The West Indies Cricket Team of the Century - What a combination!
by Colin Croft
Judging from the response I have had over the last seven days, I may have opened a huge can of worms last week when I suggested a few players who could be called West Indies "Players of the Century." I plan to stir things up even more here by selecting, by my own reckoning, 16 West Indies players to make up a touring team to play in the 21st century. I am sure that they would cope with whatever changes come about in the game by then. I know that I would not please everyone. Also, since the West Indies only started playing Test cricket in 1928, this, in effect, covers all of our history in cricket. Oh, incidentally, this will be in two parts, or even three, for two articles, or even three. There is just so much to cover from 1928 to 1999 in West Indian cricket. Here goes. We will start with the opening batsmen, since these, along with the wicket-keepers, spinners and all-rounders, may be the easiest selections. My criteria for these are consistency, longevity and production. Clifford Roach, Alan Rae, Jeffrey Stollmeyer, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Roy Fredericks, and Conrad Hunte are the candidates for the opening positions here. I will select four openers. All are very worthy. Trinidad & Tobago's Clifford Roach comes with great pedigree. He made the first century ever for a West Indian team, in only his, and West Indies, 4th Test ever, and enhanced himself further with his, and the team's, first double century two Tests later. Considering that Roach made a "duck" in his, and West Indies, first Test ever, played at Lords, no less, in 1928, it must be said that he improved very quickly when he moved up from the No. 6 batting position in his first Test, to the opening spot in the second. By the time his career was over, he had played 16 Tests, and managed 952 runs at an average of 30.70. Not bad at all. Jamaican Alan Rae and Trinidad & Tobago's Jeffrey Stollmeyer became the first "real and regular" pair of opening batsmen put out by the West Indies, even though, occasionally, Guyana's Bruce Pairaudeau or Jamaica's J.K. Holt sometimes played, as openers with some credentials, partnering either Rae or Stollmeyer. In more recent times, Guyana's Steve Camacho, Trinidad & Tobago's Joey Carew and Barbadian Seymour Nurse, sometimes filled the void too. Stollmeyer was especially unlucky, since he had his career, started in 1939, aged 18, also at Lords, and only West Indies' 20th Test, interrupted by the 2nd World War (1939 -1945). Incidentally, Stollmeyer also made a "duck" on Test debut. He did not manage his first Test century until 1948, when he got 160, his eventual highest Test score ever, against India; his 8th Test, and West Indies 30th, 1948-49. By the time Stollmeyer was finished with Test cricket, he had made 2159 runs from 32 Test appearances, at an average of 42.33 runs per innings. These are wonderful returns when one considers the great interruption of the war. Alan Rae made his Test debut in that same 1948-49 tour. In only his second Test match, and West Indies 28th, he got his maiden Test hundred; 104. Like Clifford Roach, Rae managed few Tests, by our recent standards; only 15 Tests in his case; but he performed. He made a very impressive 1016 runs at a very healthy average of 46.18 runs per over. If nothing else, these openers were very consistent. Guyana's Roy Fredericks and Barbadian Conrad Hunte suffered the same faith, at different times. They both had no real help from the other end, initially, during their careers. As one woman put it, "in those days when Fredericks and Hunte were opening the batting with their respective partners, if you turned your radio on five minutes after the game had started, you would never know who was the other opener, as that person was always out." Conrad Hunte probably had more opening partners in Test cricket than anyone else in the history of the game. He made his first Test hundred, 142 in his first Test, against Pakistan at the Kensington Oval in Barbados in 1957-58. By the time his career was completed, he had played 44 Tests and made 3245 runs at an average of 45.06. One could almost call 22 names, one for every two Tests, who would have partnered Hunte in Test cricket. Like both Rae and Stollmeyer, Hunte was also very consistent and especially classy. His driving on the front foot was something to behold. He was also the really first dominant opening batsman the West Indies had produced, the prototype for his fellow countrymen, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes. Roy Fredericks was probably the most pugnacious, and one of the toughest of all of the openers. He sometimes gave the impression that he did not respect the bowlers very much, taking them on most of the time. Many people these days still remember his hooking and cutting. While not always safely executed, these shots surely gave great excitement to crowds. Fredereicks played his first Test, in place of the injured Joey Carew, in Australia in 1968-69, the West Indies 119th Test. He had to wait until his 15th Test to get his first Test century, 163 against New Zealand at Sabina Park, Jamaica in 1971-72. By the time Fredericks had completed his quota of Test cricket, he had managed 59 Tests for a massive 4334 runs at average of 42.49 runs per innings. The great consistency of the openers continued. We have not yet even considered the tremendous merits of Barbados' Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, individually and as a pair. That, along with the wicket-keepers and the all-rounders, would be considered in the next segment of this West Indies "Team of the Century". This is not going to be easy, but it should be enjoyable, at least for debate. Enjoy. Even as I started this odyssey last week, I knew that this would have been a very difficult job indeed. Selecting 16 players for a properly balanced and effective cricket team, for all seasons in the 21st century, from all of West Indies cricketing annals, is not that easy at all. It should be remembered, though, that these are my opinions. I am sure that everyone else will have theirs too. Last week, we dealt with the more consistent opening batsmen, except Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes. Since we have decided that there would be four openers, I can safely say that these two will be two of the four. Very few people who now listen or look at West Indies cricket could remember a time when they did not hear the names of either Greeenidge or Haynes, or both, opening the batting for the West Indies. Gordon started his test career for the West Indies in Bangalore against India in 1974/5, and he started with a bang. Scores of 93 and 107, on debut, suggested that there was some special class here. By the time Greenidge was finished, he had played in a mammoth 108 Test matches, made 7558 runs and averaged 44.72. It is easy to average over 40 when one's career is not that long. However, to keep that average over such a very long career must be something rather special. Not many have managed it. The savagery of a Greenidge square cut, or the elegance and ecstasy of an up-on-the-right-foot pivot as the ball is lashed to mid-wicket or square-leg still brings tears to