The year was 1932. On December 2, Harold Larwood delivered the first ball in what would turn out to be an epochal series in world cricket. England, captained by the Bombay-born Douglas Jardine, were in Australia to claim the Ashes. Australia had Don Bradman in their ranks. But Jardine had other plans up his sleeve – a tactic he referred to as the “fast leg” theory. The world would know it by another name, one that has become synonymous with all that is not cricket: Bodyline.
The Nottinghamshire-born Larwood was Jardine’s chief lieutenant, who ensured that his captain’s orders were followed to the hilt. Innings after innings, Larwood would bowl fast and short, aiming at the top half of the batsmen’s bodies. He was rewarded with a rich haul of 33 wickets over five Tests, but also unparalleled hostility. Yet, Larwood remained defiant that he had merely followed his captain's orders.
Those who had witnessed the full force of Bodyline would perhaps have reasonably expected that cricket would become a quieter game. Far from it. As cricket spread after the Second World War, fast bowlers became more ferocious, and in some cases, downright scary. Here's a list of the most greatest yet fiercest bowlers to have stormed the cricket world.
Dennis Lillee
One half of the fearsome Lillee-Thompson combine, it is testament to his quality as a fast bowler that years after he retired, Lillee is still seen as the last word when it comes to pace bowling. His 355 wickets in 70 Tests might not seem like a lot today, but there is no batsman from the '70s who fancied padding up against the moustached Australian. A lovely bowling line-up comprising raw pace and expert control, Lillee could dismiss a batsman with his sheer presence.
Jeff Thomson
“If Lillee doesn’t get you, Thomson must,” went the popular refrain. And at his peak, no one came close to matching Jeff Thomson, not even his opening partner Lillee. Some of the greatest batsmen of his time including the dashing Vivian Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, and even pace rival Michael Holding, all agreed that Thomson was the fastest bowler ever seen. Unlike many other fast bowlers, there was no long-winded run-up for Thomson; in his own words, “I just shuffle up and go wang”.
Wes Hall
Fast bowling eventually became an intrinsic part of Caribbean folklore, but Wesley Hall was the first great speed demon the region produced. Tall and gangly with a run-up that seemed to last forever, Hall began as a wicket-keeper batsman but switched to become one of the scariest bowlers in the world. One of his most fearsome moments came in a Test match at Lord's in 1963, when he steamed in for an unrelenting three-and-a-half hours and broke English batsman Colin Cowdrey’s arm with one of his deliveries.
Charlie Griffith
Old-time Indian cricket fans will know the name of Charlie Griffith. In 1962, the West Indies bowler delivered a terrifying bouncer that ended Nari Contractor’s international cricketing career. He forged a formidable bowling partnership with Wes Hall. But unlike Hall, doubts over his action haunted his career throughout. In the few matches he did play, however, he terrorised opposition batsmen with his pace.
Michael Holding
Unlike many other fast bowlers, there was a touch of the enigmatic about Michael Holding, a factor that somehow added to his aura. “Whispering Death” would glide to the crease like a leopard in one fluid motion, before hurling the red cherry down at an astonishing pace. The great English batsman Geoffrey Boycott would agree with Holding's nickname. in 1981, Boycott faced off against Holding in what has often been described as the “greatest over of them all”. Over five deliveries, each progressively faster, Boycott hopped, skipped and jumped and kept them out. But he had no chance with the last ball which sent the off stump cartwheeling well before Boycott had a chance to put his bat down.
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The Nottinghamshire-born Larwood was Jardine’s chief lieutenant, who ensured that his captain’s orders were followed to the hilt. Innings after innings, Larwood would bowl fast and short, aiming at the top half of the batsmen’s bodies. He was rewarded with a rich haul of 33 wickets over five Tests, but also unparalleled hostility. Yet, Larwood remained defiant that he had merely followed his captain's orders.
Those who had witnessed the full force of Bodyline would perhaps have reasonably expected that cricket would become a quieter game. Far from it. As cricket spread after the Second World War, fast bowlers became more ferocious, and in some cases, downright scary. Here's a list of the most greatest yet fiercest bowlers to have stormed the cricket world.
Dennis Lillee
One half of the fearsome Lillee-Thompson combine, it is testament to his quality as a fast bowler that years after he retired, Lillee is still seen as the last word when it comes to pace bowling. His 355 wickets in 70 Tests might not seem like a lot today, but there is no batsman from the '70s who fancied padding up against the moustached Australian. A lovely bowling line-up comprising raw pace and expert control, Lillee could dismiss a batsman with his sheer presence.
Jeff Thomson
“If Lillee doesn’t get you, Thomson must,” went the popular refrain. And at his peak, no one came close to matching Jeff Thomson, not even his opening partner Lillee. Some of the greatest batsmen of his time including the dashing Vivian Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, and even pace rival Michael Holding, all agreed that Thomson was the fastest bowler ever seen. Unlike many other fast bowlers, there was no long-winded run-up for Thomson; in his own words, “I just shuffle up and go wang”.
Wes Hall
Fast bowling eventually became an intrinsic part of Caribbean folklore, but Wesley Hall was the first great speed demon the region produced. Tall and gangly with a run-up that seemed to last forever, Hall began as a wicket-keeper batsman but switched to become one of the scariest bowlers in the world. One of his most fearsome moments came in a Test match at Lord's in 1963, when he steamed in for an unrelenting three-and-a-half hours and broke English batsman Colin Cowdrey’s arm with one of his deliveries.
Charlie Griffith
Old-time Indian cricket fans will know the name of Charlie Griffith. In 1962, the West Indies bowler delivered a terrifying bouncer that ended Nari Contractor’s international cricketing career. He forged a formidable bowling partnership with Wes Hall. But unlike Hall, doubts over his action haunted his career throughout. In the few matches he did play, however, he terrorised opposition batsmen with his pace.
Michael Holding
Unlike many other fast bowlers, there was a touch of the enigmatic about Michael Holding, a factor that somehow added to his aura. “Whispering Death” would glide to the crease like a leopard in one fluid motion, before hurling the red cherry down at an astonishing pace. The great English batsman Geoffrey Boycott would agree with Holding's nickname. in 1981, Boycott faced off against Holding in what has often been described as the “greatest over of them all”. Over five deliveries, each progressively faster, Boycott hopped, skipped and jumped and kept them out. But he had no chance with the last ball which sent the off stump cartwheeling well before Boycott had a chance to put his bat down.