backbone of Indian top order including scalps of Gavaskar and Amarnath tom pave way for Marshall to rip through the tail.
11 Andy Roberts 5-50 at Kolkata in 1974-75
Masterly combination of pace with control and swing.
12.Dale Steyn 5-23 at Ahmedabad in 2008
Performance of a true pace blowing machine superbly swerving the ball at high pace.
My best memories of great spells by overseas pacemen are of Andy Roberts,Ian Botham,Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding Courtney Walsh ,Lance Kluesener and Dale Steyn.
These are my choices in order of merit
1.Ian Botham 7-49 and 6-58 in the 1980 Jubilee test at Mumbai
Gave one of the most superlative exhibitions of seam bowling on a helpful track displaying mastery of the weaknesses of opponents .Sustained combination of pace and movement with accuracy and control at its highest depth.I have rarely seen a cricketer look more in charge.
2.Malcolm Marshal 4-19 and 4-47 at Kanpur in 1983-84
Rarely witnessed such a blitzkreig on a cricket field like a greek god exuding fire or a tank charging in..Displayed the agression of a lion with slithering bounce at a phenomenal pace.One of the most phenomenal strikes with the new ball displaying mastery in skidding a ball to create the most lethal bounce.Rarely have I seen batsmen look so perplexed ,including Sunil Gavaskar.
3.Andy Roberts 7-64 at Madras in 1975-75
For sheers skill could join the Gods of Olympus blending speed,control and movement in perfect proportion.
4.Patrick Paterson 5-24 at Delhi in 1987-88
Reminiscent of a bomber destroying an airbase bowling faster than any West Indian pacemen ever in India.Fury and agression written on his face.
5.Dale Steyn 7-51 at Nagpur in 2010
Took the skill of pace bowling to its highest zenith blending the skill of an architect with the power of a bulldozer.Destroyed a very strong batting line up.Superb blending of pace and movement revealing all the attributes of a perfect pacemen.
6.Malcolm Marshall 6-37 at Kolkata in 1983-94.
Literally blew the top of te Indian batsmen like a missile destroying an enemy base.Whirlwind pace.
7.Courtney Walsh 6-79 at Mumbai in 1994-95
Not express pace but displayed skill of a surgeon .Moved the ball deceptively and prodigiously and also created disconcerting bounce.
8.Lance Kluesner 8-64 in 1996 at Kolkata
Mastery of movement extracting the conditions of a deteriorating pitch.
9.Michael Holding 5-102 at Mumbai in 1983-84 and 3-29 at Kolkata
Not at his fastest but resembled a re-incarnated Andy Roberts displaying subtle variations and changes of pace on a flat track. at Mumbai.For sheer skill to me surapassed even Marshall but not as impactful.In the 2nd inings at Kolkata broke the backbone of Indian top order including scalps of Gavaskar and Amarnath tom pave way for Marshall to rip through the tail.
11 Andy Roberts 5-50 at Kolkata in 1974-75
Masterly combination of pace with control and swing.
12.Dale Steyn 5-23 at Ahmedabad in 2008
Performance of a true pace blowing machine superbly swerving the ball at high pace.
