Will the World’s Best Fast Bowler Please Step Forward

There was much excitement last Friday night when Shaun Tait sent down the fastest delivery ever measured in Australia.  It was impressive stuff, exciting while it lasted.

Mitchell Johnson was Australia’s only nominee in the World XI for 2009.  He is the number two ranked bowler in the world.  For mine, he is still not that impressive.  Aside from one glorious summer (versus South Africa), he is unpredictable, unreliable and erratic but is blessed with the gift of taking wickets with trash.  However, this should not be dismissed as he does that very consistently.

Jeff Thomson truly was the greatest ever but sorry Jeff, we are looking today only at current international cricketers.

Last night, the man who is clearly the best fast bowler in world routed India, the world’s number one team, on their home turf.  Dale Steyn is the genuine article.  He took 7/51 in India’s first innings and has already taken one wicket in India’s follow-on effort.

This series is the heavyweight title bout that will hopefully relieve the boredom of a seemingly infinite number of mundane one day fixtures in Australia.  The winner of this series will be the number one ranked Test team.  The South Africans squandered the chance to put England away in their recent series with overly cautious declarations.  Smith has decided to skip that bit this time and has enforced the follow-on.

The Indians might recall the glory of 2001 but there is no Laxman.  And no Dravid.  And with Gangers long gone, just one of the Fab Four remains.  Tendulkar fell for just seven in the first innings.  Without Sehwag playing a lone hand (109), India’s paltry reply to South Africa’s 6/558 would be even more forlorn.

It’s been all South Africa but I tip that India’s second innings will beat the West Indies effort in Adelaide.