Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Michael Holding

From a purely aesthetic & visual point of view at least, Michael Holding was the greatest of the great West Indian fast bowlers

He used to remind me of a young stallion, standing at the start of his run, with all the power & vulnerability that that implies. I dont think he actually used to paw at the ground with his foot, nor blow steam from his nostrils - it wasnt usually that cold, even in England. But he always ducked his head at the start of his run

And what a run! Dickie Bird said that he never liked standing at the bowlers end to Holding because you never heard him coming