Andy Roberts (West Indies)
Tuesday, December 24 2002 15:12 Hrs (IST)

Andy Roberts, one of the fearsome four in the 1975 Prudential World Cup victorious West Indian team, is still remembered for his sheer pace and accuracy. His partners were Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner. Holding and Roberts used to bowl in tandem and were one of the most feared duos in the world at that time.

Roberts made his debut in the 1975 World Cup and went on to play in 16 World Cup matches. He took 26 wickets at an average of 21.23 and at an economy rate of 3.24. This economy rate is largely unmatched even amongst today’s top bowlers.

Playing on the Kennington Oval pitch, London against Australia, Roberts showed his mettle when he took three wickets for 39 runs in 10.4 overs. The Windies won the match by seven wickets and Roberts had well and truly arrived on the One-day scene.

In the 1983 World Cup, the Indians were fast taking away the game from the Windies and it was Roberts who gave some semblance of fight when he took three wickets for 32 runs including the crucial wicket of Gavaskar. However he failed to save the match and India won the match and the Cup by 43 runs.

Roberts and his partners were one of the main factors, which seemed to make the West Indies team invincible. On any given day they could tear apart any opposition to shreds and Roberts was accurate as well as genuinely fast, which is a dangerous combination.

Andy Roberts will be remembered for creating that special magic of a fast bowler coming hurtling down the wicket and sending the stumps shattering. One hopes that the West Indies can recreate such a special set of bowlers once again for all cricket lovers.

Compiled by Ramnath Bhat

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