The World's Fastest Bowler

Why don't they make TV programmes like this any more? In 1979, Australian TV wanted to find out who was the fastest bowler in the world and got together a dozen quicks, many of them from West Indies and none, oddly, from England, to be recorded on camera, their speeds taped by the most sophisticated speed guns they had at the time. What a galaxy of stars: Thomson and Lillee, Croft, Holding, Roberts, Daniel, Hadlee, Imran Khan and a few others. Plus Richie Benaud presenting it in the very best fashionware that 1970s Melbourne could provide. Fantastic.

Sadly, I can't embed it from YouTube so you will just have to follow the link. I won't give away the winner, but his recorded time of 147kph (91mph) was some way faster than all the others, although you suspect that the likes of Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar and Shaun Tait would better that today. Maybe it's time for a repeat? Thanks to Stuart George for sending me this.

Comments

[Mrs E.V Edwards]

Hello dear.

My late husband had a video film of the programme sent to us from those lovely boys from Publishing & Broadcasting Limited in Australia.

It was thrilling at the time, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to post it upon your electronical newspaper. I had almost forgotten it.

Oh, for the days when young fast bowlers were so brutally assertive and sexually commanding. Some of the participants have not aged as I'd have liked, but I'd still enjoy hosting Imran and Jeffrey Thomson in my parlour for tea and a muffin.

Sarfraz remains the picture of an exotically sartorial gentleman, despite his failure to generate notable pace in the nets. One can't say much for that Lillee though. He reminds me of the elderly chap from The Benny Hill Show these days.

The reason for my correspondence, Patrick, was to enquire as to the health and status of Garth Le Roux at present. I have never been quite able to remove his noble physique from my mind. Perhaps he coaches here in England? Mr Edwards left me rather well situated and I'm certainly still 'robust', if you'll excuse my candor.

Anyway, do wear your thermals at those beastly Rugby and Rowing events Patrick, or you'll catch your death.

Thank you dear.

[Peter McGuinness]

91 mph was actually Thommo's 'post shoulder shattering' speed.

Not to mention that controlled conditions may not produce anyone's top speed.

According to contemporary reports from players, Thommo was 'significantly' faster in '74-'75 than the 95mph he was frequently clocked at later, when speeds started being taken after his major injury.

In effect, he 'slowed down' to 95mph!

Awesome.

[iain stewart]

Actually during this little get together of the demon fast bowlers, there was also a prize for the most accurate. The same man was the winner of both! Fastest was the most accurate, hitting the stumps! There was a snide rumour that the individual concerned was so much faster becuase he worked out that the ball lost pace when it pitched so he simply bowled full tosses. But since the winner was not famous for his intellect or his control over length, it seems to me that it was a scurrilous rumour. As far as Shoab etc being faster - I dont think so. I have never seen batsmen leap the way they did for Thommo before his shoulder injury which slowed him a bit, and which I think was before this test.

[v]

They don't make these sort of programs any more because there is no novelty in trying to find out who the fastest bowler is in some artificial conditions, when you have the same being done real time. Maybe they can try to find out who the most accurate bowler is or who hits the stumps the most