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On the eve of the men’s Cricket World Cup, Jonathan Agnew unravels the qualities that make the perfect fast bowler. Featuring interviews with England stars Jimmy Anderson, Katherine Brunt and Mark Wood, along with expert comment from bio-mechanics scientist Mark King, writers Emma John and Mike Selvey, and Kevin Shine, fast bowling coach of the England men’s cricket team.

Raw speed. It’s what every cricket fan dreams of seeing - the pure, visceral thrill of a fast bowler hurling a ball 22 yards towards a batsman protecting, somehow, their wicket. It’s pure theatre – a battle to survive, and even thrive, that’s been the heart of cricketing drama since the sport’s earliest origins.

But what are the elements that make a truly great fast bowler? And can the way we understand the human body push the cream of the current generation of cricketers to ever faster speeds?

Jonathan Agnew knows a thing or two about fast bowlers – not only has he commentated on hundreds of them down the years but, with three England caps, he used to be a pretty mean one himself.

Producer: Steven Rajam
A Whistledown production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4