20 August 2019, by: The Popping Crease

THE AGE OF FAST BOWLERS

Whoever said Test Cricket is dying?

Test Cricket has never been more exciting than it is right now with the prospect of so many quality fast bowlers making their mark in Test Cricket.

Cricket has for far too long, been a batsman’s game, it is therefore high time for bowlers to have a say.

We are fortunate that there are several young fast bowlers across many countries to be excited over. Here are just a few.

England’s newest Test cap, Jofra Archer has made headlines recently, most notably in his Test debut where he knocked down Steven Smith leaving him concussed for the final day of the second Ashes Test.

Bowling at rapid speeds of over 145kph, consistently, and often changing gears to bowl faster in later spells, Archer is quickly developing a reputation of being a hostile quick, who isn’t afraid to bounce a batsman out.

The pace and bounce he generates is what makes him so dangerous, and as many as 19 batsmen have found that out after being hit by an Archer bouncer since he’s made his international debut.

Being 24 years old and just starting out, it would be in the England Cricket Board’s best interest to manage Archer’s workload well. Having bowled 44 overs in his debut Test, the most of any seam bowler on either team, and the next Test starting in just 3 days, England will be wary of overworking their young pace ace too quickly.

India’s fast bowling stocks have grown exponentially over the past couple of years, and one bowler that has been making waves is 25-year old, Jasprit Bumrah.

Still a relative novice in the Test arena, having played only 10 Tests, Bumrah is one wicket shy of 50 Test wickets, at an incredible average of 22. Despite only playing 10 Tests, he already has three five-wicket hauls and he became the first Asian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test innings in South Africa, England and Australia in a calendar year.

His unusual action makes him a unique talent and a great addition to the Test game, as he offers so much, including the ability to bowl fast, at 145kph and his strength of bowling yorkers.

Australian cricketer. Having played 22 Tests in his Test career that started at the age of 18, Cummins has just reached 100 Test wickets, at an average of just over 21.

With injuries taking their toll on Cummins early on in his career, with stress fractures to the back, Cummins is always going to have to be properly managed, especially in the modern day, where so much cricket is played.

Nevertheless, Cummins is a quality fast bowler able to bowl magical spells of bowling, picking up key wickets, and he’s also a very handy lower-order batsman. Cummins is currently the no.1 ranked Test bowler and his performances prove just why.

The youngest of the fast bowling pack, Shaheen Afridi is also the one with the fewest Tests under his belt with just three. However, at 19 years old, he will be quick to learn and acclimatize to the rigours of Test Cricket. He has already picked up 12 wickets in his three matches at an average of just over 31.

Being a left-arm fast bowler is a highly coveted attribute in world cricket these days and Afridi is definitely one of the good ones, standing tall at 6ft 6inch, allowing him to get good pace and bounce with his 145kph deliveries.

At only 24 years of age, KG Rabada has risen to extreme heights in his relatively short career. The most experienced speedster in this lineup, with 37 Tests under his belt. KG has a remarkable bowling average of just over 21. He’s already amassed 177 Test wickets, and his strike rate is extraordinarily low, sitting at just 38.8.

Rabada has often clocked over 150kph and his ability to keep on going is exceptional. How many times have we seen captain Faf hand the ball to KG, asking for a late day wicket? How many times has KG delivered? Always.

The biggest worry for fans regarding KG is his workload, having had to lead the Proteas bowling attack since his introduction into the team. KG is a special cricketer and needs to be treated as such. With South Africa’s World Test Championship coming, they need him at full tilt and ready to race in at 100%.

Welcome to the age of fast bowlers!

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