some eyes. Indeed, Greenidge was, in some opinions, including mine, the hardest hitter of the ball ever seen anywhere in the Caribbean, and those vying for that accolade included Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards. Desmond Haynes was somewhat different in his approach. While his first Test, against Australia in Trinidad & Tobago in 1978, also brought him a good start, 61, almost all of the runs played to leg, Dessie immediately set about playing cricket according to his limits. Clint Eastwood, the actor, once said that a man "has got to know his limitations." Haynes not only knew them, but used them well to his advantage. In his first three Test innings, Dessie had three half centuries, but did not make a Test century, 122, until his 6th Test, against new Zealand at Lancaster Park, Christchurch in 1980. Yet, by the time he too was finished, he had also chalked up a century of Tests, 116, for an aggregate of 7487 runs at an average of 42.29, again very impressive because of the length of the career. It could also be argued that by the time Desmond Haynes had stopped playing Test cricket, he was probably the most versatile, and correct, batsman in the world. His cover driving, not unlike his idols, mentors and countrymen, Conrad Hunte and Seymour Nurse, was of another class and era altogether. As Dessie himself would say in that laconic Clint Eastwood type drawl, after hitting the ball cleanly, classically, to the cover boundary fence, "Now fetch that!!" It should also be noted that both Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes missed at least 8 Test matches, against relatively 'easy" opposition, Australia's "second" team of 1978 and India's team of 1978/9. They missed these series because of involvement with the Kerry Packer series; much tougher cricket. It is easily conceivable that in those 8 Tests, both of these batsmen would have made enough runs to bring their aggregates to at least that holy grail of batsmanship, 8000 Test runs. Yet no-one would begrudge the thought that this pair of openers were, are, and probably will forever be the best pair of opening batsmen the West Indies have ever had, and individually, very easy selections for this team of the century. Since these two have left the team, opening batting has become the major distress of the West Indies cricket team. So, now, my four opening batsmen in my 16 man team are: Barbadian Gordon Greenidge, Barbadian Desmond Haynes, Guyanese Roy Fredericks and Barbadian Conrad Hunte. Trinidad & Tobago's Clifford Roach was very close, because he came before all and survived well. It would, however, in my mind, be every difficult to select him before one of these other four. The wicket-keepers come next. Since this is a touring team of 16, I will select two wicket-keepers. In truth, there are only four real contenders here, though others, Mike Findlay, Sam Guillen, Clairmonte DePeiza, Ivor Mendonca, Clyde Walcott and Rohan Kanhai come to mind, the latter two more for their utility as batsmen than as real keepers. What is also ironic is that since Dujon, no other West Indian wicket-keeper, like the opening batsmen's problem, has really become better than just average. Jamaicans Jeffrey Dujon, Franz Alexander and Jackie Hendricks and Trinidad & Tobago's Deryck Murray are my four. I have had very close personal ties with three of these, so it will grieve my heart to leave one out. Jackie Hendricks have always been a friend and advisor when he managed our cricket teams in the 70's and 80's, while I played with both Deryck Murray and Jeff Dujon, the latter in his initial Tests as just a batsman. Indeed, it was Murray who gave me my first "real" fast bowling cricket boots, one he had brought back for me from England, made by "Whitings/S.C. Mason", on his way from the Australian tour of 1975/6. They were so good that I still have them and use them to play for the West Indies Masters Team. In my mind, and I have seen him 'keep against Australia in 1965 at Bourda, Guyana, along with listening to his team-mates and other "real" experts, Jackie Hendricks was the best of the lot when it came to pure West Indies wicket-keeping. He played only 20 Test matches, but it should be remembered that in those days, the West Indies probably played a Test series a year, as opposed to sometimes three series a year these days. Yet, Hendricks managed 42 catches and 5 stumpings. It should also be noted that he is perhaps the last West Indian wicket-keeper to have been behind the stumps for a properly varied bowling attack, as he had to cope with Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith and the rest of the fast bowlers, along with the leg-spin of Gary Sobers and off-spin of Lance Gibbs, among others. That, more than anything else, makes him stand out. None of the succeeding wicket-keepers would have had that varied an attack to handle. While his batting was not that good, averaging only 18.62, it should be remembered that when Hendricks played, it was not necessary to bat well, as is one of the selection criteria these days. Deryck Murray played in 62 Tests, starting as a University student in 1963 against England at Old Trafford, Manchester and ending at Leeds in 1980. He managed 181 catches and 8 stumpings in that time. He also made 1993 very useful runs, including 11 fifties, batting in the late order. Who would ever forget, even though it was not Test cricket, that Deryck was directly responsible for the West Indies getting to the World Cup final in 1975, when he and Andy Roberts batted into the night to beat Pakistan in the semi-finals. By the time his career was mid-way though, he was always standing at least 20 meters back, as by then, the West Indies had become a team primarily with fast bowlers. Not that it would have been any easier, as all of the bowlers were very different. He was also the "cool" head which kept the very volatile fast bowlers in check. It was appropriate that, in his after cricket days, he actually became something of a Diplomat for the Trinidad & Tobago government. Jeffrey Dujon played in 81 Tests, and even more than Deryck Murray, revolutionized the role of the wicket-keeper in a cricket team. I have always, jokingly, suggested to "Duje" that it is his fault that the West Indian, and indeed, the world's wicket-keepers, do not play for long periods anymore. You see, they are now being measured not only on their skills as wicket-keepers, but their ability to bat more than just averagely is always called into question too. Dujon made 3322 runs, including five centuries and 16 fifties, playing Test cricket for the West Indies. I think that I am very safe in saying that those runs, along with the 267 catches and 5 stumpings he effected in his tenure behind the stumps, will never be bettered by a West Indian wicket-keeper in my lifetime. One has to think hard if the preference was for his diving and catching, sometime as wide as second slip, or his square driving on the front foot. The guy was really classy. Dujon brought new meanings to the words "wicket-keeper batsman." Franz Alexander was also a brilliant 'keeper. Despite the fact that he played even before Hendricks, when tours were so few and far between, he still managed to play in 25 Tests, having 961 runs, including a Test hundred and seven fifties, at an average of 30.03. He also managed 85 catches and five stumpings in that time. That he managed to also captain the West Indies, having been one of the few, then, to have an academic University education, also counts in his favor. It is just unfortunate that players like both Alexander and Hendricks were not later in the history of West Indies cricket. Oh, what we could do with one of these guys now. So, two more pieces to put into the puzzle of 16 players to make up the West Indies Cricket Team of the Century. Jeffrey Dujon easily is the first pick, for his all round cricketing ability . The second is much more difficult. The choice, for me, is between Deryck Murray and Jackie Hendricks. In my mind, this is a dead-heat, for varying reasons, so either one can be included in any team selected. That is not a cop out. It is more of a realization and appreciation of the relative skills of these two players. I still think that Jackie Hendricks was the best pure wicket-keeper of them all. So there. We now have six players in the proposed 16. Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Roy Fredericks and Conrad Hunte as opening batsmen. Then Jeffrey Dujon and Deryck Murray (or Jackie Hendricks) as the two wicket-keepers. Next week, the spinners, few as they were, all-rounders, few as the were, and then the big head-aches, the middle order batsmen and the fast bowlers. Whatever you do, please do not kill me for my selections. Enjoy!! The journey to select the 16 to make up this imaginary West Indies touring team (of the 20th Century) for the 21st Century continues. I had already selected four opening batsmen, Gordon Greenidge of Barbados, Desmond Haynes of Barbados, Conrad Hunte of Barbados and Roy Fredericks of Guyana, with very honorable mention of Clifford Roach of Trinidad & Tobago. For wicket-keepers, I had already selected Jeffrey Dujon of Jamaica and (either) Deryck Murray of Trinidad & Tobago (or) Jackie Hendricks of Jamaica; the final choice of these two being yours, the readers', pick. Six out of sixteen so far. A few of today's picks, though, will cause some upheaval, I am sure. The first couple today are very easy indeed. (Sir) Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers of Barbados is, simply, in my mind, and in many, I am sure, the best all-round cricketer that ever lived, even after all of these years of retirement, and so many pretenders, period. The man's figures speak for themselves. He played in 93 Test matches and in those, he managed 8032 runs, one of a very select bunch of West Indians, indeed, world players, to have gotten over 8000 runs in Test cricket. Sobers' stats are really astounding. He made 26 centuries and 30 half centuries not converted to centuries and averaged a staggering 57.78 runs per innings over such a prolonged career; longevity and productivity all in one. Add the fact that he also got 235 wickets in those Tests, bowling anything from very slippery left-handed medium fast to orthodox and unorthodox, leg breaks and "china-men", at a creditable average of 34.03 runs per wicket, and one begins to get the picture. That he also held 109 catches, fielding anywhere from slip and gully to short forward and backward leg, literally inches from the batsman, "catching wind", especially when Lance Gibbs, the off-spinner, was bowling, is only icing on the Sobers' cake. When Gary Sobers retired, he had rewritten the annals of the role of the "all-rounder" in international cricket. While names like (Sir) Leary Constantine, (Sir) Frank Worrell, David Holford, and even (Sir) Vivian Richards, could be mentioned as "all-rounders" for this team, I would hope that no-one would be sacrilegious enough to mention any of those names in the same breath as the one used to mention Garfield Sobers when describing a REAL "all-rounder". Sobers was, and for all intents and purposes, still is, supreme. So, Sobers is easily selected to this team, No. 7 in the count. No. 8 in the count is another certainty; "The Master Blaster" or, if you prefer, "Smoking Joe" or just plain, "Uncle Smokes"; (Sir) Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards. No-one, both friend or foe, in the history of West Indian cricket, managed to conjure up so much fear, respect, flair, poise and downright resignation to one's fate, than Viv Richards did. Great opposition bowlers squirmed at his actual walk to the crease, much less his stroke-play. Even team-mates stood in awe of his commitment, power and absolute control of his cricketing presence. Viv played cricket as it should be played, with full commitment, supreme confidence and absolute conviction. "Smoking Joe" Richards played in a gargantuan 121 Test matches, making an astronomical 8540 runs at an average of 50.23 runs per over. These include 24 centuries and another 45 half centuries which were not converted to centuries. That is even more unbelievable, as this span of Test cricket also, like Sobers, included being captain, and hence the great responsibility, of and for the West Indian cricket team. Even though it is not a consideration for this particular team, it must be mentioned that Viv also made over 6000 runs in his 187 One Day International appearances. Truly unbelievable, but absolutely true. Viv's selection to this team is a foregone conclusion. While his bowling was not nearly as good as his batting was, Viv still managed to get 32 Test wickets at a relatively poor average of 61.37 runs per wicket. Where he excelled, though, was in the catching surety and exceptional fielding prowess he possessed. Darting from cover or diving at slip meant the same thing, dangerous situations to the batsman. Viv took 122 catches in his career, most in the slip cordon effected for four marauding fast bowlers. The next certainty is selection No. 9, Lancelot Richard Gibbs of Guyana. For a very long period of time, Lance Gibbs was actually a part of a West Indies spin attack which was the scourge of batsmen around the world, just before the advent of the four-fast-bowlers-in-a-team phenomena of the late 1970's, and the 1980's. Like Gary Sobers, Gibbs started his career in the late 1950's and ended it in the middle 1970's, a really long time to play by today's standards. Indeed, Sobers and Gibbs combined both as spinners operating together, or in tandem as catcher-bowler, in either order of effort, to dismiss more than 300 Test batsmen around the world. Lance Gibbs played in 79 Tests and got 309 Test wickets with his off spin, the only West Indian spinner, and one of only himself, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, to get to 300 wickets in Tests for the West Indies. For some considerable period, "Tooth Pick" Gibbs was the holder of the record for Test wickets, just before the faster bowlers intervened. Gibbs's catching and cat-like reflexes were well used in Test cricket also, especially when fielding in the gully area, where he took most of his 52 catches in Test cricket . His outfielding and intensity on the field of play; he hated losing more than most people I have even known; could even, on the correct day, match that of Viv Richards. I doubt that anyone would suggest that Lance Gibbs does not deserve to be the No. 9 selectee for this team. Some close