Cricket Betting: Who's the quickest of them all?

Bat and ball / Andrew Hughes / 14 July 2010 / Leave a Comment

Dale Steyn is the best fast bowler in the world

"In terms of consistent pace, there is little argument that Dale Steyn is the best in the world right now and just about at the peak of his powers."

There are few sights in cricket more thrilling than a quick bowler charging in at top speed. With Shaun Tait's exploits still fresh in the mind, Andrew Hughes takes a look at the current state of fast bowling in world cricket.

Shaun Tait's devastating opening spell at Lord's earlier this month was a glorious reminder of the potency of truly fast bowling. In his first over, he passed the 100 mph mark and in his third, blasted out Andrew Strauss and Michael Yardy with blistering deliveries that sent stumps cartwheeling in all directions. The late away swing that he generated just made them all the more unplayable.

That 100 mph ball was the second fastest recorded delivery of all time and the quickest recorded by an Australian. It pipped Brett Lee's fastest of 99.92, recorded against New Zealand at Napier in 2005, though was just short of the quickest ever, a record held by the Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, who was recorded bowling at 100.2 mph during the 2003 World Cup.

Comparisons can be odious of course and in the case of measuring which bowler is the fastest, the issue is complicated by the ever-changing and sometimes unreliable equipment used. Earlier in the series, when Ryan Harris was recorded bowling at 95 mph, Jeff Thomson, in the Test Match Special commentary box, was less than complimentary about the accuracy of the measurement.

Many of those who saw Thomson play and those who were unlucky enough to face him believe that he was the fastest ever. The rudimentary methods used to measure speed in the late 1970s and early 1980s confirmed that view. Whenever Thomson was measured against his contemporaries, he came out on top. And it should be remembered that those contemporaries included the likes of Michael Holding and Andy Roberts, themselves amongst the fastest bowlers to play the game.

But whether you go on anecdotal evidence or speed gun measurements, it is pretty clear that, in terms of fast bowling, today's international cricket scene compares poorly with the golden age of fast bowling in which Thomson operated. Restrictions on the number of bouncers permitted per over and the worldwide trend towards flatter, slower pitches contribute to an environment not particularly conducive to express fast bowling.

We should also be clear what we mean when we talk about fast bowlers. The likes of James Anderson, Doug Bollinger, Umar Gul and Ishant Sharma all have their moments and occasionally break the 90 mph barrier. But speed is not their main weapon, nor so for the giant Morne Morkel or the similarly proportioned Steven Finn, who utilise steepling bounce to great effect, but are unlikely ever to be troubling the 100 mph mark.

In terms of pure pace, there is little argument that Dale Steyn is the best in the world right now and just about at the peak of his powers. Though he also utilises swing, his main weapon is sheer speed and it this quality that sets him above many of his contemporaries. Mitchell Johnson can be a handful, when his radar is functioning and young Barbadian Kemar Roach has probably usurped Jerome Taylor as the quickest of the West Indians. Beyond that, the fast bowling cupboard is pretty bare.

It is therefore a shame for cricket watchers and for Australian supporters in particular that we are unlikely to see Shaun Tait's explosive speed in the Test arena. His fragile physique would not withstand the rigours of five day cricket and he has specifically ruled out being available for the Ashes this winter. If he were to change his mind, you can be sure that the odds on an Australian Ashes win, currently [1.69], would shorten significantly.