Flying bird assists Neil Wagner to touch 160kph
New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner bowled a delivery on day two of the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Dunedin that touched 160kph. Did a bowler who usually reaches speeds in the mid-130s really touch the elusive 160kph-mark? At least, the speed gun thought so.
On further investigation, Sky Sport's speed gun had clocked 160kph for the left-arm bowler because of a low-flying seagull that was thrust forward along with wind assistance. While this is one of the theories, another one suggests that a laser could have been the reason for the ‘incorrect’ speed shown, according to stuff.co.nz.
Only former Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar and most recently, Mitchell Starc have previously breached the 160kph mark. Starc created the record for the fastest bowl delivered in Test history when he touched 160.4 kph at the WACA against New Zealand in November.
Ross Taylor was the batsman who faced Starc's delivery during the second Test between Australia and New Zealand last month. Craig McMillan, who is New Zealand's batting coach, claimed that he was not convinced about Starc's delivery not touching 160kph.
“I'm not sure if maybe the wrong button was pushed. But you'd have to ask Rosco (Taylor) whether it felt 10km/h quicker than any other delivery he faced,” McMillan said.
Wagner is well known for his ability to run in hard and bowl long spells, and not for his quick pace bowling. His average speed for the day was just around 133kph and this is what brought the unusual reading into scrutiny.
What brings into question the accuracy of the technology used to measure the speed of deliveries is the fact that one of Tim Southee's deliveries touched the 150kph mark during the WACA Test last month. Southee usually bowls in the 140kph-range.
29-year-old Wagner is playing his first Test since the Boxing Day Test last year against Sri Lanka in Christchurch. He picked up one wicket for 53 runs in his 13 overs. Sri Lanka finished day two on 197/4 chasing the hosts’ 431.
If Neil Wagner is hitting 160km, then the drinks cart is doing 150km and West Indian cricket is nosediving at warp. pic.twitter.com/Huf3pyGm6l
— Dane (@eld2_0) December 11, 2015