Ray Lindwall: Australia's Finest Fast Bowler of the 1940s–50s

The Classical Action

Ray Lindwall possessed what many cricket coaches and commentators have described as the most classically perfect fast bowling action of all time. His run-up was smooth and rhythmical, his delivery stride long and low, and his follow-through complete and controlled. He bowled with both pace and swing — able to move the ball late in both directions — and at his peak in the late 1940s, he was genuinely feared by the best batsmen in the world.

The 1948 Invincibles

Lindwall was the senior member of the pace attack in Bradman's 1948 Invincibles — the Australian side that toured England unbeaten across all first-class matches. Alongside the equally rapid Keith Miller, Lindwall destroyed England's batting, taking 27 wickets in the series at 19.62. England struggled to cope with the speed and hostility of the Australian pace duo — a combination arguably unmatched in Test history until the West Indies four-pronged pace attack of the 1970s-80s.

228 Test Wickets and Legacy

Lindwall finished with 228 Test wickets in 61 matches at an average of 23.03, with a strike rate of 58.9 — meaning he took a wicket roughly every ten overs. He also scored 1,502 Test runs, making him a genuine lower-order contributor. Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne, Jeff Thomson and Glenn McGrath have all cited Lindwall as an influence and inspiration. He died in 1996 and is regarded as one of the two or three greatest fast bowlers Australia has produced.