After I was requested to choose my best quick bowlers of all time, I rattled the names off in lower than two minutes.
Then I sat again and thought of who I had missed!
I’ve overlooked some huge names.
The likes of Courtney Walsh, Stuart Broad, Richard Hadlee and Bob Willis might have all walked on to my record.
However it’s subjective, and I’ve simply gone off my very own experiences – these I’ve performed in opposition to and people I’ve watched.
Right here goes…
Mail Sport columnist David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd has named his 15 best quick bowlers of all-time
A number of legendary names and bowlers have been unfortunate to overlook out, together with Stuart Broad
West Indies icon Courtney Walsh was equally unlucky, alongside the likes of Bob Willis
15 – SYLVESTER CLARKE (West Indies, Exams – 11, Wickets – 42, Common – 27.85)
This can be a actual leftfield choice as a result of he solely performed 11 Exams for West Indies. However make no mistake, he was speedy.
He was an actual stalwart for Surrey and as fast as something I ever confronted. He was an absolute handful in county cricket.
His tempo got here from nowhere. He used to bowl in a pair of batting boots. He was an enormous unit, however he one way or the other didn’t make any marks on the crease when he delivered the ball.
Clarke hated batsmen and he hated fielding. He labored out that the quickest technique to get off the sector was to bowl as quick as he might to bowl the opposition out!
He was a really quiet man, however I discovered him an actual partaking character.
Sylvester Clarke is a left-field choice however make no mistake, he was absolute speedy in his day
14 – SHOAIB AKHTAR (Pakistan, Exams – 46, Wickets – 178, Common – 25.69)
Shoaib had searing tempo with a playboy picture.
He would have downtime when he’d take pleasure in himself. However when he bought himself in form, he might be unplayable.
He’s reputed as being the primary 100mph bowler. Fred Trueman would refute that! However for a brief area of time, Shoaib would trigger batsmen in that period sleepless nights.
Pakistani nice Shoaib Akhtar had searing tempo with a playboy picture and touched 100mph
13 – ALLAN DONALD (South Africa, 1992-2002, Exams – 72, Wickets – 330, Common – 22.25)
He was as fast as any of them and mentally sturdy. He would bowl any finish, any time.
An actual good bloke and unbelievably quiet… till he put whites on.
He was a part of probably the most epic duel between a bowler and batsman I’ve ever seen. His contest with Michael Atherton was pure drama, with neither giving an inch. He additionally had a formidable bowling mate in Shaun Pollock.
He might get very thirsty, Allan. He beloved a pint and was sensible enjoyable after the sport.
When he was at Warwickshire, he as soon as mentioned he was aiming for 1,000 that season. They thought, ‘That’s a bit optimistic, he bats at No10’. He mentioned, ‘No, not runs, 1,000 pints this 12 months!’
Allan Donald was as fast as any of them and as soon as had an epic battle with Michael Atherton
12 – MICHAEL HOLDING (West Indies, 1975-87, Exams – 60, Wickets – 249, Common – 23.68)
Whispering Loss of life is without doubt one of the nice males. He was a former 400 metres runner and was absolute poetry in movement as a bowler.
He was as fast as something I’ve seen. A really studious Jamaican and a beautiful advocate of Check match cricket. Every other type was not cricket in Mikey’s guide.
West Indian nice Michael Holding is without doubt one of the nice males and was generally known as Whispering Loss of life
11 – CURTLY AMBROSE (West Indies, 1988-2000, Exams – 98, Wickets – 405, Common – 20.99)
Curtly had unerring accuracy and will change his tempo. He tended to bowl slightly bit inside himself till the second arrived.
He would by no means transfer away from off stump, off stump. He would make you play on a regular basis.
Curtly and Courtney Walsh have been two giants and shaped a formidable mixture.
One other West Indian in Curtly Ambrose had unerring accuracy and will change his tempo
10 – DALE STEYN (South Africa, 2004-19, Exams – 93, Wickets – 439, Common – 22.95)
He all the time jogged my memory of the actor Donald Pleasence, a sinister trying chap who starred in all of the horror movies. I by no means had the privilege, however Steyn will need to have been a horror to bat in opposition to.
There may be speedy and there’s excessive. He was up within the excessive class as a result of he bowled mid-90s, with outswing in addition. His file speaks for itself.
One other modern-day South Africa nice is Kagiso Rabada and he’s unfortunate to overlook out on my prime 15.
I noticed his first Check and everybody within the commentary field might see he was the actual deal. He’s going to trigger batsmen issues for years to return.
Dale Steyn bowled at greater than 90mph and the South African nice was additionally capable of swing it
9 – WAQAR YOUNIS (Pakistan, 1989-2003, Exams – 87, Wickets – 373, Common – 23.56)
He was speedy and bowled devastating late inswing from that slingy motion. He was absolutely the daddy of reverse swing. He bowled toe-crushers at will.
Once they come as a double act, like Waqar and Wasim Akram, you’ve bought a major problem as a batsman as a result of they’re coming at you from each ends.
Waqar was additionally a County Championship winner with two counties, Surrey and Glamorgan.
