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Fastest local bowler you have watched or faced?

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I know a lot of lads around my age who rate Lugsden as the quickest local lad they have faced. Had a lot of injuries when young though and then a serious foot injury. Still occasionally turns out in the Wednesday night league for Gateshead Fell where his son plays. He’s not so quick these days!
 

Played against most of the players mentioned. Played against Ashington in a cup tie when Colly Soloman was their pro. Asked Jimmy Adams what they called him. Jimmy answered Sir !!!
He was the quickest I faced
 
Thought Zakir Khan at South Hetton was a bit tasty and had a bit of ruthless/nasty streak. But Keith Chapman on Murton’s pitches was scary in the days before helmets.
We must have been mad to bat without helmets in the old days. Especially considering some of the pitches we played on. Amazing there weren’t more injuries.
 
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super shaun cunnington said:
Thought Zakir Khan at South Hetton was a bit tasty and had a bit of ruthless/nasty streak. But Keith Chapman on Murton’s pitches was scary in the days before helmets.
We must have been mad to bat without helmets in the old days. Especially considering some of the pitches we played on. Amazing there weren’t more injuries.
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I think people learnt the art of batting more. Watched the ball better etc
Melvyn Betts before his back injuries was rapid
 
Stattos child said:
I think people learnt the art of batting more. Watched the ball better etc
Melvyn Betts before his back injuries was rapid
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I agree with that - batting helmets have given a false sense of confidence to players who attempt to play deliveries they should be avoiding. They also give bowlers carte blanche to bowl those type of deliveries more often, rather than use them for shock effect as they were originally intended.

I saw more youngsters at U15 and U18 level hit in the head in the four or so years I coached those teams for my club, than I did in the 40 years I actually played the game.
 
super shaun cunnington said:
Thought Zakir Khan at South Hetton was a bit tasty and had a bit of ruthless/nasty streak. But Keith Chapman on Murton’s pitches was scary in the days before helmets.
We must have been mad to bat without helmets in the old days. Especially considering some of the pitches we played on. Amazing there weren’t more injuries.
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Remember when i was pro at Silksworth taking Zakir Khan apart in a cup tie. Hit him into the ski slopes a few times. Must say he was quick and tried to knock my head off a few times. Scored 95no. Then took 5 wickets when South Hetton batted.
 
super shaun cunnington said:
Thought Zakir Khan at South Hetton was a bit tasty and had a bit of ruthless/nasty streak. But Keith Chapman on Murton’s pitches was scary in the days before helmets.
We must have been mad to bat without helmets in the old days. Especially considering some of the pitches we played on. Amazing there weren’t more injuries.
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I remember my team mate David McElvanney hooking Zak Khan all over the place. The faster and shorter he bowled the further he hit him. Locals said no-one else had dared take him on to that extent. Although it sounds like former player did also :lol:
Poolynorm said:
Introduction to senior cricket as the scorer filling in at 15 yrs old was at Felling in NWDL.Chris Pleasants coming in off long run up just before a trial at Northants.Smelt it and pleased it was last ball of the over.Chris Matthews at Shildon in 86 in Durham County League.Literally months before playing in Ashes.
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Chris Matthews was lightening quick 85 and 86 but bowled slower but with more control later on when he played up here. In Gilchrists book he says Matthews was the quickest bowler in Australian domestic cricket when Gilchrist made his debut against him.
 
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Former Player said:
Remember when i was pro at Silksworth taking Zakir Khan apart in a cup tie. Hit him into the ski slopes a few times. Must say he was quick and tried to knock my head off a few times. Scored 95no. Then took 5 wickets when South Hetton batted.
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That’s some performance, great effort....you must be JS?? I saw Zak bowl in a Coast League represetive game with Keith Chapman and as my original post, Keith was still quicker. But I guess it’s all down to opinions and one off games sometime.
 
Jap Stammer said:
Made my DSL debut against him.

Hit the third ball of the game off the back foot through the covers for four - never got near the next three.

Keith Chapman was also very quick - he was especially dangerous when he would switch to round the wicket to the right-hander and run up directly behind the umpire, only stepping out in the last few strides before delivery.

Played in the same team as Patto. Very, very quick. One game when I wasn't playing it was alleged that a fast yorker had pitched in the bowlers footmarks and took off, clearing the sightscreen behind the keeper and slips (who were in close proximity to said sightscreen to begin with).

