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One of the best things you can see on a cricket field is high quality fast bowling.
Throughout the history of cricket there have been many fast bowlers who terrorised the hearts of the world’s best batsmen.
From Harold Larwood to Dale Steyn, cricket has seen many top fast bowlers who made the sport worthwhile to watch.
However the worry today is this magnificent art is dying a slow death.
Until the 1990s there was a reasonable balance between fast bowlers averaging below 25 and batsmen averaging over 50.
But through the last decade the number of quickies who average less than 25 has gone down considerably.
In fact, among active players with more than 100 Test wickets, Dale Steyn is the only one to have such a record.
On the other hand there has been a sharp rise in the number of batsmen averaging over 50.
This can be attributed to various reasons. One important reason is the change in the nature of pitches around the world.
Some of the fastest pitches have now become batting paradises.
Even the WACA, which for long had been known as the fastest track in the world, has lost most of its sheen.
The advent of enhanced protective gear has also contributed. Batsmen in the past had to be extra careful while playing bouncers.
That fear no longer exists, which helps batsmen to concentrate fully on their job without having to bother about being injured.
The amount of cricket being played these days has also increased, which impacts more significantly on fast bowlers than other players.
A fast bowler needs more rest than spinners and batsmen.
However the increasing amount of cricket being played in the three formats of the game has ensured that players do not rest.
This has made fast bowlers more vulnerable to injuries.
The increase in money in the game has also had an influence. It is no secret that a guy who constantly hits the 150 kmph mark is likely to have a shorter career.
By reducing pace in the name of concentrating on line and length, bowlers look to extend their careers over a longer period thereby giving themselves a chance to increase their bank balances.
It is not wrong at all to think of money.
Who doesn’t like it? However, the quality of cricket takes a beating.
In the 2000s batting averages were still quite high.
However many of these innings were not pleasing to watch.
I mean what is the point in enjoying an uneven contest?
Maybe all is still not lost. We can still hope that the new guys will do justice to their potential, that quality of pitches will improve and that all things will fall in place for fast bowling to revive itself.
However somewhere deep down, the heart says that it is a lost cause.
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