Latest news with #fastbowler
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Why Bumrah is most complete fast bowler ever
It is getting harder and harder to reject the claim that India's Jasprit Bumrah is the most complete fast bowler of all impact he has on a match every time he bowls is remarkable and he has been a cut above anything else we have seen in the first Test at Headingley. Bumrah took 5-83 in England's first innings, along with having three catches dropped and Harry Brook caught off a Bumrah gets the ball in his hand it is box-office viewing. It feels as though something is happening every ball. He makes the bowlers at the other end look as though they are playing a different can leave the best players in the world confused about what has just happened. A whir of arms, a flick of his wrist, and the ball has hit you before you know I ever had the misfortune of facing Bumrah, he'd be done with me in a maximum of two deliveries. A good short ball, then a searing yorker would do the trick. I'd hold out hope he'd go straight for the second of those options as, by all accounts, it is incredibly hard to see the ball when Bumrah is bowling. He would cause a tailender like me some harm. Describing a bowler as "hard to pick up" is a phrase you will hear from batters about bowlers with quirky actions. Bowlers who hide the ball from a batter's view until the very last second are horrible to Bumrah, the ball starts in his unique load-up point. Imagine a clock face and Bumrah's action from behind. His fully straightened arm points to the number two. His arm then comes quickly down in to his bowling arc, but as it comes through to deliver, his elbow hyper-extends. This is where he gets some of his pace from - the ball disappears behind his elbow and the batter momentarily loses sight of the forearm then catches up with the rest of his arm, he cocks his wrist and is ready to unleash whatever delivery he has chosen. It's like a catapult. At the very last millisecond, the ball is back in the batter's view, hurtling at somewhere around challenge to batters and an advantage to Bumrah is his release point. He delivers the ball from closer to the batter than any other pace watching a fast bowler from side on. You will see most release the ball when their arm is directly above their front foot. Bumrah somehow gets his hand about 40cm ahead of his front foot, cutting the distance between himself and the batter, thus reducing the batter's reaction approach to the crease is not befitting of someone who is going to bowl fast. Bumrah has short, stuttering steps, without any sort of fluency. There is nothing in the approach that suggests he will be capable of bowling with the speed he does.A batter could watch as many hours of Bumrah footage as they like, yet still be surprised when they face him. There is no 'tell' as to what he going to bowl. No change of arm path, no change of finger position. A batter can only rely on reacting to what is coming their way. Another phrase you might hear to describe a bowler is "beyond the perpendicular". Again, using the clock face, a bowler with an over-the-top action would, from behind, have it pointing to the number 12, directly above their head. A bowler with a round arm would be at one or a bowler goes beyond the perpendicular, they are coming from the number 11, meaning the angle always feels like it is coming in to a right-hander, making them play at deliveries they might not need example of this would be the success Bumrah has had against Joe Root, dismissing him 10 times in Test cricket - only Australia's Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have got Root makes Root push at balls wide of off stump, just like the first innings of this Test, angled in and moving away at the last second once he has opted to play at the ball, continuing in a similar vein to their duels in of the technical elements of Bumrah's bowling action, I don't think there has been a fast bowler in history able to affect matches so is like a computer constantly calibrating what is needed in any given situation, and he is able to implement almost exactly what he wants to with absolute this for versatility. Of pace bowlers from major nations to have sent down at least 500 deliveries in T20 internationals, Bumrah's economy rate of 6.27 is the best. At the same time, Bumrah has comfortably the best bowling average of any bowler in Test history with at least 200 wickets. At 19.33, Bumrah is miles ahead of West Indies legend Malcom Marshall in second place on it a stage further, the only bowlers with more than 100 wickets at a lower average than Bumrah all played before World War a climate where the disparity between the Test and T20 formats for bowlers is becoming wider and requiring a differing range of skills, Bumrah is the best in is a thinker about the game and would have been India's first choice as the new Test captain has it not been for his struggle to play in every match. He took the decision himself to not pursue the job as he did not feel it was fair on the lucky to be in an era of great fast bowlers. From recent international retirees Stuart Broad and James Anderson, to Kagiso Rabada, Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell sits atop of them all as the finest fast bowler to have played the game. Some accolade.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Inspirational England bowler David ‘Syd' Lawrence dies aged 61 after MND battle
