A galaxy of premium pacemen — Kagiso Rabada, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, to name just three — are wowing spectators in the ongoing glitz glam Major League Cricket in the USA. But few may know that these stars are following in the footsteps of a deadly speed merchant who lit up cricket grounds in America over 100 years ago.
He was John Barton King, also known as Bart King. In a career spanning nearly two decades (1893-1912), the Philadelphia-born quick gun scalped 415 first-class wickets (average: 15. 6). During the 1908 tour of England, King had 87 victims (av: 11) in just 10 games and topped the bowling average that season; a remarkable feat for the 35-year-old pacer.