I never had the 'pleasure' of facing him in net practices, but teammates who did said it was absolutely terrifying.
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i scoredfor Whitburn 1s when Patto was there
 
I actually got hit on the head by Zakir but it was fortunately only a glancing blow. The ball deflected off my head for 4 although the umpire gave it as a dead ball presumably on the basis that I had deliberately headed it.
Scary looking back to think what would have happened if it had been a few inches to side.
Up to that point I’d been young/daft/fearless and hadn’t been bothered by fast bowling but don’t think I was the same afterwards. When helmets came in I could never get away with them either.
 
super shaun cunnington said:
I actually got hit on the head by Zakir but it was fortunately only a glancing blow. The ball deflected off my head for 4 although the umpire gave it as a dead ball presumably on the basis that I had deliberately headed it.
Scary looking back to think what would have happened if it had been a few inches to side.
Up to that point I’d been young/daft/fearless and hadn’t been bothered by fast bowling but don’t think I was the same afterwards. When helmets came in I could never get away with them either.
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When I played for South Hylton in the Coast League, one of our lads top-edged a short one from Zakir Khan into his own face. Shattered the nose - it was flat, spread across his face. He never played cricket again which was a real shame as he was a decent bat.

I've been hit on the head a few times (some will say that explains a lot of things) but never anything really serious apart from blacking out at work one Monday morning which was quite concerning considering I'd driven fifteen miles to get there.

I also could never get away with batting helmets and can literally count the number of times I've worn one to bat in on one hand.
 
super shaun cunnington said:
Thought Zakir Khan at South Hetton was a bit tasty and had a bit of ruthless/nasty streak. But Keith Chapman on Murton’s pitches was scary in the days before helmets.
We must have been mad to bat without helmets in the old days. Especially considering some of the pitches we played on. Amazing there weren’t more injuries.
Click to expand...

I agree with Khan's nasty streak.

He was running through sides for fun, but we managed to negotiate a draw which frustrated the hell out of him.

It came to the last ball and they need 2 wickets to win, so he bounced me and nearly took my head off. No need, so I let him know what I thought of him. International opening bowler v Coast League number 10 bat :rolleyes:
 
We played South Hutton on a bank holiday Monday and were short of numbers. We had to play a number of our juniors. We found out later that as our young number 11 had gone out to bat Zakir had apparently delighted in telling him what he was going to do to him. Fortunately he didn’t actually follow through with threat and yorked him first ball but thought that was a bit unnecessary
 
Jap Stammer said:
When I played for South Hylton in the Coast League, one of our lads top-edged a short one from Zakir Khan into his own face. Shattered the nose - it was flat, spread across his face. He never played cricket again which was a real shame as he was a decent bat.

I've been hit on the head a few times (some will say that explains a lot of things) but never anything really serious apart from blacking out at work one Monday morning which was quite concerning considering I'd driven fifteen miles to get there.

I also could never get away with batting helmets and can literally count the number of times I've worn one to bat in on one hand.
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I think batting helmets just take getting used to. A few overs in and you forget it’s there.

Wouldn’t even go without one to a spinner now cos of a top edge.
 
NorthCountryBoy said:
I think batting helmets just take getting used to. A few overs in and you forget it’s there.

Wouldn’t even go without one to a spinner now cos of a top edge.
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Tried to wear one, honestly, just couldn't get away with them. Felt that they restricted my vision and I lost all spatial awareness.

Some people I spoke to reckon it helped them focus on the ball - I felt that the grille was always a distraction as I could always see it in my peripheral vision.

Each to their own - I think if I'd grown up using one like the kids today it would just have become second nature but they weren't for me.

Anyway, I'm retired from playing now and spend my time in cricket grounds on the opposite side of the boundary rope to the players, with a cold drink in my hand. Long may that continue, hopefully from next season - Covid permitting.
 
Jap Stammer said:
Tried to wear one, honestly, just couldn't get away with them. Felt that they restricted my vision and I lost all spatial awareness.

Some people I spoke to reckon it helped them focus on the ball - I felt that the grille was always a distraction as I could always see it in my peripheral vision.

Each to their own - I think if I'd grown up using one like the kids today it would just have become second nature but they weren't for me.

Anyway, I'm retired from playing now and spend my time in cricket grounds on the opposite side of the boundary rope to the players, with a cold drink in my hand. Long may that continue, hopefully from next season - Covid permitting.
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I never wore one at all. By the time helmets were in common use I was in my last couple of seasons.
 
Eggman said:
I agree with Khan's nasty streak.

He was running through sides for fun, but we managed to negotiate a draw which frustrated the hell out of him.

It came to the last ball and they need 2 wickets to win, so he bounced me and nearly took my head off. No need, so I let him know what I thought of him. International opening bowler v Coast League number 10 bat :rolleyes:
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I hope that railway sleeper was threatened to be wrapped around his head!:lol:
 
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