David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born black cricketer to play for England, has died aged 61. The formidable fast bowler spent most of his career at his home county, Gloucestershire, taking 625 wickets in 280 matches. He played five Test matches for England, taking 18 wickets, before a knee injury curtailed his career. Lawrence was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year. He was appointed MBE earlier this month for raising awareness of the disease, and released an autobiography last week, In Syd's Voice, laying bare the reality of his daily life with MND. On being diagnosed, he wrote: 'With those three words my heart hit the floor and then it seemed like my body fell with it.' A statement from Lawrence's family said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease. ''Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed. 'A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was.' As well as his six outings for England – having played a lone ODI against the West Indies at Lord's in 1991, collecting four for 67 – Lawrence bagged 625 wickets in 280 matches for Gloucestershire. A strapping fast bowler who was renowned for being one of the quickest on the county circuit, Lawrence began to establish himself in Tests and a five-for against the West Indies in 1991 helped England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards among his haul. But Lawrence's career all but ended the following year as he badly fractured his kneecap after falling awkwardly when running into bowl on the final day of a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. His England days were immediately over aged 28 but he made a brief county comeback in 1997, playing four first-class games for Gloucestershire before hanging up his boots – 16 years after he first played professionally. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. After Lawrence detailed his experiences of racism during his playing career, Gloucestershire issued an unreserved apology in September 2021 and six months later he became the county's first Black president. The county side posted on X: 'Gloucestershire are devastated to learn of the passing of former player and club president, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. 'Everyone at Gloucestershire would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time.' Following his MND diagnosis, there were emotional scenes when Gloucestershire went all the way in the T20 Blast last year, with captain James Bracey presenting the trophy to Lawrence at Edgbaston. Lawrence's family statement added: 'As president of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Syd took on the role with incredible pride and passion and loved every minute of it. 'Syd's wife Gaynor and son Buster thank everyone for the kindness and support that has been shown to them and the family so far and would ask that they are now given some time and space to grieve in private.' Only last week, Lawrence received an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding services to cricket, while he had been working to raise money and awareness of his condition. He said: 'It is an incredibly proud moment. It is not something that I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.' Lawrence's MND diagnosis hastened his autobiography as he worried he would lose the ability to speak. Titled 'In Syd's Voice', written with the help of Dean Wilson, the book was published this month. England and Wales Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson said on the governing body's website: 'David 'Syd' Lawrence was a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion. 'His impact on the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes. As a fast bowler, he thrilled crowds with his pace and passion. As a leader and advocate, he broke barriers and inspired change, becoming a powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport. 'Even in the face of his illness, David showed extraordinary strength and dignity, continuing to uplift others with his resilience and spirit. He leaves behind a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who love cricket. 'Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire cricketing community at this time.'
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
David ‘Syd' Lawrence: Trailblazing England bowler dies after MND battle
David 'Syd' Lawrence, the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, has died at the age of 61 after a battle with motor neurone disease. Lawrence took 18 wickets in five Tests for England and was a formidable fast bowler for Gloucestershire, where he claimed 625 wickets in 280 matches. His playing career was prematurely ended at 28 by a severe knee injury sustained during a Test match in 1992. After retiring, Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder and nightclub owner, and later served as Gloucestershire County Cricket Club's first black president. He was recently awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to Cricket and had published his autobiography, 'In Syd's Voice', this month.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jasprit Bumrah entered the arena like a gladiator and we stood still in the presence of greatness, writes OLIVER HOLT after India bowler dismantles England's top order at Headingley
