Michael Holding

Michael Holding was the Rolls Royce of fast bowlers made his Test debut for the West Indies as an untried, loose-limbed twenty one year old in the 1975-76 series in Australia. Standing 6ft 4 1/2in tall, Holding was all grace and showed unmistakable quality, class and speed off a long rhythmic run to the wicket. In this same series with the introduction of the speed gun technology, Michael Holding still only twenty one was a shade faster than the Australian  Jeff Thomson. Holdings fastest ball was clock at 97 mph, 

Nickname "Whispering Death" because of his quiet approach to the bowling crease, Holding's bowling was smooth and very quick, and he used his height and rhythm  to generate large amounts of bounce and zip off the pitch. Holding was part of the fearsome West Indian pace attack which dominated world cricket in the 1970's and eighties, along with the likes of Joel Garner, Andy Roberts, Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft and the late Malcolm Marshall. 

During the 1976  tour of England Holding's demonstrated his class, he was fast , hostile and accurate in the final Test match at the Oval on a slow parch pitch. His excelent fast bowling earned him figures of eight for 92 in the first innings, he then return in the second innings to claim another six wicketsdismissing England for 203 to give West Indies victory by 231 runs. This performance earn him the best bowling figures by a West Indian with match figures of 14 for 149 

Easily one of the great fast bowlers of all time, Michael Holdings over to  Boycott during the third Test match at Kensington Oval against England in 1981, has gone down in history as the finest, fastest, most ferocious over of all time. Holding's first ball rapped Boycott on the gloves and dropped just short of the slips. Each succeeding ball after that was quicker than the previous one. The second beat Boycott outside the off stump, and the third cut back and struck him on the inside of his right thigh. The fourth and fifth both hurried Boycott, but he just about managed to keep them out and the final ball was pitched up and sent his off stump cartwheeling almost 20 yards as he desperately and belatedly brought his bat down. 

Michael Holding retired from international cricket at the age of 33, after the Wellington Test match of the New Zealand series in, 1987, having taken 249 Test wickets with an average of 23.68.  After retiring from Test cricket Holding started a career as a cricket commentator for sky sports. 

Michael Holding Test Cricket Statistics

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	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
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	England vs West indies 1976 5th Test: West Indies won the Fifth Test Match at the Oval as Viv Richards scored 291 runs and Michael Holding created a record by taking 14 for 149 in the match. 180 mins.
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	NTSC -  DVD		£24.99
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	Texaco Throphy 1984, Viv Richards in peak form, dominated the 1984 Texaco trophy of three one day internationals, hammering away English hopes with a majestic display of batting artistry. After scoring a masterly 189 not out in the first ODI and helping his team win by a 104 runs margin. Richards was out for 3 in the second match which West Indies lost by 3 wickets - this was England's first victory over West Indies in ODIs in 4 years. But Richards came back strong in the 3rd ODI at Lords, his brutal assault of 84 runs coming from 65 balls included 4 sixes and 10 fours. West Indies went on to win by 8 wickets.
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	NTSC - DVD		$29.95
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	Cricket From The 1970s, A decade of outstanding batting - Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge and bowling - Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Sir Richard Hadlee.
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	NTSC - DVD		£24.99
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	A Nation Imagine, The publication of A Nation Imagined falls squarely within the West Indies Cricket Board’s celebrations of 75 years of West Indies’ entry into Test cricket. Produced under the theme “75 Years of Windies Test Cricket: Uniting the Region, Exciting the World”, this commemorative book is a treasure trove of facts and anecdotes and a must have for every cricket lover.
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	Paper Back Book		£24.95
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	Caught In Action 20 Years of West Indies Cricket Photography by Gordon Brooks  beautifully features  the very best of his work, most of which has never been published before. Watch the story of West Indies cricket unfold before your eyes as you enjoy studying these wonderful cricket photos. Every cricket fan will want a copy of this book.
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	Hard Cover Book	152	£21.95
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	Wisden Caribbean Cricket, delivers an interesting account of 75 years of West Indies Cricket history. This book will be an excellent resource to students, educators and cricket enthusiasts the world over. With the foreword by Sir Vivian Richards, Wisden's Caribbean Cricket offers a heartwarming walk down memory lane.
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	Hard Cover book	144	£19.95
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	The Glory Days 25 Great West Indian Cricketers, The Glory Days - 25 Great West Indian Cricketers, celebrates the legends  of west Indies cricket. Batsmen like Headley, Walcott, Weekes, Worrell, Sobers, Richards and Lara; and bowlers like Hall, Gibbs, Roberts, Holding, Marshall, Ambrose and Walsh. This colourful book provides profiles, career hightlights and statistics accompanied by loads of superb photos, of 25 great West Indian cricket legends. It is a must have book for every cricket fan.
	Format	Pages	Cost
	Hard Cover book	136	£19.95
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	A History Of West Indies Cricket, by Michael Manley, offer the complete story of West Indies Cricket. It runs from the early 1900's through the 1990's
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	Paper Back book	776	£19.95
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	West Indies One Day Cap, We are pleased to introduce the official 2006 West Indies cricket One Day International Cap
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	Replica Cap	One Size	£12.99
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	West Indies One Day International Replica Shirt, The New official West Indies One-Day shirt as currently worn by the current West Indies squad. Celebrate the West Indies One Day cricket resurgence with this replica shirt.
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	Replica Shirt		£19.99
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