West Indies greatest pace attack in the 1970s/80s

[Dulex9]

It's fair to say West Indies was the dominating team in the 1970s, 80s by some mile and it had a pretty fantastic team.

The bowlers were just amazing:

-Joel Garner
-Andy Roberts
-Holding
-Colin Croft

Then in the 1980s

-Marshall
-Davis
-Patterson
-Walsh

It must have been awesome to watch these pace bowlers in tests and odi's. Especially in tests wearing the batsman down, testing his skill, ability, endurance, mental strength, intelligence, everything.

 

[Dulex9]

To have 4 bowlers like Holding, Garner, Roberts and Croft bowling at you is simply scary stuff, great bowler after great bowler.

 

[Robert]

Roberts-Holding-Garner-Croft was terrible but I think Marshall-Garner-Holding-Patterson was the ultimate incarnation. The latter was not as accurate as the others but he was so fast and so nasty and would hurt you. There was just no respite.

Occasionally the batsmen could get the upper hand but the pacemen would bowl line and length to defensive fields until eventually a wicket fell, and then they would up a gear and come in full power again.

Their batting was so good too, with the old firm of Greenidge and Haynes, the ultimate dominator Richards, the calm Gomes and then pure power from Lloyd. They always said you can make green wickets and get us out cheaply but then our pacemen will get you out for less.

 

[hk031992]

Roberts-Holding-Garner-Croft was terrible but I think Marshall-Garner-Holding-Patterson was the ultimate incarnation. The latter was not as accurate as the others but he was so fast and so nasty and would hurt you. There was just no respite.

Occasionally the batsmen could get the upper hand but the pacemen would bowl line and length to defensive fields until eventually a wicket fell, and then they would up a gear and come in full power again.

Their batting was so good too, with the old firm of Greenidge and Haynes, the ultimate dominator Richards, the calm Gomes and then pure power from Lloyd. They always said you can make green wickets and get us out cheaply but then our pacemen will get you out for less.

i wish i had seen them in their prime

what about Holding-Garner-Marshall-Walsh?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Was the great West Indies pace quartet more lethal in Australia or West Indies?

It is fascinating that some great Aussie batsmen found it a more daunting proposition to face the Calypso quickies on their bouncy home tracks than overseas in the Carribean.Greg Chappell was more at ease against the ferocious pace attack on the west Indies turf than in Australia.He simply relished playing in the West Indies.It is notable that both the Chappell brothers,Waugh brothers and Alan Border performed better in West Indies than in Australia playing against West Indies.

I think it was marginally harder to face them on Australian soil with the depth of pace and bounce.The likes of Holding ,Marshall and Ambrose would relish bowling at Perth than at any ground in West Indies including Barbados and Kingston.The tracks at Melbourne ,Brisbane and Adelaide were quicker than those at Antigua,Trinidad and Georgetown.

The West Indies team at it's best defeated Australia more convincingly away than at home 1984 matches testify this as we.l as well as WSC cricket.

However Ian Chappell disagrees as he felt that the tracks in the Carribaen deteriorated more and thus by the 4th innings had uneven bounce.

Worth studying the performances of the great bowlers in Australia compared to West Indies in Frank Worrel trophy encounters.

 

[Robert]

i wish i had seen them in their prime

what about Holding-Garner-Marshall-Walsh?

Not sure if they ever all bowled together. Sir Viv once said he thought Walsh could be the best of the lot but he was just too nice!

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Do come [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] @freelance cricketer [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

 

[MMHS]

My top 10 will be -

1. Marshall
3. Holding
4. Roberts
5. Ambrose
7. Garner
8. Bishop
9. Croft
10. Walsh
11. Davis
12. Patterson

Sylvester Clarke was extremely fast, but not so skillful, while Winston Benjamin came with lots of potential, but didn't develop into a Test fast bowler.

Two other bowlers we have to consider for different reasons never made it to their potential - Anthony Grey and Franklyn Stephenson. Stephenson could have been a world class all-rounder had he not left for SAF at the age of 21. Throughout 1980s, he matched other 5 top all-rounders (Rice was the 5th), match by match for Gloster & Notts. I think, they had couple more world class pacers who hardly got any chance - Ezra Mosley and Wayne Daniel.

In all time list, we'll have to find a spot for Wes Hall in top 10, probably among top 6 - he should be ahead of Garner in packing order in a time zero world.

 

[hk031992]

My top 10 will be -

1. Marshall
3. Holding
4. Roberts
5. Ambrose
7. Garner
8. Bishop
9. Croft
10. Walsh
11. Davis
12. Patterson

Sylvester Clarke was extremely fast, but not so skillful, while Winston Benjamin came with lots of potential, but didn't develop into a Test fast bowler.

Two other bowlers we have to consider for different reasons never made it to their potential - Anthony Grey and Franklyn Stephenson. Stephenson could have been a world class all-rounder had he not left for SAF at the age of 21. Throughout 1980s, he matched other 5 top all-rounders (Rice was the 5th), match by match for Gloster & Notts. I think, they had couple more world class pacers who hardly got any chance - Ezra Mosley and Wayne Daniel.

In all time list, we'll have to find a spot for Wes Hall in top 10, probably among top 6 - he should be ahead of Garner in packing order in a time zero world.

Good list but Walsh is too low