The floodlights came on at Headingley in the early afternoon of an oppressive June day, the better to illuminate the scene. It bore its moment in the spotlight, too, because it presaged one of the most gladiatorial entrances of any sport: the arrival of the great fast bowler. When Jasprit Bumrah stood at the top of his mark at the Kirkstall Lane End, everything seemed to stop. The hum of the hordes on the Western Terrace quieted. Even the proud brick houses on Cardigan Road, their attic windows open in the heat, gazed down on the contest. Whatever else happens in this summer of sport, the sight of Bumrah bowling at English batsmen will be one of its highlights. Because you need know little about cricket to recognise when you watch him, and when you watch the effect he has on opponents, that you are in the presence of greatness. Only 86 bowlers have taken more than 200 Test wickets and none have done so at a lower average than Bumrah's 19.4. His slingshot action makes him an enigma, too, difficult to read, difficult to play against. It adds to the compelling nature of the spectacle. The contest between Bumrah and Joe Root, England's best batsman of this era, and perhaps of any era, may yet come to define this five-Test series but the first five-over spell of his visit to England was a wonderful glimpse of the dramas and dangers and alarms and unease that his bowling will plunge England into. Part of the theatre is the idiosyncrasy of his technique. He starts his run-up like a nag, halting and reluctant, not looking like he wants to continue, seeming as if he might give it all up and start again. And then he accelerates into it. And by the time he arrives at the crease, he is almost dancing. Now he's not a nag. He's a Lipizzaner, prancing and snorting, elegant and imperious, the best bowler in the world. 'Bumrah's first half a dozen steps to the crease aren't even running,' former England spinner Phil Tufnell said on Test Match Special. 'He bowls 90mph off about four paces.' The ball's trajectory, coming from behind the perpendicular, makes his deliveries even more difficult to face. Zak Crawley had the misfortune to face him first. He looked trapped before the ball had left Bumrah's right hand. He edged the fourth ball of England's innings past the slips for a four to third man. That was as good as it got for Crawley. Bumrah's sixth ball was a Jaffa. It did Crawley all ends up. The England opener tried to get behind it, tried to fend it off, but it turned him inside out and caught the edge of his bat. It flew straight to Karun Nair at first slip and he caught it without alarm. Only when Mohammed Siraj came on did Duckett and new batsman Ollie Pope find any respite. Facing Siraj felt like freedom compared to facing Bumrah. They loosened up and played their shots. They were in charge. When Bumrah returned, Duckett and Pope were in captivity again. Bumrah's seventh ball was an outswinger. Duckett swiped at it outside his off stump. Bumrah had deceived him. The ball fell just in front of gully. It was an escape. Bumrah's 10th ball was a yorker, a brilliant yorker. His yorker is a thing of legend, a delivery perfected by India's equivalent of kicking a football against a garage door again and again and again to hone technique. Bumrah perfected his yorker as a kid by bowling a cricket ball into the skirting board at his home in Ahmedabad. 'Summers in India can be really hot in the afternoon,' Bumrah told The Guardian earlier this year, 'and parents don't let kids out. I was a hyperactive kid, lots of energy, but my mother would sleep in the afternoon. 'Then I found that if I bowled a ball into the skirting board, it didn't make a sound. So I could bowl without disturbing her. I did not imagine at the time it would develop into a yorker, I really didn't know what one was.' This yorker did not hit a skirting board. It hit Duckett's boot. Bumrah was convinced it was out but the umpire disagreed. India reviewed it. The ball had pitched outside leg. Duckett was reprieved. Bumrah's 14th ball found late swing. Pope flailed at it. It flew at catchable height through the gap where a fourth slip would have been. By the end of the over, Bumrah would be bowling to five slips and a backward point. Four balls later, Bumrah found Duckett's edge again. The ball flew past Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully. If you were to be uncharitable, you would have said it was a drop. India's fielders put their hands on their heads in despair. Bumrah smiled. With the last ball of his fourth over, Bumrah got the better of Duckett yet again. The England opener drove at the ball but could not keep it down and it flew to Ravindra Jadeja at backward point. Jadeja is one of India's best fielders. It was a comfortable chance. To general astonishment, he put the ball down. This time, Bumrah did not smile. He beat the air in frustration. England's torture was almost over. Bumrah's fire finally began to dim. With the last ball of his final over of the spell, Duckett drove him through the covers for four. It was the first time any of England's top three batsmen had looked comfortable in Bumrah's entire opening salvo. It had been a treat, frankly, an opportunity to see the best Test bowler in the world at the top of his game, exhibiting his craft. He could have taken five wickets but one was enough to show us what this summer holds. He did eventually bowl Duckett later in the afternoon. The batsman had almost had his nine lives by then. And a minute or two after 5.30pm, Bumrah bowled his first ball of this series to Root. He found an edge. It did not carry.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE NASSER HUSSAIN: These are the mind-bending tricks that make Jasprit Bumrah so devastating - and how England can fight back against India superstar
Jasprit Bumrah is one of the most unorthodox fast bowlers you'll ever see. He has a deceptively stuttering run-up, and delivers the ball from closer to the batsman than other bowlers because of the hyperextension in his elbow. But unorthodoxy alone doesn't get you more than 200 Test wickets at an average of 19.
