Who's the best fast bowler amongst the current lot ?

[stevewittry]

Fast bowling these days have become a very tough job. Feather bed wickets, heavy bats, short boundaries, bowling /fielding restrictions seems to have taken the zing out of fast bowlers. Even test matches these days are played in conditions, pitches ideally suited to batsmen. Retirement of fast bowling legends like Allan Donald, Glen Mcgrath, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and the likes have all of a sudden left a big vaccum in the fast bowling department. Even youngsters don't aspire to be a fast bowler any longer. We however still have some good fast bowlers in the current lot, including Brett Lee, Mohammad Asif, Shane Bond, Chaminda Vaas, Zaheer Khan, Shaun Pollock, Makaya Ntini, Umar Gul. This list is very limited and is fast diminishing. Whom among these, do you feel, have it in them to take on the mantle from say a Glen Mcgrath or a Wasim Akram. Honestly I feel fast bowlers are an extinct, endangered species.

[Taurus]

Freddie. Unplayable. Fitness pending.

[stevewittry]

Agreed. He is too fragile, given his fitness. However, Whenever he represented England, they looked an altogether different side.

[SUPERSAMI]

Shane Bond and Shoaib Akhtar are miles ahead of the pack

[stevewittry]

I have serious doubts about the future of Akhtar (on non-cricketing grounds). He hasn't done justice to his immense talent and simply cannot stay away from controversies. Shane Bond, rather, is an under-rated fast bowler, but time and again impressed with his spells.

[king_of_kings_ali]

defently Bond

[salman24]

Shane Bond and Shoaib Akhtar are miles ahead of the pack

I agree
Especially Shoaib

[Boundary View]

Bond by a mile. A class above all others.

[Wasim_Waqar]

Bond crumbles when the pressure seems to be on- e.g. semi-final v SL 2007. Asif performs most when the pressure is on. I think Bond has the edge with pace and reverse swing, but Asif would probably be the more probing and testing more times than not.

[Punter]

Bond and Tait both fast bowlers and both do what there team needs

[Big Harvey]

defently Bond

I have to agree with you.

One name that hasn't been mentioned though is Lasith Malinga. I expected him to fade quickly from view, but I've been surprised by his ability to bowl with the necessary accuracy on a regular basis.

[hasbeen]

bond is way ahead of any fast bowler at present.

[volcyz]

Too bad his injuries have affected him quite a bit :(

[hasbeen]

Too bad his injuries have affected him quite a bit :(

yep but even with his injuries, he is world class. it says a lot about his mental strength as well as his ability.