Editing Fast bowling (section)

{{Short description|Bowling technique in cricket}}
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'''Fast bowling''' (also referred to as '''pace bowling''') is a type of [[bowling (cricket)|bowling]] in [[cricket]], in which the ball is [[Delivery (cricket)|delivered]] at high speed. The fastest bowlers bowl the ball at over {{Convert|90|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wallace |first=James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/02/raw-truth-about-fast-bowling-cricket |title=The raw truth about fast bowling |work=The Guardian |date=2 December 2020 |access-date=7 December 2024}}</ref> Practitioners of fast bowling are known as '''fast bowlers''' or '''quicks'''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Richard |url=https://www.wisden.com/cricket-features/the-ten-mystery-spinners-all-out-cricket |title=The Ten: Mystery Spinners |work=Wisden |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=20 December 2024 |quote=Despite bowling attacks being primarily loaded by quicks, the spinners, since the game’s inception have been the much sought after weapons for fielding captains.}}</ref> Also included in this broad category are bowlers who do not achieve the highest speeds, who may instead be known by a range of other terms, such as '''medium fast bowlers'''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Boyat |first1=Avinash |last2=Rathod |first2=Priyanshu |date=15 December 2020 |title=A Study to Identify the Most Common Exercises Used in Cricket for Improving Speed in Medium Fast Bowlers in India-A Mail Survey |url=https://www.jrmds.in/articles/a-study-to-identify-the-most-common-exercises-used-in-cricket-for-improving-speed-in-medium-fast-bowlers-in-indiaa-mail-survey-60993.html |journal=Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages= |doi= |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>

In addition to delivering the ball at speed, this type of bowler may also use [[seam bowling]] or [[swing bowling]] techniques, to make it even harder for the batter to play the ball correctly. The mixture of speed, seam and swing that can be achieved depends on several factors, including the individual bowler's skill, the condition of the ball, and the weather. Seam and swing are particularly important for bowlers who do not achieve the highest speeds. Therefore, they might also be referred to as a '''seam bowler''', a '''swing bowler''', or a '''fast bowler who can swing it''', for example, if this is the predominant characteristic of their deliveries. Strictly speaking, a pure swing bowler does not need to have a high degree of pace, though dedicated medium-pace swing bowlers are rarely seen at Test level in modern times.

Fast bowling is one of the two main approaches to bowling, the other being [[spin bowling]].