Naseem Shah: 16 yo, bowling at 147 kph at the Gabba

[Kriterion_BD]

Another teenage express quick from Pakistan. Where and how do they find them?

[jaybro]

The kid is simply not 16

Rameez Raja explained these kids come
From rural areas where there is no documentation of births etc. They only officially take down the date of birth once they pass their year 10 at school where the normal age should be 16.

More than likely he’s 18 or 19 even still that’s still a good feat to be bowling in test cricket at that pace.

[sloandog]

Yea I was going to say at a push he’s 18, minimum. However, as Jaybro said, his pace was incredible throughout. He bowled a 93mph rocket at Warner, who by the way, said Naseem Shah is a star in the making.

Mohammed Musa, Naseem Shah, Mohammed Hassnain and Shaheen Shah Afridi must be Wasim Akram’s wet dream. What depth they’re going to have going forward if they’re looked after properly. All of them are bowling 90mph and all of them are 19 and below. Stupidly talented, which shows cricket MUST return to Pakistan. Keep inspiring these kind of kids to play test cricket.
Afridi is probably the most talented because he can swing it but Jesus, Naseem just kept running in, hard, and bowling bombs.
Imran Khan needs to be dropped for good, I just don’t see the attraction with him in the slightest. 32 years old, 81mph Max and hardly any movement.

[sloandog]

As a side note, Pakistan need to learn from the mistakes made by Mohammed Sami. He burst into the scene in 2002 and was stuck to until around 2005, but had a shocking time of it. Pace is one thing, control and the art of bowling fast is something else all together

[ZIMDOGGY]

Question for better peeps than me.

What is the peak age for pure pace?

When is the human body at its quickest?

[jaybro]

Not sure what the leak age is but you’d think 21-25 ??

Andy Roberts always said “pick em while they’re quick” referring to the argument to pick young fast bowlers no matter how young they are

[Jemisi]

I think around 23-24. Manly strength and youthful flexibility

[sloandog]

Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel are both still bowling rockets though. Both hit 90mph recently in the MSL

[Jemisi]

Yeah, you can plateau, but for trying to break the speed gun I think most would be at peak mid twenties.

[Kriterion_BD]

I would say peak age, purely in terms of pace is 22-26. A man can probably maintain top pace until age 30, but after 26 or so injuries become almost a guarantee except for the fittest bowlers (eg Steyn, Boult, Anderson).

In terms of actual bowling, its interesting to note how Ishant and Umesh were mediocre bowlers until age 28 or so. And now they are world class quicks.

India too has a lot of depth at fast bowling: Bumrah, Shami, Ishant, Umesh, Bhuvi, Nagarkoti, Mavi, etc.