The pace setters

Even Jeff Thomson had to pay homage to a few. Nitin Naik tells us who were cricket's original quick guns
Fred Spofforth (Australia)
One of the greatest Aussie fast bowlers in the 19th century. Began his career bowling underarm, but changed his style when he saw the English quicks in 1863-64 . On English pitches, he bowled slower and tried to cut the ball and dismissed a lot of batsmen bowled.He was tall and had a brilliant inswinger. He also had a knack of bowling at different speeds without much change in action. After picking up 10 wickets at Lord's vs MCC in 1878, which included castling the great WG Grace for a duck, he rechristened himself as 'The Demon' .
Harold Larwood (England)
One of the genuinely quick bowlers with a classical side-on action, he was the man who single-handedly terrorised the Aussies including Don Bradman during the Bodyline series of 1932-33 . He even struck Aussie skipper Bill Woodfull on the temple and fractured his skull. Larwood was England captain Douglas Jardine's potent weapon as he executed the leg theory to minimise Bradman's greatness.
Fred Trueman (England)
Fast, furious and uncouth, Trueman had a classical and easy side-on action and an even sharper tongue, which unnerved batsmen more than his bowling (fielders who dropped catches have also experienced his wrath). He was the first to reach 300 wickets. Trueman moved the ball and at pace and intimidated batsmen both with his bowling and attitude. On his Test debut against India on his homeground in Headingley in 1952, he reduced the visitors to 0 for 4.
Wesley Hall (West Indies)
Tall and burly, he terrorised opposition batsmen with his thundering run-up and thunderbolt delivery. It was indeed a fascinating turnaround for a cricketer who wanted to be a wicketkeeperbatsman , but chose to bowl fast because the regular player for his club side in Barbados didn't make the side. Blessed with the stamina of a horse, he could bowl three-and-half-hour spells like in Lord's in 1963. He was an inspiration to other great fast bowlers from Barbados like Garner and Marshall.
Frank Tyson (England)
With the nickname Typhoon, he couldn't have done anything but bowl fast. A high-arm action that was a model for modern fast bowlers, he was also one of the fast bowlers who started intimidating batsmen with the sheer length of the run up. It started from somewhere close to the sightscreen. If Bradman, who had once faced the lightning speed of Larwood, named Tyson the fastest bowler ever, then you know what we are talking about. His technique is still borrowed by many coaches the world over.