Are Steyn and Asif really the only great test match fast bowlers left?

[Mercenary]

During my recent interview with Ian Pont, we discussed how the quality of fast bowling has gone down and how Dale Steyn is currently in a league all by himself. The only bowler who looks to be capable of getting close to Steyn is Mohammad Asif.

Do you agree with that and if you don't which fast bowlers do you think are as good as those two? And why do you think that since the 90s the number of good fast bowlers has been dwindling?

[Nadeem]

During my recent interview with Ian Pont, we discussed how the quality of fast bowling has gone down and how Dale Steyn is currently in a league all by himself. The only bowler who looks to be capable of getting close to Steyn is Mohammad Asif.

Do you agree with that and if you don't which fast bowlers do you think are as good as those two? And why do you think that since the 90s the number of good fast bowlers has been dwindling?

That's undoubtedly down to the amount of cricket being played within the last 5 odd years, the packed schedule has put greater stress on fast bowlers which could lead to potential career ending injuries. It look's like Brett Lee is set to be the next victim.

[_INCOGNITO_]

Shane Bond is another gr8 test match bowler..if he hasnt retired yet..

[Nadeem]

Originally Posted by _INCOGNITO_

Shane Bond is another gr8 test match bowler..if he hasnt retired yet..

Every time he seems to make a decision he seems to change his mind, so I'm not sure what his thinking lol.

[Mercenary]

I agree Bond had the potential to be up there with the best but (through no fault of his own) he's been too injury prone to really be counted.

I know a lot of people rate Brett Lee and that Pont is a huge fan of Brett but I've never seen him as a bowler on the level of a Steyn or Asif. Brett's never really cracked test cricket and it's shame because he was a fantastic ODI bowler.

[the_game]

I was bemused when I read the thread title, and then I started going through all the test nations, and it was surprising that the title is actually quite scarily true. The only one I can add to the list is possibly Mitchell Johnson, but THAT's it! Ofcourse the Indians would want Zaheer included in there, but his strike rate and average don't seem to compare to the other three mentioned.

This is frightening. Some of the bowlers around the world really need to step up (i.e. the Malingas, Fidel Edwards, etc).