The hype which surrounds a budding fast bowler's pace is often just that, namely hype.

Countless articles have been written about England's new kid on the block, Simon Jones. And he's now been called into the England squad. But is he the real deal, or a pretender in disguise?

Of the many so called 100mph men we have seen grace the international arena in recent years, only Brett Lee's proven speed has immediately lived up to the hype surrounding his debut. Lee was touted as being every bit as fast as Shoaib Akhtar back in December 1999 and his speeds proved so. In Lee's first Test match he notched up a 154.1kph (95.75mph) delivery and bowled some 60 or more deliveries above 150kph (93.2mph) throughout that Australian summer.

Pakistan's Mohammad Sami was seen to be a genuine threat to both Shoaib and Lee in the pace stakes. This skinny kid from Karachi made his Test debut against New Zealand in March 2001 and was described as "very fast and very hostile". Late in 2000, about the then 18-year-old, Wasim Akram was quoted as saying that he is at least as fast as Shoaib and that he was happy for him to play Test cricket.

Sami did not prove nearly as fast as Shoaib in his first couple of tests, however in his first One-Day International on April 8, 2001, he did push the gun past the 145kph (90.1mph) mark with a 147.5kph delivery. Sami has been as high as 149.7kph in his most recent one-dayer but is yet to join the elite in the 150kph range.

The debut of Mfuneko Ngam had earlier been given all the hype of Sami's and more, one report stated that "Ngam has been timed at around 100mph in domestic matches". While Ngam proved to be fast, he was by no means around 161kph as was quoted and his fastest was a more docile but very respectable 148.4kph against Sri Lanka in Durban.

New Zealander Shane Bond's debut was a little more subdued. Bond was known to be pacy but his speed was somewhat under-hyped. He replaced an injured Dion Nash during the tour of Australia and although his first Test match returned the modest top speed of 142.3kph, he was soon up and around the world's fastest with many balls above 148kph at a peak of 151.2kph.

The aforementioned bowlers have proved to be the cream of the crop amongst the world's emerging speedsters. Yet despite the hype, none of these youngsters have seriously challenged Shoaib or Lee as the 'world's fastest bowler'.

Of recent articles regarding Jones, one particular article contained two remarkable quotes, both by Australians. Fast bowler and team-mate of Jones' Michael Kasprowicz said: "He certainly rates up there with Brett Lee, and compares favourably with him," and Australian legend and head of the ECB academy Rod Marsh was quoted as saying "the Morriston-born speedster had the ability to bowl as quick as the legendary Jeff Thomson". But will he sizzle or will he fizzle?

If Jones' debut pace is anywhere near Lee's (154.1kph), then this young man could find himself fast-tracked to stardom. He may well become "as quick as the legendary Jeff Thomson".

Or perhaps it is all just hype.

© CricInfo