Former Australian pacer wonders if franchise cricket money and longer careers are encouraging bowlers to hold back their pace

The sound of a cricket ball screaming past a batter’s ears is one of the defining thrills of fast bowling. Bowlers capable of consistently crossing the 150 km/h mark have always commanded special attention. But is that raw speed becoming increasingly rare in modern cricket?

Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee believes it may be heading in that direction.

Lee suspects that the growing financial rewards of franchise cricket, combined with the desire for longer careers, could be encouraging fast bowlers to reduce the intensity of their pace.

Speaking on Wisden’s ‘Scoop Extended’, Lee said the number of bowlers capable of regularly bowling at 150 km/h or faster is now relatively small.

He wants to see young fast bowlers push themselves towards the 160 km/h mark.

“I want to see bowlers challenge that 160 km/h barrier. But I’m not seeing that at the moment. I want to see young fast bowlers running in and bowling every ball with extreme pace,” Lee said.

Lee and Shoaib Akhtar Among the Fastest Ever

Brett Lee remains one of the fastest bowlers in international cricket history. In 2005, he bowled at 160.8 km/h against New Zealand.

The only bowler officially recorded at a higher speed in international cricket is Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, who reached 161.3 km/h against England during the 2003 World Cup.

Very few bowlers have since reached the 160 km/h barrier. Even those capable of regularly crossing 150 km/h remain a relatively rare group in modern cricket.

Are Bowlers Sacrificing Pace for Longer Careers?

The global expansion of franchise T20 cricket has created major financial opportunities for fast bowlers. Lee questioned whether those rewards could be influencing the way they approach their bowling.

He asked whether bowlers are now thinking more about how long their careers can last and how many franchise leagues they can play in around the world.

“Are bowlers thinking about longevity, how long their careers are going to last? Are they thinking they can play in seven or eight different franchises around the world, make a lot of money and set themselves up financially for the rest of their lives?” Lee asked.

According to Lee, such thinking could encourage bowlers to prioritise career longevity over maximum pace.

Is 135-140 km/h the Safer Option?

Lee believes bowling consistently above 150 km/h places considerable stress on a fast bowler’s body. As a result, some bowlers may prefer to operate at a slightly lower pace to reduce physical strain and extend their careers.

“To do that, you’ve got to stay on the cricket field. And to stay on the field, maybe bowling at 150 km/h doesn’t excite them anymore. Maybe they want to sit around that safe zone of 135 to 140 km/h, where there’s less stress on the body,” he said.

But Lee considers the trend concerning.

“For me, that’s a concern, because you want to see bowlers running in and bowling fast,” he added.

Is Franchise Cricket Changing Fast Bowling?

The rise of franchise T20 cricket has given players opportunities to earn substantial sums across multiple leagues. But playing regularly in different competitions also requires bowlers to maintain their fitness over long periods.

Lee’s concern is that some fast bowlers may therefore be choosing longevity and financial security over pushing their physical limits for maximum speed.

The debate raises an interesting question for modern cricket: is the financial structure of franchise cricket changing the nature of fast bowling?

For Lee, the answer may lie in encouraging the next generation of pacers to embrace speed and challenge the 150-160 km/h boundaries once again.