consideration was also given to both Trinidad & Tobago's Sunny Ramadhin, who finished his Test career with 158 wickets, each at 28.98 runs per wicket, from 43 Tests; and Jamaican Alfred Valentine, who played 36 Tests for his 139 wickets at 30.32 runs per wicket. Ramadine and Valentine were the first really renowned pair of spinners produced by the West Indies, remembering that they came along just as the advent of the electronic age, the 1950's, was coming to pass. My 10th pick for this team is another really classy batsman, perhaps second only to Vivian Richards in the sense of class and distinct conquest of the opposition's bowlers. One of the note-worthy things about (Sir) Everton De Courcy Weekes is the fact that in all of his Test career, he is reputed, unlike Viv, to have hit only one six in his entire Test career. Indeed, to quote Sir Everton, "One cannot be out caught if one does not hit the ball in the air." Of course he was one of that genre of batsmen for the West Indies named "The three W's", which included Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott. Unfortunately for Worrell, Walcott and a few others, they will not make my team. Everton Weekes was class personified. In his 48 Tests, he managed 4455 runs, at an average of 58.61 runs per innings. Astonishingly, he made 15 centuries and 19 half centuries in that lot. That is truly the attitude of a compiler of runs, when one considers that he was more a classy accumulator of runs than the more free hitting batsman that Viv was. I think that it was just a pity that the career of Everton Weekes, like so many others, suffered from that period between 1939 and 1945, the 2nd World War, which so affected the lives of so many other people. Perhaps, Everton Weekes would have started his career much earlier than he had in 1947/8. My final pick for this week, my 11th, is another batsman of a cricketing era even before my birth, George Alphonso Headley of Jamaica. Headley only played in 22 Tests, starting in 1929-30 with a Test debut century, 176, at the Kensington Oval, Barbados. Another who suffered from the 2nd World War, his Test career ended in 1948-49 with him completing 2190 runs at the astounding average of 60.83, still the best batting average of all the West Indian batsmen who have played more than 5 Test matches. That he transcended the war, and still managed to average so well, must qualify as being very special. Headley is one of the greatest batsmen we have produced. So, there we are. I have now identified eleven players of my sixteen players for this team. They are: Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Conrad Hunte, Roy Fredericks, Jeffrey Dujon, Deryck Murray (or Jackie Hendricks), Garfield Sobers, Lance Gibbs, Viv Richards, Everton Weekes and George Headley. Next week, my final part of this episode, I will select the final batsman from a pletora of batting talent, and the four fast bowlers, from so many good, even great ones, which will complete this West Indies Team of the Century. Enjoy!! This last week has been one hell of a week. I was both angry and sad for the same reason. One of my nominees for this imaginary touring team of the 20th century, for a tour into the 21st century, died last week Thursday, even before he could have the "honor" of being included in my 16 West Indian players of all time. Of course, the world now knows that "Macco" Malcolm Marshall, the Barbados, Hampshire, Natal and West Indies fast bowler par excellence, died, at the extremely young age of 41 (the age makes me angry), as a result of cancer of the colon. It was no surprise that he died as a result of this ailment, which, I have now come to understand of this particular branch of cancer, is devastating. Yet it was a tremendous shock that it happened so very quickly. I have not recovered yet and may never do. The final effort and act will be played out this weekend, Saturday next, in Barbados, when we all will say a final farewell to our friend and team-mate, at his funeral. I have even written a special article on Malcolm Denzil Marshall, published under separate cover in these annals. A bit more on "Macco" later. Please remember that I had already selected 11 of my 16 players for this touring team. Those already selected were Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Conrad Hunte, Roy Fredericks, Jeffrey Dujon, Deryck Murray (of Jackie Hendricks), Garfield Sobers, Lance Gibbs, Viv Richards, Everton Weekes and George Headley. Before "Macco" took over the e-mail lines and everything else with his untimely passing, many were suggesting the final five players I would want to select. I think that only one "guesser" was correct. I still need four fast bowlers and a final batsman. I also have to nominate a captain of this team. Here are some of the final places. There are two people, fast bowlers, whose very poise when they were playing actually epitomized fast bowling. These two guys have stood out, along with Malcolm Marshall, as being the best of those "real" fast bowlers that we have produced. There has been many. Charlie Griffith, Wes Hall, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Wayne Daniel, Sylvester Clarke, Malcolm Marshall, Patrick Patterson, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Keith Boyce, Vanburn Holder, Norbert Philip, Winston Davis, Kenny Benjamin, Winston Benjamin, Uton Dowe, Grayson Shillingford, Joel Garner, Roy Gilchrist, Tony Gray, Lester King, John Trim, Ian Bishop and, I suppose, Colin Croft, along with some of the new, present guys. Wesley Winfield Hall is probably the first fast bowler anyone would select in his or her "all West Indies cricket team". The man was a tremendous force, a bowler of really devastating pace and presence. Many a fable, or fact, has been attributed to the pace and career of Wes Hall, "larger than life" even. There was no stopping the man with the gold cross on the gold chain around his neck. I actually once saw Wes stop a Test game for some considerable time, at Bourda in Guyana, in 1965 against Australia, while he looked for the chain which had become detached. Wes Hall played in 48 Tests and got 192 wickets at 26.38 runs per wicket. He also had a few stints at playing for Queensland in Australia and for Trinidad & Tobago, in the Caribbean. In these days of playing at least two Test series per year, Wes probably would have ended up with over 300 wickets. He was seldom injured in the prime of his career. From both personal sight and films, his run in was as organized as those more recently mentioned for their fluency, Michael Holding and Dennis Lillee. The absolutely straight right arm, the swing of the body in the classic "side-on" delivery action is still used in some fast bowling training and coaching films around the world. Wes Hall in full flight was really something to behold, a very scary sight indeed for a batsman. With his compatriot, Charlie Griffith, Wes created havoc in the 60's. Wes's batting was not that of a "rabbit" at all. He actually has two Test half centuries and for a tail-ender, managed a credible average of 15.73 runs per innings. There are some supposedly full fledged batsmen who do not average that these days. Of course, since his retirement from playing the game, Wes has done everything from being