Joel Garner made his
debut for the West Indies in the 1977 home series against Pakistan.
Standing 6 foot 8, Garner knew how to use his height to get
more lift, without resorting to the explicit bouncer, than any bowler
who ever lived. With deliveries coming from approximately 12 feet in
the air at a lively pace the ball would rear alarmingly from barely
short of a length to hit the batsman under the arm. Along with this
awkward bounce Garner also bowled the most devastating toe crunching
yorkers the game had seen.
Garner played in an era when West Indies dominated with a quality
four prong pace attack, he would have bowled in partnership
with Colin
Croft, Michael
Holding, Andy
Roberts and Malcolm
Marshall this meant that wickets were often
shared. Despite this Garner played in 58 Tests between 1977 and 1987
and took 259 wickets, with five wicket hauls in an innings on seven
occassions, at the measly average of 20.97, making him one of
the most effective Test bowlers of all time.
Garner was also devestating in
One Day International cricket particularly in the overs at the end of
an innings, when he speared in unhittable yorkers relentlessly at the
toes of opposition batsmen. At Lord's in 1979 he simply blew England's
slim hopes away with 5 for 38, the best figures ever in a World Cup
final.
Joel Garner retired from
international cricket after the West Indies versus New Zealand match at
Christ Church in 1987. After retiring from cricket
Garner has managed the West Indies a team, he has also been Barbados
national selector. In June of 2006 Joel Garner was named as the highest
rated Test bowler of all time in the new LG rankings list, he is
currently a Stanford 20/20 Legend with responsibility for team Antigua
& Barbuda.
Joel Garner Test Cricket
Statistics
Full Name
Joel Garner
Number
of Test
58
Number of ODIs
98
Test Run Aggregate
672
ODI Run Aggregate
239
Test
Batting Average
12.44
ODI
Batting Average
9.19
Total Test Wickets
259
Total ODI Wickets
146
Test Bowling Average
20.97
ODI Bowling Average
18.84
Test
Centuries
0
ODI
Centuries
0
Date of Birth
December 16, 1952, Enterprise,
Christ Church, Barbados
Test Debut
West
Indies v Pakistan at Bridgetown - Feb 18-23, 1977
Last Test Match
New
Zealand v West Indies at Christchurch - Mar 12-15, 1987
ODI Debut
West Indies
v Pakistan at Albion - Mar 16, 1977
Last ODI Match
New Zealand
v West Indies at Christchurch - Mar 28, 1987
Batting
Style
Right hand bat
Bowling
Style
Right-arm fast
Screenshot
Description
Cricket
Legends These players are the 50 greatest cricketers of
the century, as voted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges assembled by
ESPN. The panelists were asked to list in order, their top 50 players.
Cricketing legends from Australia, England, India, New Zealand,
Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies all made it to the final 50.
Among them are some famous West Indies fast bowlers, great Aussie
legends, and modern heros of the game. Disc 4 features Keith
Miller WG Grace Graeme Pollock Malcolm Marshall
