Cricket Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson Fast Bowling

Scene from "Fire in Babylon" in which Lillee and Thomso's aggressive fast bowling are shown. Thomson remains until today one of the fastest bowlers to bowl (probably not as fast as Lee or Akhtar but definitely up there).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• india
• bowling
• cricket
• contest
• chicken
• fast
• Lillee
• Australia
• pitches
• aggressive
• speed
• west
• indies
• test
• match

[manix163]

Also would like to add that Jeff Thompson's fastest ever recorded ball was 99.6 MPH, which puts the previous theory in light. I could probably agree that he was in the same league as Akhtar (faster than Lee), but no way could you persuade me he was 10 MPH shades faster

[manix163]

Seeing the two arguments here, and just wanna make a little comment. In 1978, there was a fast bowling competition in which thomson, lilee, khan, and holding all participated in. Thomson had the fastest at 147.9 kmph while Holding had it at around 141. Now, That translates to around 93 mph for Thomson, and only 90 MPH for fastest for Holding. I for one can't believe Holding's fastest is only 90, probably around 94/95, and that would put Thomson around 98/99 maybe but def not 180 kmph

[Tehui1974]

I've got to see this movie

[godfathergtg]

@manix163 So when experts and science tells you undoubtedly that in the old days where a ball loses 8-15% of its pace on pitching, coupled with the irrefutable fact that speeds were measured at the batsmen's end in those days, you still dispute the fact that Thommo would have been bowling at 105-110 mph at his peak..good for u mate, remember Thommo has been recorded to have given 6 byes. bouncer pitching n the ball landing outside boundary behind pitch. Akthar has had one bounce 4 byes never 6

[MegaGoofy2000]

The most important factor for me is not what Thomson's actual speed was. The most important thing is that the second fastest man was 6 mph (!!!) slower than him.

[MegaGoofy2000]

The place where Thomson WAS tested in match conditions was in Perth, against the Windies where two photosonic cameras were placed perpendicular to each wicket. Here he recorded his fastest delivery at 160.45 kmph.

That was JUST ONE match in his entire career. Modern bowlers like Akhtar and Lee are measured almost every ball they bowl. Again - even a half-brain should get this. Thomson's fastest delivery ever must have been a good 5-10 mph faster than that ONE MATCH in Perth.

[MegaGoofy2000]

Thomson had a slinging action, unlike any other (maybe malinga comes close). So its just not right to compare speeds he achieved with others who have 'normal' actions.

Also the 147kmph he measured was for ONE eight-ball over, in non-match conditions. Obviously not at his fastest - even a half brain should be able to get that.

[toursanxterme11]

over 10,000 runs in both major forms of the game,makes me wonder about the incompatibility of modren bowlers.Maybe my experiences are false and i am more enthusiastic about the past,but i would just lastly add that cricket in general needs more players like Lillee,Thommo,Holding,Roberts,­Lindwall,Tyson,Larwood to make it more appealing for the raw delight of a spectator like me to witness a bater earn his runs in a battle between wood and leather! X)

[toursanxterme11]

@AIMANALI Mate i personally think that we can only believe in what we experience,maybe my baseball background tells me time after time again to stick with thommo (keeping in mind that we are measured at the strikers end too) the guys who pitch at around 90 odd miles look massively quicker then the ones in cricket. I personally think that the one main difference between modern cricket and baseball is that in baseball the pitcher still rules more,and when i hear that there are bater who've scored