Fast bowling

Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling. Practitioners are usually known as fast bowlers or pace bowlers although sometimes the label used refers to the specific fast bowling technique that bowler prefers, such as swing bowler, seam bowler or strike bowler.

Related Topics:
Bowling - Sport - Cricket - Spin bowling - Bowler

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The main aim of fast bowling is to bowl the hard cricket ball at high speed and to induce it to bounce off the pitch in an erratic fashion or move sideways through through the air, the combination of these factors making it difficult for the batsman to hit the ball cleanly. A typical fast delivery has a speed in the range 140 to 150 km/h (87 to 95 mph). The fastest delivery that has ever been officially recorded clocked in at 161.3 km/h (100.2 mph) and was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan during a match against England in the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The unfortunate batsman on the end of the delivery was Nick Knight, however his wicket remained intact.

Related Topics:
Cricket ball - Batsman - Shoaib Akhtar - Pakistan - England - 2003 Cricket World Cup - Nick Knight

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In most cricketing countries, fast bowlers are usually considered to be the mainstay of a team's bowling attack, with slower bowlers in support roles. In the subcontinent, especially including India and Sri Lanka, the reverse is often true, with fast bowlers serving mainly to soften the ball up for the spinners. This is mainly due to the condition of the pitches used in those countries which gives more help to spinners than to fast bowlers, but at an international level it is also a reflection of the outstanding skills of their spinners compared to their often-mediocre pace bowlers.

Related Topics:
Subcontinent - India - Sri Lanka

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