TOPIC:

I have been following cricket since the early 70s and I have been privileged to see some of the greatest fast bowlers in history performing at the test level. Pat Cummins performance in the last 3 months has made me wonder where he would rank with some of the other bowlers we have witnessed over the last 50 years. Some examples

Dennis Lillee ( IMHO the GOAT)
Jeff Thomson
Rodney Hogg
Craig McDermott
Merv Hughes
Geoff Lawson
Terry Alderman
Glenn McGrath
Jason Gillespie
Brett Lee
Michell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Pat Cummins
( have I missed any?)

What a great crop of bowlers and I think that the current trio of Starc ,Hazlewood and Cummins are comparable in quality with most of their predecessors

That's a great list you've compiled, Mike, with seven of them among Australia's top ten Test wicket-takers.
If I had to nominate my top five, they would be:
1. Lillee, 2. McGrath, 3. Cummins, 4. Thomson, 5. Johnson
However, there are plenty among your list who warrant inclusion in the top five.

Really hard to compare players from different era's.Modern day batsman play on better prepared wickets.Which makes it harder for modern day quicks.
The standard of test cricket was a lot higher in the 1970's+80's.Than the post 30years since that era 
1.Dennis Lillee
2.Glen McGrath
3.Jeff Thompson
4..Geoff Lawson
5.Pat Cummings
6.Len Pasco
7.Terry Alderman
8.Mitchell Johnson
There all stars but DK the best.

mikeh wrote:

I have been following cricket since the early 70s and I have been privileged to see some of the greatest fast bowlers in history performing at the test level. Pat Cummins performance in the last 3 months has made me wonder where he would rank with some of the other bowlers we have witnessed over the last 50 years. Some examples

Dennis Lillee ( IMHO the GOAT)
Jeff Thomson
Rodney Hogg
Craig McDermott
Merv Hughes
Geoff Lawson
Terry Alderman
Glenn McGrath
Jason Gillespie
Brett Lee
Michell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Pat Cummins
( have I missed any?)

What a great crop of bowlers and I think that the current trio of Starc ,Hazlewood and Cummins are comparable in quality with most of their predecessors

Great topic Mike - a list that other countries would be envious of.

As an amateur, I would have put Starc and Hazelwood way above Siddle.  Maybe Cummins as well.  I look forward to reading other people’s opinions.

After reflection my top 5 would be

1. Lillee
2. McGrath
3. Starc
4. Alderman
5. Cummins

with Mitch Johnson very close

very tough and subjective call though

Paddy may move up on the charts by the end of his career

Gee, it’s a hard one.  You could keep jostling the order around and still be right..
I think Mitch Johnson should be right up there though.

for the sheer purpose of devastation I'll go 

Lillee
Thomson
Johnson
McGrath
Alderman

mikeh wrote:

I have been following cricket since the early 70s and I have been privileged to see some of the greatest fast bowlers in history performing at the test level. Pat Cummins performance in the last 3 months has made me wonder where he would rank with some of the other bowlers we have witnessed over the last 50 years. Some examples

Dennis Lillee ( IMHO the GOAT)
Jeff Thomson
Rodney Hogg
Craig McDermott
Merv Hughes
Geoff Lawson
Terry Alderman
Glenn McGrath
Jason Gillespie
Brett Lee
Michell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Pat Cummins
( have I missed any?)

What a great crop of bowlers and I think that the current trio of Starc ,Hazlewood and Cummins are comparable in quality with most of their predecessors

Great list above Mike.

But..........you cant leave out our great West Aussie Bruce Reid.
His record was pretty darn good and only injury prevented him from taking 300+ Test poles.

A couple of others of note who deserve recognition-
Max Walker
Mike Whitney
Andy Bichel
Michael Kasprowicz
James Pattinson
Stuart Clark
Paul Reiffel
Ben Hilfenhaus

Does another WA great Graham McKenzie make the 50 year cut off point?

How could we forget Bruce Reid?  Flew down from the north many years ago to watch a game.  Bruce just blew me away.  I thought he was as good as Big Bird from the WI.

More bowlers will come to mind in the next few days.A couple of decent West Aussies
Mick Malone
Wayne Clark
And for a few seasons Karl Rackerman was a jet bowler.
Shaun Graf Ian Callan
Dave Gilbert
Also remember a quick when Tasmania joined the shield in the late 1970's
Gary Cowmeadow..