Not for nothing was his bowling known as “Whispering Death”. The smooth run-up to the crease, the gentle action and the clean follow through all belie the pace that he generates off the pitch. Michael Holding was a piece of art. One of the greatest quartet of fast bowlers put together by non other than Clive Lloyd, Holding was the mainstay of that attack. His combination with Malcolm Marshall was a deadly site for any batsman. In Australia, there is a saying. If Lillee does not get you, Thomson will. Nothing along similar lines was ever said about Marshall and Holding but it holds true for that combination too. Speedometre wasn’t invented during his period. I wonder what would have been his pace. It could easily touch 150KMPH but I bet it could be even more. This is a tribute to Michael Holding.
Great lineup
Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Andy Roberts. A bowling line-up that more often than not, ensured the victory of West Indies for a very longtime. Holding was a major contributor in that fearsome foursome. Tony Cozier writing in Wisden says, “The speed which he generated from his deceptive approach to the stumps was, on occasions, frightening and, in association with Roberts, Daniel and Holder, proved a decisive factor in the West Indies’ resounding triumph.”
On a personal level, I do not have much memory of watching Holding bowl. By the time I began to understand the game, he had already retired. What I learned about him was only through hearsay and through videos on YouTube. He was a master of his craft.
Born in 1964 in Jamaica, Holding was fortunate in that his parents themselves were keen sportspeople who would encourage Holding to try his wares in the sporting arena. His father played in club cricket and was known as good at that. Both his parents were in Australia to witness their son make his debut at the international level. It must have been a proud moment for the.
Some of the memorable spells
The bat when Holding ruled over the game wasn’t the massive piece of log that we find now. Batsmen weren’t protected as they are now. Now, imagine a hard leather ball being hurled at upwards of 150KMPH. The batsmen had split second of the split second to decide what shot to play. He was famous for the perfume delivery. It was a short delivery on or around the offstump that would bounce and pass the nose of the batsman. At that speed, the batsmen will be terrified to see a red cherry whizzing past their noses.
There are so many spells of sheer brilliance that it is difficult to recollect. The 5/17 of 14.5 overs against England at The Oval in 1976. He destroyed England and in the process helped West Indies to win the Test quite comfortably. He bettered that performance in the same series. Match figures of 8/92 & 6/57 for a combined total of 14 wickets was brutal by any standards. The 6/21 against Australia in 1984 showed that the conditions or the pitches did not really matter to him. He can transcend them and through sheer force of will, was the destroyer in chief. There are so many other performances that it is difficult to go through them as it will become repetitive.
Commentary stint
Once he retired from active cricket, he moved into the commentary box with ease. He always called what he saw and never minced any words. In the sense, he was direct. If someone needs to be praised he did and if someone needs to be criticised he did that. This trait of his made him one of the most likeable and lovable commentators on air. Just like the fearsome fast bowlers, he formed a beautiful combination with the likes of Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain. Two commentators who are respected the worldover for their views.
He was never afraid to air his opinion and never worried about what someone else might say or think. The honesty and integrity towards his position was exemplary. The distinctive voice was a treat to everyone’s ears. I for one always like the way Holding expressed his views. It really was a pity that he chose to commentate with BskyB. His expertise and his frank observations were missed by all of us in other games that did not involve England. Be it on Mohammad Amir’s 5-year ban or taking a knee to fight racism, Holding would allow his emotions to show and was not afraid to burst into tears on camera. For him, showing how he felt was not an embarrassment.
For someone so gifted, it really is a shame that he chose to retire from commentary in 2021. Ofcourse he has aged and movements with age become limited but his voice will be missed. Especially for Indian fans who are accustomed to hearing their cricketers only praised and not criticised when they ought to. His mantra as a commentator was don’t talk…more than necessary.
Appreciation from fellow commentators
Nasser Hussain wrote, “”Michael Holding did many great things with the ball during his career, but the way he is speaking about racism in cricket and the importance of Black Lives Matter is a reminder that he is a great man in other ways, too,” Hussain wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
Michael Vaughan tweeted, “Michael Holding is a legendary bowler .. Commentator .. Campaigner .. but even a more so a GREAT guy who will be sorely missed around the Comm boxes .. Happy retirement Mikie ..”
Wrapping up a tribute to Michael Holding
All great things must come to an end and so did Holding’s career and his commentary stint.
About West Indies
https://icricketcritique.com/the-rise-of-the-west-indian-empire/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-fall-of-the-west-indian-empire/