a Minister of the Government of Barbados, to being a Manager of the West Indies cricket team to being a Manager of Sandals Resorts to, in the recent years, becoming a Pastor (Minister of Religion). As one friend suggested, Wes should have been called "Ghost". He seems to have been everywhere. He, incidentally, has the unenviable task of being the Pastor in charge of Malcolm Marshall's funeral this coming weekend. I do not envy him at all. I also doubt that anyone will envy him his position in this team. Michael Holding, is, of course, the second of those fast bowlers who must, in my mind, be selected. No-one, except perhaps the previously mentioned Australian, Dennis Lillee, ever looked so immaculate in his approach to the wicket as a bowler. "Whispering Death" is probably apt for this Jamaican former 400 meter runner. Holding glided in, from somewhere in the next parish, so long was his run-in initially, gathered pace and delivered with another classical, if slightly chest-on, but absolutely wonderful action. Those extremely dangerous "exocet" missiles achieved about 95 - 98 miles per hour (clocked unofficially at 102 in 1978), and got wickets, " body hits" or fear, or all three at once, on opposing batsmen. Uncannily, all this was achieved with as little sound as possible. Batting to Michael Holding was like starring in a Dracula or Edgar Allan Poe movie. Death, silent, whispering death, was always very close indeed. I actually played youth cricket against "Mr. T" (another name) in 1971 when neither of us had any clue that we would eventually play for the West Indies. Even then, he was sufficiently good for all to realize that sooner rather than later, he would play for the West Indies. It was not long, 1975, before he was identified by Clive Lloyd as being a vital cog in his (Lloyd's) fast bowling machinery plan, despite Holding's lack of international experience. He was a gamble that paid high dividends. Holding formed a great friendship and on-the-field combination with Andy Roberts, and for a short period of time, Wayne Daniel, just before the advent of Joel Garner, Colin Croft and Malcolm Marshall, who joined them later. By the time he had finished his career, Michael Holding was a much traveled man, having played for Canterbury in New Zealand, Tasmania in Australia, Derbyshire and Lancashire in the United Kingdom and Jamaica in the West Indies, along with playing for the West Indies. He had played in 60 Tests, getting 249 wickets at 23.68 runs per wicket. He also managed 102 One Day Internationals and got 142 wickets in that format too. His batting was not bad neither, as he got six half centuries in his 910 runs at 13.78 runs per innings. Perhaps Holding's greatest hour was against England in 1976 at the Oval cricket ground in London. He got 14 wickets in that Test, on a flat pitch, including a mammoth 8-92, the first West Indian fast bowler to get 8 wickets in a Test innings. Only two other West Indian fast bowlers have gotten 8 wickets in an innings. Indeed, only two other spinners have done the same. No-one will suggest other than that Michael Anthony Holding would be a "must" for this team. These days, he is a Commentator, so he is giving back, and still fully involved, in cricket. By now, everyone will know all of the details of Malcolm Denzil Marshall's amazing cricket career. He played in 81 Tests and 136 One Day Internationals for the West Indies cricket team, getting 376 wickets, in an unbelievable 20.94 runs per wicket, and 157 wickets at 26.96 runs per wicket, respectively in each forum. His strike rate for each forum of the game was almost similar, just about an incredible 46.0 balls per wicket. Truly amazing for such a long career. In his own way, Malcolm Marshall was a combination of everything good about Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and even Colin Croft, since he was an understudy to us for about three tours. What a success story this understudy became. He is probably the best we have ever produced, if not the world. He certainly is among the best three. Even his demeanor was classy. No personal recriminations at criticisms, just friendliness and professionalism. I have written and said so much on Malcolm Marshall this last week that I will not even go further into his career, for Hampshire, Natal, Barbados and the West Indies here. Suffice it to say that M.D. Marshall will remain, in my eyes at least, an honored friend, a tremendous talent, and a gallant "real" hero of West Indian cricket. No-one, nowhere, could suggest, even at his death, that he does not belong with the greatest of West Indian players, dead or alive. My final selection for the fast bowlers gave me much headache, as if I did not have enough to think about already. Those I decided to consider were Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Andy Roberts and Joel Garner. Each of these fast bowlers are incredibly accomplished. Each, on his day, could turn the best batting line-up to so much smoke!! Courtney Walsh is still very active and will probably soon, more than likely against New Zealand later this year, become the leading wicket-taker in the world. To date, he already has 423 Test wickets at a great average of 25.11 runs per wicket from his 110 Test matches. He has also played in 202 One Day Internationals, getting 225 wickets in that forum. This guy has been playing since 1983 and had so many bowling partners that he himself may not remember some of their names Curtly Ambrose has similar credentials. He too is officially still very involved in present day West Indies as a player. He has played in 88 Test games since starting in 1987/8 and has 369 wickets at the very mean average of 21.31 runs per wicket. He also has 170 One Day Internationals, getting 224 wickets at 24.01 runs per wicket. Contrary to one of my previous suggestions ( my mistake) Ambrose is one of three, not two, West Indians who have made both 1000 runs in Test cricket and gotten 100 Test wickets. The other two are (Sir) Gary Sobers and Malcolm Marshall. While Ambrose has slowed down somewhat, he is still a very cunning fast bowler, very difficult to get away. Andy Roberts could be suggested as the "father" of modern West Indian fast bowling. He was the example, and the shepherd, used to cultivate Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Wayne Daniel, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and all those following fast bowlers. Andy, a very deep thinker of the game, taught us things about fast bowling that no-one even knew existed. His statistics are not that impressive when compared with the others. However, considering that at one stage, he was isolated, without much other fast bowling help, "Fruit T" did well. He still finished 47 Tests and got 202 wickets for his troubles, at 25.61 runs per wicket. He also managed three half centuries in averaging 14.94 runs per innings. His batting was pretty good, actually. At one stage, he was considered by many, including some team-mates, as an all-rounder. He got three Test half centuries and averaged 14.94 runs per innings. Finally, "Big Bird" Joel Garner. He played in 58 Tests and got 259 wickets from them, at an average of 20.97 runs per wicket. He also played in 98 One Day Internationals and got 146 wickets