Re: God help me - the Cricket thread
Reply #1981 –
Managing the pill is a big part of cricket, and being able to swing or seam the pill is a big part of cricket.
I'd assert the majority of the cheats aren't people who can and do swing or seam the pill, it's likely the duds who bowl a million miles an hour and barely get it off straight!
As for bowling fast, it's not the thing that determines effectiveness. Terry Aldermann, Max Walker and Gary Gilmore weren't express, Aldermann wasn't particularly quick at all, and they often had batsmen in knots. In his later years, Lillee had lost 10 - 15kph, but was a better bowler because he could do it all. McGrath was a good 15 - 20 kph slower than Starc, and a better bowler in my opinion.
The spuds you hear commenting about conditions not suiting bowlers, most likely batsmen, they have NFI! Blokes like Aldermann and Hadlee could move the ball in any conditions on any surface.