Michael Holding - The most talented right-arm fast-bowler of all and most lethal at his best?

[Harsh Thakor]

Quite a number of cricketing greats have chosen Michael Holding in their all time test XI for his all-round perfection like Mike Procter, Neil Harvey, Ray Illingworth, Asif Iqbal, Majid Khan, Syed Kirmani and Lawrence Rowe. Imran Khan rates Holding as the most perfect fast bowler of his time and most talented right arm paceman ever. Cristopher Martin Jenkins Holding has rated Holding at 85th place amongst 100 best cricketers of all time while John Woodcock places him at 65th place, ahead of any great West Indies paceman. Ray Lindwall ranked Holding behind only Dennis Lillee in his era and amongst his 7 best fast bowlers ever. Len Hutton rated Holding as the best and most lethal of the then West Indian pace quartet, who in his view took too long a run up, which could have been reduced by around 10 yards.

When judged amongst the all-time greats at his best Holding is a strong candidate for the 5-6 most skilled pace bowlers ever. Perhaps no paceman at his best sent more shivers down the spine of opponents. and no right arm genuine quickie possessed more natural ability than Holding. However he never completely utilized his potential or bowling intelligence depending too much on speed for his entire career, and not blending movement, variations or slower deliveries like partner Andy Roberts. In full gear in a single spell, Holding was possibly as lethal as the greatest fast bowlers ever. If he had worked harder on his bowling like Imran or Lillee Holding may have been the best of all right arm genuinely fast bowlers. Another notable aspect that acted against his prospects was that he was consistently beset by injuries. I find it very hard to separate Michael Holding and Andy Roberts with not even a whisker separating the two giants. Holding did not reverse swing or posses a slower ball like Marshall and Roberts or was as accurate as Ambrose or Garner, but in the total package on his day could be the most effective.

 

[Junaids]

I watched Holding at close quarters at Old Trafford.

He was extremely quick between 1975 and 1984.

The 1975-76 WACA Test saw the most sensitive and precise speed measuring equipment ever used in a match: twenty times more accurate than the devices used today.

Andy Roberts was measured at 159.49 while the young, raw Holding - who had a cold at the time - was measured at 150.67.

Nobody disputes that Holding was quicker than Roberts (who was separately measured at 157.8 on another occasion that summer.)

What Holding had was consistent express pace - all six balls in an over would be at a similar pace. You can only assume that from 1975-1984, he probably bowled at least two balls per over at a speed above 155K, with the other 4 between 147-154K.

He was tall and had a high action and got extreme pace and steep bounce from a full length.

He was a very fine bowler. But of the West Indians, I think that at their peaks Marshall, Garner, Ambrose and Bishop were better than Holding.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

I watched Holding at close quarters at Old Trafford.

He was extremely quick between 1975 and 1984.

The 1975-76 WACA Test saw the most sensitive and precise speed measuring equipment ever used in a match: twenty times more accurate than the devices used today.

Andy Roberts was measured at 159.49 while the young, raw Holding - who had a cold at the time - was measured at 150.67.

Nobody disputes that Holding was quicker than Roberts (who was separately measured at 157.8 on another occasion that summer.)

What Holding had was consistent express pace - all six balls in an over would be at a similar pace. You can only assume that from 1975-1984, he probably bowled at least two balls per over at a speed above 155K, with the other 4 between 147-154K.

He was tall and had a high action and got extreme pace and steep bounce from a full length.

He was a very fine bowler. But of the West Indians, I think that at their peaks Marshall, Garner, Ambrose and Bishop were better than Holding.

What about Andy Roberts ?Better?

 

[Robert]

By the time I got to see Holding he had slowed down a little and was coming in as first change behind the clearly quicker Marshall and man-mountain Garner. He had become an “advanced” bowler like Lillee and Hadlee in the second halves of their careers - very accurate, moving it about, probing for weaknesses in technique. There was no let up after the opening bowlers’ spells, just a different type of examination from the throat-ball rocket pace from Marshall and steepling bounce from Garner.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

By the time I got to see Holding he had slowed down a little and was coming in as first change behind the clearly quicker Marshall and man-mountain Garner. He had become an “advanced” bowler like Lillee and Hadlee in the second halves of their careers - very accurate, moving it about, probing for weaknesses in technique. There was no let up after the opening bowlers’ spells, just a different type of examination from the throat-ball rocket pace from Marshall and steepling bounce from Garner.

Sound asessment Complement.Where would you rank him amongst he great West Indian fast bowlers?

 

[Robert]

Sound asessment Complement.Where would you rank him amongst he great West Indian fast bowlers?

I'd say Marshall is #1, then Holding, Roberts. Garner, Ambrose all very close behind him.

 

[hk031992]

I'd say Marshall is #1, then Holding, Roberts. Garner, Ambrose all very close behind him.

Agreed with this. I would say Marshall, Holding and Ambrose are the 3 guys i would pick in an all time WI 11. Roberts or Garner would be the fourth. Apologies to Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop who were both great.

My only reluctance with picking Ambrose is that he didn't actually like cricket.

 

[Manunited18]

Yep, Marshall for me was the Greatest west indies paceman of all time. Searing speed, with sublime skill set and a brutal skiddy bouncer! A bowler for all conditions.

 

[TheSultan]

Holding was just a sight to watch. Even now with all the analysis at everyone’s disposal have yet to see such a rhythmic run up and action. Great bowler too.

He was one of those who when he lost pace, also lost that regular 5fer taking ability. This is where Marshall exceeded him. Apart from that he wasn’t far behind macco.

Another bowler who gets severely underrated is big bird Joel garner. He was a vital cog in the windies line up and had an amazing record to boot.

 

[Ab Fan]

For me, the order is :-

1. Marshall
2. Ambrose
3. Roberts
4. Holding
5. Bishop
6. Garner
7. Walsh

 

[Harsh Thakor]

For me, the order is :-

1. Marshall
2. Ambrose
3. Roberts
4. Holding
5. Bishop
6. Garner
7. Walsh

Great ranking.Agree with 1st 4.

 

[Junaids]

Great ranking.Agree with 1st 4.

Ian Bishop was never the same again after his back fractures by the age of 23.

But from 1989-91 he was the best of the best.

As fast as Holding.

As steep bounce as Ambrose.

As much swing as Marshall, but even later.

He remodelled his action and was never in the same class again. But for those couple of years he was the perfect tall, Express-pace fast bowler.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Ian Bishop was never the same again after his back fractures by the age of 23.

But from 1989-91 he was the best of the best.

As fast as Holding.

As steep bounce as Ambrose.

As much swing as Marshall, but even later.

He remodelled his action and was never in the same class again. But for those couple of years he was the perfect tall, Express-pace fast bowler.

Appreciate Comment.Learnt a lot.How would you compare Holding with Roberts?Who was better in your view?Also Sylvester Clarke ?

 

[umarf76]

What about Andy Roberts ?Better?

If you read the autobiographies of Imran Khan (and he is a great judge of talent) he did a detailed comparison of them all.

As per him nothing compared to Holding. By far the fastest. Thompson you can say second and Roberts third with probably the best bouncer.

Lillee to him was the most skilled fast bowler.

Hadlee was a ***** who would go in a shell if you attack him.

He did not rate Kapil or Botham it seemed and they both performed for like 5 years and then became military medium after 84/85.

 

[umarf76]

He also rated Marshall very highly. In skill level not far behind Lillee.

 

[PakLFC]

Marshall for me is the GOAT. Many years back I faced another West Indian Wayne Daniel for a few balls. Not the most famous quickies but can tell you he was super fast. Many lesser known cricketers are and were equally as threatening as the more famous ones.