Arthur Crabtree wrote:Chris Silverwood had a reputation for unusual pace, but tended to be a bit gun barrel. And was often injured. I prefer the famously unhealthy James Ormond in a head to head. Pretty contrasting personalities.
Im giving Ormond a free pass. His debut test was played on what is possibly the most docile pitch I have ever witnessed in a home test match, when England for some undeniably crazy reason picked 4 bowlers and no batters who could even be considered worthy enough as part timers. I believe, seeing the pitch had nothing in it, Nasser ended up asking Ormond after a few overs of full speed to start improvising and bowling off spin. I believe he bowled virtually the whole of a near 700 run innings as a spinner.
He then got a second bite away in India on a pitch where none of the paceman made any impression (Richard Dawson outbowled everyone, thats how bad it was) on either team, facing what would be arguably the best batting line up ever created in unhelpful conditions.
He could have been the next Glenn McGrath, but no one is going to do well given those two tests as chances.