at the extremely meager average of 18.84 runs per wicket. Joel was a colossus of fast bowlers. At 6 feet 9 inches tall, he towered over even me, at 6 feet 5 inches tall. He scared batsmen with his very presence and destroyed them, some times stumps, sometimes toes, with the very best "yorkers" ever bowled consistently in international cricket. While none of his spells were really spectacular, with perhaps seven or eight wickets, he was easily the most consistent fast bowler over his tenure. While I have not really studied it, I would guess that Joel may have gotten more four wicket hauls than anyone that I know. I once saw Joel bowl like a spinner, so extended was his spell. Yet he continued to bowl quickly. In our, his and mine, first Test ever in Australia, at Brisbane 1n 1979, Joel had these figures: 41-13-75-2. Australia managed 448-6 in a drawn game. Like Andy Roberts, he too could have been thought of as something of a minor all-rounder and averaged 12.44 runs per innings. Garner's catching was also very sure, at gully. He got 42 catches, most of them in that position, off the faster bowlers. So, after much soul searching, I will suggest that Joel Garner is the 4th fast bowler in this team. I will say that it was very difficult indeed not to include Courtney Walsh. However, I will say this. During the time that I played my 27 Tests, I would suggest that Joel was the best of all of the fast bowlers during that time. While Holding, Roberts, Marshall, Daniel and myself did our jobs well, that particular fast bowling period was, if it could be suggested, dominated by Joel Garner. Averaging just below five wickets per Test, I know that Garner was the best of this isolated period, when we all bowled together. Incidentally, I expect that this final fast bowling selection will cause some debate, along with the final batsman, who, along with the captain, will be named in the final episode next week. This is not one of those weeks to really "enjoy", but make the best of it anyway. I have had many approving and even some disapproving replies to my selections so far for this imaginary team. That is very pleasant indeed. My selected four fast bowlers, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Wesley Hall and Joel Garner seem to be the biggest problem with some readers. That, folks, was part of the intention of this journey. Another part was to highlight some of our more illustrious cricketers. Incidentally, the West Indies have produced less than 200 Test cricketers altogether. Is it not amazing how much they, as a body, have achieved since 1928, especially since the on-going population of the English speaking Caribbean is about 7,000,000 people? Cricket, especially West Indian cricket, is steeped in friendly, sometime not so friendly, banter as to whom is/was the best etc. Everyone's opinion is very important. But it should also be remembered that an opinion is exactly that. An opinion is neither correct nor incorrect. It is an opinion!! As Sean Connery said in "The Hunt For Red October", a little controversy and upheaval is sometimes good. Also, it gives the impression that people still care deeply for the sport if they can be such heated arguments about it. That is also good!! I remember, some time in the early seventies, I think, before computers had become so prevalent, and before Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield had become household names, that the world's boxing fraternity had presented a series, broadcast on radio and television, about whom could be considered as the best heavyweight boxer that the world had ever seen to that time, counting back from the time that boxing was first sanctioned. If I remember correctly, the computerized finalists were Muhammad Ali v Rocky Marciano, after passing through guys like Bob Fitz Simmons, Joe Louis and Primo Carnero. Of course, "The Rock" had never lost a heavyweight bout in his life. "The Greatest", in my mind, then, now, and forever, will however always be the best the world has seen, despite his losses. The winner, by computers, was Rocky Marciano. The heated debate continues to this day. I wonder where Mike Tyson and Evander Hollyfield would stand in that situation, if it were to be updated and aired now. Where professional sport is concerned, there will always be controversy, but at least it gets the blood and adrenaline going if anyone cares enough about the sport at all. So let it be with West Indian cricket. I need a captain for this team. I will say this. I am a firm believer that the captain of especially a West Indian cricket team must firstly be able to make the team as a player, something which does not necessarily obtain everywhere else in the cricket world, before he can be made captain. Respect and response from the rest of the players dictate that this is a necessity. Therefore, I will not select 15 players and a captain. I will select 16 players, then one of those will be captain. I need a final middle order batsman to make up my 16, and I have a plethora of talent to choose from. My nominees for that final place are Guyanese Alvin Kallicharran, Guyanese Rohan Kanhai, Guyanese Clive Lloyd, Guyanese Basil Butcher, Barbadian Seymour Nurse, Barbadian (Sir) Frank Worrell, Barbadian (Sir) Clyde Walcott, Jamaican Lawrence Rowe, Antigua & Barbuda and the Leeward Islands' Richie Richardson, Trinidad & Tobago's Larry Gomes and Trinidad & Tobago's Brian Lara. These eleven guys would be great batting line-up in themselves, if that were possible. While none of them could bowl that well, hence the opposition could not be bowled out twice, at least these eleven batsmen would guarantee a West Indian total of at least 2000 runs!! Unfortunately, I only need one batsman!! Alvin Isaac Kallicharran is one of those West Indian batsmen who would forever be underrated, especially by those who never played with or against him. For such a slight man, his timing when batting was impeccable. His favorite cricket stroke, "the Short Arm Jab" (so dubbed by Kalli himself), was really either a cut or a square drive, played with the least of effort, which invariably allowed the ball to speed to the boundary. He hooked well too. I can also say that I am convinced that Kalli was one of the best, if not the best, "reader" of spin bowling in the world. I would never forget him openly, correctly, identifying, from the players' enclosure, every delivery bowled by Pakistan's two leg spinners, Intikhab Alam and Mustaq Muhammad, in my first Test series. It was truly amazing!! Alvin Kallicharran made 4399 runs from his 66 Tests, averaging 44.43 runs per innings. As we have accepted, except in very few exceptions, it is very noteworthy when a batsman could average over 40.00 per innings after such a long period of time. Kalli had 12 Test centuries and 21 additional half centuries, yet few really acknowledge that this guy was an excellent batsman. As a slip fielder mostly, he snared 51 catches. Rohan Babulall Kanhai was, in my mind, the last really exciting innovator of batsmanship. Not only was he a very accomplished batsman, a batsman whose pads, in playing a defensive stroke, were easily the widest and most daunting I have encountered as a bowler, but he was the last person, before the "reverse sweep" was invented