Ever since the dawn of cricket the West Indies have been the best team for many decades up until the 1990s before the Australian dominance. One of the primary reasons why they dominated world cricket and were the most fearsome team across the globe is their bowling attack. Their home conditions are bouncy hard pitches brewed some excellent fast bowlers in general who were frightening to face for even the world’s best. Today in this article let us look at few such bowers.
10. Ian Bishop
Born in 1967, a 6ft 5 inches tall Ian Bishop made his international debut in 1988. At the starting stages of his career he was rated very highly and was said to be destined to become one of the greatest and rightly so. He was a strong, tall and quick bowler who could bowl a perfect outswinger. He reached 100 test wickets in just 21 matches. But then his career was taken aback by injuries. In 1991 he had a severe back injury that made him adjust his bowling action and he returned strongly in late 1992. But then again he was struck by injuries and couldn’t play till mid 1995. And from then on he was never the same bowler again.
9. Sir Charles Christopher Griffith
Commonly known as Charlie Griffith was born in 1932 and played 28 test matches from 1960 to 1969. He was a lethal bowler in his time that even broke nari contractor, the Indian captain’s skull with a deadly bouncer. He unquestionably had some of the greatest Yorkers in his repertoire.
8. Sir Wesley Winfield Hall
Commonly known as Wesley Hall, who was born in 1937 is said to be the originator of the west indies fast bowlers. He was and still is considered one of the quickest and the most dangerous bowlers to have played the game. He played 48 test matches and picked up 192 test wickets. He was known for his ability to bowl long spells and Even the best of batsman couldn’t handle the pace at which he bowled. For his efforts he was included in the ICC cricket hall of fame in 2013.
7. Colin Croft
Colin Croft was a part of the west Indian pace quartet that is considered to be the most dangerous bawling line of all time. Croft was born in 1953 and played 27 test matches and took 127 test wickets. In his prime he was capable of taking wickets on any pitch and was renowned for his way of approach to the crease and his wide of the crease delivery action. He had a lethal bouncer in his armory and was aggressive in terms of his approach. His performance of 8/29 against Pakistan in 1977 is still the best by any West Indies bowler
6. Sir Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts
Commonly known as Andy Roberts, he was born in 1951, made his debut for West Indies in 1974 and played around 47 tests and 56 ODIs. Andy Roberts was a fearsome fast bowler who was the first of the esteemed quartet of the Windies pace attack in the early '70s. The intimidating tactics of the West Indies fast bowlers are still conversed about in today’s times and most of the all time greats regard Roberts as a wonderful practitioner of that art, more so because his approach also included a cold, expressionless face. In a career spanning 11 years, he picked up 202 wickets in 47 Tests at an average of 25.61. He had two seven wicket hauls in an innings and an equal number of 10-wicket hauls. He was part of West Indies team that won the first two ODI World Cups in 1975 and 1979. He was commonly known to surprise the batsman by bowling slow bouncer and following it up with a quick one.
5. Courtney Andrew Walsh
Walsh was born in 1962 and made his international debut in 1984. He played 132 Tests and 205 ODIs representing the West Indies and took 519 and 227 wickets respectively. He was not the quickest but certainly the most durable and accurate. he was known to bowl at three different speeds, all delivered with surprisingly similar action, and his occasional use of the bouncer, his shorter deliveries generally threatening the batsman's ribs, a tactic which, accompanied with change of pace, induced many catches in the short-leg area off the top edge or glove. Walsh was acclaimed to be one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1987. He was named to be one of Jamaica's all time greats in cricket in 2004. He was included in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in October, 2010.
4. Michael Holding
Holding was widely known for his sheer pace and the zip off the surface. Born in 1954 and a former sprinter he made his debut in 1975 and picked up 249 test wickets. Holding was a tall guy with deep eyes, rhythmic run-up to the crease and a nonchalant bowling action which more often than not caused short stay at the crease for the batsmen. He bowled with incredible pace and perfect accuracy which made him a nightmare for most batsmen. His deadly pace with ironically short and silent run up earned him the nick name whispering death. He was quite the spearhead of the West Indies pace battery that was unplayable in the 70’s and 80’s.
3. Joel Garner
Joel Garner was born in 1952 and made his international debut in 1977. Joel was 6ft 8inches, the tallest up until his time t have played cricket and boy, and did he use his height to devastate batsmen. He had all the abilities to make a lethal fast bowler. He had toe crushing Yorker that would hit the base of the stumps even before the batsman could react and he had a surprise bouncer up his armory which indeed was a surprise for the batsman because of the awkward bounce he generated due to his height which he uses to full effect. It was his giant physique that earned him a nick name, “big bird”. He played 58 test matches and 98 ODIs and took 259 and 146 wickets respectively. Joel was the highest ranked one day international bowler according to the ICC best bowler rankings in ODIs.
2. Sir Curtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose
Commonly referred to as Curtly Ambrose, he was born in 1963 and made his international debut in 1988. He was a tall, former basketball player who had a physique and way of delivering the ball similar to Joel Gardner. He had a lethal yorker, bowled at good pace and the unusual bounce he generated along with an immaculate line and length made him one best of all time. He was ranked number one for most of his career and rightly so. He played 98 test matches and 176 ODIs picking 179 and 175 wickets respectively.
1. Malcom Marshall
Probably and arguably the greatest of all bowlers not only west Indian but all time. He was born in 1958 and made his international debut in 1978. Malcolm Marshall riveted to the crease on the angle, with twinkling feet as if in dancing shoes. It pictures quite a sidewinder on the attack. Those with views of conventional cricket occasionally criticized his action as too open, but it had method. He mastered orthodox outswing and inswing from a stable position without missing his intent. He had a really quick arm that generated tremendous pace. Only in height was he lacking, but he even turned that to his advantage with a bouncer of the potential to scare any great batsman. Later in his career, he developed an incredible leg cutter which he used on slow and dusty pitches. Along with massive cricket intelligence, strength and courage, Marshall had all the tricks and he knew how and when to use them to bamboozle the best of batsman. His strike rate of 46.22 and his average of 20.95 were too good. He might as well have been the finest fast bowler of them all. The story of Malcolm Marshall has a sad and heart wrenching ending. After being one of the finest to ever have played cricket and after serving as a mentor to many upcoming greats of that time like Shaun Pollock, etc. in 1999 he realized that colon cancer. He started the treatment right away but sadly for world cricket it was unsuccessful. Thus, one of the most incredible cricketers to ever have played the game left us in dismay at the age of 41.
Honorable Mention:
Sir Garfield Sobers:
An excellent all rounder who bowled everything i.e. pace, medium pace and even spin.