Pakistan’s Waqar Younis was speedy and bowled devastating late inswing from that slingy motion
8 – ANDY ROBERTS (West Indies, 1974-83, Exams – 47, Wickets – 202, Common – 25.61)
Of the battery of West Indies quick bowlers, Michael Holding would enthuse affectionately concerning the daddy of all of them, Andy Roberts. He was the one which all of them seemed as much as.
He was one of many only a few bowlers who might disguise the shiny facet of the ball.
As a batter, you’d see the shine and suppose, ‘He’s set that up for outswing’. However in his bowling motion, he might flip it spherical the opposite approach in his hand and bowl inswing. That’s an unbelievable ability.
One other enjoyable truth about Roberts is that he labored as a groundsman in Antigua after he retired.
West Indian bowler Andy Roberts was generally known as the ‘daddy’ of all of the greats throughout his period
7 – GLENN McGRATH (Australia, 1993-2007, Exams – 124, Wickets – 563, Common – 21.64)
He all the time hit that size and he had the factor that disturbs batsmen probably the most – bounce.
The good batsmen can address a little bit of motion, however if you’ve bought motion and bounce, that’s if you turn out to be an actual handful.
Off the sector, McGrath was one of many quietest, nicest males you could possibly ever want to meet. However on the pitch, he was an absolute gorilla! An actual nasty piece of labor with whites on.
He genuinely hated batsmen and genuinely hated going for 4.
Glenn McGrath was a real legend of the sport however on the pitch he grew to become a special individual
6 – JIMMY ANDERSON (England, 2003-04, Exams – 188, Wickets – 704, Common – 26.45)
Would you class Jimmy as a fast bowler? My reply to that’s – he’s fast sufficient.
He can preserve you guessing with a bouncer up his sleeve, however he has fabulous away swing and accuracy.
He has a God-given expertise to have the ability to bowl the size {that a} batsman has nightmares about. The batsman doesn’t know whether or not to play or go away, or to go ahead or again. He simply hits that mark.
He’s bought extra Check wickets than another quick bowler. That’s how good he’s. He’ll in all probability nonetheless be enjoying in 20 years’ time!
Jimmy Anderson has bought extra Check wickets than another quick bowler. That’s how good he’s
5 – JASPRIT BUMRAH (India, 2018- , Exams – 46, Wickets – 210, Common – 19.33)
A contemporary-day nice. Michael Vaughan mentioned on a podcast with me final week he was the greatest-ever and I mentioned he was getting carried away. However he’s proper up there.
Bumrah has a singular motion and a comical run-up. However when he will get to the crease, the enterprise space, I marvel at his tempo. He’s all the time round 90mph.
To play on such placid pitches and to have the file that he has thus far in Check cricket is outstanding.
He’s additionally a very nice bloke. You’ll be able to see in his interviews, he’s so matter of truth and right down to earth. Only a pretty fella.
Jasprit Bumrah has a singular motion and a comical run-up however he’s already a modern-day nice
4 – WASIM AKRAM (Pakistan, 1985-2002, Exams – 104, Wickets – 414, Common – 23.62)
I might simply put this bloke at No1 as a result of I do know him very, very properly from once I was coach of Lancashire.
Left-armers are all the time value their weight in gold, however you don’t get lots of them who’re speedy like Wasim. Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc are one other two.
He was a colossus of a bloke. Completely large. And he had unbelievable late swing.
Wasim was an absolute gem of a man too. Within the altering room, his nickname was ‘King’. That tells you all it is advisable to know.
Wasim Akram was left arm, speedy and completely devastating, plus he was a superb bloke
3 – MALCOLM MARSHALL (West Indies, 1978-91, Exams – 81, Wickets – 376, Common – 20.94)
The GOAT of the West Indies quick bowlers. In contrast to another quicks, he wouldn’t get his wickets via brawn.
He was an actual considerate and skilful bowler. He would work a batsman out and use the crease to alter the angle.
Marshall might additionally change his tempo. He might be speedy or bowl inside the circumstances.
He was an absolute artist. And never solely was he a world-class fast bowler, he was additionally properly able to scoring tons of.
Malcolm Marshall was considerate and skillful and is the GOAT of the West Indies quick bowlers
2 – DENNIS LILLEE (Australia, 1971-84, Exams – 70, Wickets – 355, Common – 23.92)
Lillee led an important Australian assault, which included Jeff Thomson. He had a wonderful motion and was greater than fast sufficient.
They mentioned he would by no means play once more after he suffered a crippling again damage, however he proved everybody unsuitable and got here again.
He was that good that India used him to assist them discover quick bowlers. He was the actual deal.
Australian Dennis Lillee was the actual deal and was the spearhead of a prime Australian assault
Fred Trueman takes my prime spot. He was as quick as lightning and is my sort of bloke
1 – FRED TRUEMAN (England, 1952-65, Exams – 67, Wickets – 307, Common – 21.57)
I can’t transfer away from Fred as my No1. Partly out of loyalty and respect, however he was quick as lightning and the primary bowler to ever take 300 Check match wickets.
He performed 67 Check matches and in that interval he missed 60 Check matches due to misdemeanours and being banned. Instantly he’s my sort of bloke! He says what he likes and he likes what he says.
He was a correct archetypal Yorkshireman and an important character for the sport. He was field workplace.