recently, to invent a cricket shot. Kanhai specialty was "the falling down sweep" or "the sweep on the backside", a shot which almost invariably allowed the ball to go sailing for four or six, but also assured the crowd of excitement, as "The Lall" almost always ended up on his back, or at least his backside. I saw that stroke played against the Australians in 1965 and the Englishmen in 1968 at Bourda, the results of those innings being 89 and 152. When that 152 was made, (Sir) Garfield Sobers also made 150. The usually green sward of the Bourda cricket ground actually turned brown with the ball consistently being hit to the boundary, as these two masters made 302 runs from an all out total of 414. Batsmanship at its best. Kanhai's batting figures are extremely pleasant to read. 79 Tests, 6227 runs, average 47.53, 15 centuries, 28 half centuries. Wow. His sure handed catching, both as wicket-keeper and slips fieldsman, also gave him 50 catches. That is somewhat better than just "good". Maybe Kanhai was somewhat overshadowed by (Sir) Gary Sobers and then the advent of (Sir) Viv Richards. However, no one, I hope, would suggest that Kanhai does not belong in this mix. How underrated he too has been!! Clive Hubert Lloyd has two things going in his favor for this last spot. Firstly, he played a huge 110 Test matches, made 7515 runs, including 19 centuries and 39 half centuries, at an average of 46.67 runs per innings, and held a colossal 90 catches, most from his fast bowlers. Contrary to beliefs, Lloyd became a much better batsman, and much more reliable, batting later in the order of that world beating team of the 70's and 80's, the latter part of his career. The fast bowlers normally went to sleep when they knew that Lloyd and Larry Gomes were still to bat. Like Desmond Haynes after him, Lloyd is one of the very few cricketers I have met who have used his "less than expert" natural talent to become a world beater. He was a natural fieldsman and before Viv, "Super Cat" could actually effect a run-out on a gazelle!! As time passed, his catching became even better, hence those 90 catches!! He, again like Desmond Haynes, suffered from going to Kerry Packer' World Series cricket. Had Lloyd not done so, he certainly would have made 8000 Test runs, the batsman's "Holy Grail." Of course, his sojourns with Lancashire County Cricket Club in the UK only enhances the man's aura. His captaincy is also a factor in his favor. Many have also suggested that "he was lucky" to have such a team to captain, with at least six fast bowlers, two wickets-keepers, maybe nine batsmen, to choose from, all good to great cricketers. What many do not give him credit for is that he actually "made" more than half of those, as it was Lloyd himself who insisted that many of them should be selected. Gordon Greenidge, Viv Richards, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft, to name a few, may not have played, when they did, if ever they would have, had it not been for Lloyd. Many suggest that he was not a good captain. Anyone who could make players perform at 110%, better than even the player thinks he is, has to be a great motivator and manipulator, not to mention that he was not a dictator and always performed too, especially in a crunch. I will say this. No West Indian captain since Lloyd, and maybe only one before him, (Sir) Frank Worrell, has been able to get his players to even play to the full potential of their own ability, much less beyond that ability. Seymour MacDonald Nurse is my all-time favorite West Indian batsmen, as Charlie Griffith is my all-time favorite West Indian fast bowler. Not so much for his production, which, in Nurse's short Test career, was rather good, but for his elegance at the crease. The man "looked" like a Test cricketer. I will never forget seeing him open the batting at Bourda in 1968 against the Englishmen. The first ball in that second innings, from Jeff Jones, clipped the top edge of Seymour's bat and went for six, over third man. He eventually made 49, and with his dismissal, I went home, having scaled the walls to get into Bourda illegally in the first place. I had seen enough to last me a lifetime!! Seymour only played in 29 Test matches, getting 2523 runs, including six centuries and ten half centuries, at an average of 47.60, up there with the "big boys". He played for the West Indies between 1959/60 and 1968/9, yet, his "presence" as a batsman was felt all the way into the nineties. Anyone who would have seen Desmond Haynes, one of our greatest openers ever, bat, would have seen a "copy" of Seymour Nurse. They say that "imitation is the best indicator of stature, flattery and appreciation." Desmond Haynes, especially by the middle of his career, was the epitome of the style and class of Seymour Nurse. No more can be said!! (Sir) Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, like Clive Lloyd; maybe even more than Clive Lloyd; definitely has a few things in his favor too for this final spot in my team. As a batsman, he did splendidly, making 3860 runs from 51 Tests, including 9 centuries and 22 half centuries, averaging 49.48 runs per innings. He also had 43 catches. Also, he was not a bad medium pacer, sometimes opening the bowling even though the likes of (Sir) Garfield were present in the team. He was knighted, supposedly, for his services to cricket, firstly, one would suppose, as a "uniter" of the players from these diverse countries, especially in those very volatile colonial days. (Sir) Frank is credited with being the first person to actually bring class, clout, candidness and control (of and by the players themselves) to the annals of West Indies cricket. Indeed, he actaully refused to tour India in 1958/9 because he was dis-satisfied with the fees for the players. Clive Lloyd in 1978 actually had a precedent to follow!! A great uniting force (Sir) Frank certainly was. Few would forget that although he was the losing captain in Australia in 1960/61, he and his team were motor-caded through the streets of Melbourne, to the applause of hundreds of thousands, to the airport, because of the team's sportsmanship, surely very influenced by the presence and input of (Sir) Frank. It should be noted that when Clive Lloyd's team beat Australia in Australia in 1979/80, for the first time ever, even the Australian officials were missing from the send-off we had, so quiet luke-warm it was!! I even wonder, sometimes, though, if (Sir) Frank could not have been also knighted for his services to the education community of the Caribbean, as he was one of the rather few players, to this day, very disappointingly, who managed a university degree. Not only that, but he continued his community service to the UWI and many other educational outlets. (Sir) Frank Worrell was indeed a great West Indian cricketer and person. Another "Sir", (Sir) Clyde Leopold Walcott, comes into the reckoning here. I had mentioned him before in these annals, but it could not hurt to refresh ourselves as to his contribution. He played in 44 Tests and managed 3798 runs, including 15 hundreds and 14 half-centuries, for one of the highest West Indian batting averages ever, 56.68. He also had 53 catches and 11 stumpings, for, like Rohan Kanhai, (Sir) Clyde was also a competent wicket-keeper. Of course, (Sir) Clyde was also a part of those "Three W's", which are also "Three Knights", the others being (Sir) Frank and (Sir) Everton Weekes. I know that Barbados is still "connected" to the Queen in England, as opposed to Guyana, for example, which is a Republic, but yet I wonder if that has happened anywhere else in the world, that three players of the same era, not even mentioning (Sir) Gary Sobers, could be knighted for the same effort, international cricket, in the same time. Not even England may have managed that!! Lawrence George Rowe was perhaps one of the most unfortunate cricketers to play for the West Indies, along with his Jamaican counterpart, O.G. "Collie" Smith. That Rowe only played 30 Test matches was really a shame, even though he did manage 2047 runs, including seven centuries and seven half centuries, at an adequate average of 43.55 runs per innings. Many would still suggest that "Yagga" was as good as they come. He, like Seymour Nurse, certainly was something special, even in such a short Test career. No-one who witnessed it would forget Rowe's 302 at Barbados in 1974 against the Englishmen. From what I hear, as I was not there, even the sky was full of people, as the trees, the stands and the buildings around the Kensington Oval were fully booked up 48 hours ahead of time. Rowe's cover driving brought tears to one's eyes, so elegant it was. His nonchalance, even whistling while he tore the bowlers apart, suggested that he could have been even more dynamic, had he really tried hard. Like his great friend and competitor, Alvin Kallicharran, batting came so very easily to "Yagga" that it is really a pity we did not see much more of him. He, though, deserves to be in this reckoning. Basil Fitzherbert Butcher is another of those who deserve some comment for his contribution, even though I had mentioned him before also. He played in 44 Tests and made 3104 runs at 43.11 runs per innings, including seven hundred and 16 half centuries. Like Kanhai and Kallicharran, Butcher's contribution is also underrated in the annals of West Indian cricket. Indeed, Butcher, Kanhai and another Guyanese, Joe Soloman, provided, along with (Sir) Gary Sobers, for a time, the middle order of the West Indies cricket team. These guys were the fore-runners of Rowe, (Sir) Vivian, Kallicharran, Lloyd, Richie Ritchardson and Brian Lara. Richie Benjamin Ritchardson is yet another of those under-rated players in the Caribbean's annals of cricket. He was, like Rowe, also unlucky, but for a different reason. As captain, Richardson managed to feature in what has been characterized as the "break up" of West Indian cricket, both on and off of the field. Richie does not deserve this characterization, as it could be argued that a more gentlemanly person never captained the West Indies. He was just unfortunate to be in the wrong time of West Indian cricket history, when many players actually forgot that they were representing that 7,000,000 people of the Caribbean and only thought of their own financial and otherwise personal gain. Richie Richardson played in 86 Test matches and scored 5949 runs, including 16 centuries and 27 fifties, averaging 44.39 runs per innings. This guy could bat, in his own way. He too had a good overall career, when one considers that he opened the batting, then slid around in the batting line-up. While his captaincy was not an altogether great experience, he certainly has given his all for his country. No-one should begrudge him his achievements. Hillary Angelo "Larry" Gomes is the only player I have considered who would have averaged less than 40.00 in Test cricket, yet he also deserves to be here. There are times that figures do not tell the entire story. This is one of them. Larry's usefulness to the West Indies cricket team of the 80's and 90's was immeasurable. Many a day, our very possibility of winning hinged on his steadfast approach to batting. I doubt that there is any other West Indian batsman who would have gotten out more often, have made 30 or 40 invaluable runs batting late in the order. Larry played in 60 Tests and had 3171 runs to show for it. He averaged 39.63 and had 9 centuries and 13 half centuries during that time. In itself, it does not suggest great reading, but in a team like the ones we had in the 80's, when every spoke in the wheel had a specific purpose, Larry's presence was absolutely essential. The final consideration goes to Brian Charles Lara. He has a fantastic batting record. He has played in 63 Tests and has so far scored 5406 runs at the extremely healthy average of 51.98 runs per innings. These runs are complemented by tremendous 13 hundreds and 27 half-centuries, including, of course, the individual world record, 375, for a single Test innings. I will bet any money that come what may, "B.C." , since he is only just 30 years old, will become one of the very few cricketers we have produced to get to 8,000 runs. If he steadies himself, he may even get to 10,000 runs before he is finished. No-one doubts his batsmanship at all. Unfortunately, there are still some supposedly lingering doubts about many other things. The jury is still out as to how good a captain he is or will be. He at least has the time to make up for any time lost in the past. By the time he is done, Brian Lara could have broken all records left to be broken in West Indian and world cricket. Incidentally, he has already managed 162 One Day Internationals and 6167 runs at 42.82 runs per innings. When these annals are rewritten again, say about the year 2025; (I almost alluded to Zager and Zager's 60's hit "In the Year 2525"), I am sure that some more considerations will have appeared. I can only hope to be alive then to do it all again!! So, now we come down to it. I need another middle order batsman and a captain. While both (Sir) Gary Sobers and (Sir) Viv Richards are included in my team, I am not so sure that they were as influential as captains as my selection has been. While (Sir) Frank Worrell also has great pedigree both as batsman and leader, he has not been as successful as my selectee. Rohan Kanhai also deserves special mention here. However, my batsman has also made over 7,000 runs, and is still one of the highest run-getters in the annals of West Indies cricket, along with the rider of being a tremendously successful captain. My captain and final player is Clive Hubert Lloyd. So, my final 16 selections are: Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, (Sir) Conrad Hunte, Roy Fredericks, Jeffrey Dujon, Jackie Hendricks, (Sir) Vivian Richards, (Sir) Garfield Sobers, (Sir) Everton Weekes, Lance Gibbs, George Headley, Michael Holding, Wesley Hall, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and the captain, Clive Lloyd. I know that many may agree with my team, many may not. Indeed, from those suggested and rejected in these five articles, I am sure that I can pick another team which would compare to the selected one. That would only indicate how difficult this exercise will always be. At least give me credit for trying, daring to thread where no-one has gone before. I like doing that, as that is what life is all about, adventure!! Remember that is "my" team, not necessarily yours.
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