Removing a couple of Sri Lankan top order batsmen on the truncated opening day was not a bad effort but Zaheer Khan wants his bowling colleagues to be more aggressive on Thursday to get early breakthroughs and pin down the hosts in the first Test.
"The first session tomorrow is going to be crucial. We have to maintain the pressure on the Sri Lankan batsmen. We have to be more aggressive and get early breakthrough," said the left-arm seamer, who scalped the crucial wicket of Kumar Sangakkara.
And while the bowlers give their best, others would have to complement them with sharp fielding, he said.
"We gave away one or two boundaries today. We have to field better," he said.
Zaheer said even his side would have liked to bat first on this track but felt there was enough in the pitch for the bowlers.
"No doubt we too would have batted first had we won the toss. This is a good track and there was something in it. We had a short but good session today."
Zaheer, making a comeback after an injury layoff, said the tour match helped him get into the groove and he did not have any problem on Wednesday.
"That side match was very important for me. I bowled some 25-26 overs which really helped me. It was a good lead up to the Test.
"There was no problem with my fitness either. Once I had declared myself fit, I was ready for every kind of conditions," he said.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Ten-wicket Win for South Africa
After the first Test at Lord's, Mickey Arthur promised that the real South Africa would turn up at Headingley. And so they did, with an emphatic 10-wicket win over England. They were made to work for their victory today, but with England only squeaking a lead of eight runs, it is South Africa who have taken a 1-0 series lead with two Tests to play. England have plenty to ponder.
However great the feeling of inevitability was that England wouldn't survive six sessions, they didn't lie down submissively and wait for the axe to fall. South Africa were frustrated by Alastair Cook and James Anderson at the start of the day; by Stuart Broad and Darren Pattinson at the end. Broad smacked his third Test fifty and most authoritative to date, with 11 perfectly timed fours in a partnership of 61 in just 12.3 overs with Pattinson.
Broad has improved with each of his Test innings, but while his batting average is going in the right direction, he is taking his wickets at forties. Not that his place was directly under threat today, but his innings of 67 not out was a timely reminder of how valuable he is at No.8. His back-foot play through the leg-side off Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn was remarkable for the timing he showed, twice swivelling on shorter deliveries to lift them over the infield. After bringing up his fifty from just 41 balls, a powerful cover drive off Makhaya Ntini handed England the lead, though Pattinson was bowled shortly afterwards to end the entertainment. Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie knocked off the nine runs in seven balls as South Africa recorded an emphatic 10-wicket win.
South Africa have enjoyed the better of the conditions, truth be told, but such is the advantage of winning the toss at Headingley. Regardless of the pitch, however, their bowling performance was far improved from their Lord's display. Today's effort with the ball was a team performance. Steyn and Morkel each took three apiece; Kallis and Ntini two. Even Paul Harris briefly threatened, even though he went wicketless. Graeme Smith's seamers were made to work for their wickets, however, and England nearly managed to survive until lunch unscathed, thanks to a partnership of 59 between Cook and Anderson.
Anderson played with impressive composure and no shortage of class, though South Africa passed the edge of his bat on numerous occasions. Morkel and Ntini opened the bowling and Anderson, mostly playing off the back foot, was beaten twice by Morkel as the fourth-day pitch began to show worrying variable bounce. Balls shot through; the occasional one from Morkel, with his extra height, spat up, but it was an early concern for South Africa that they extracted so little movement.
Cook showed excellent judgement of his off stump all morning and the pair began to irritate South Africa with impish running between the wickets. If anything, it caught South Africa off-guard. Anderson was particularly eager, nudging singles out to cover and midwicket and taking on the fielders. These were decidedly dangerous runs, but South Africa's wild throws missed the stumps repeatedly. England were beginning to really frustrate them.
A languid cut by Anderson demonstrated his growing confidence, and he bettered it with two excellent fours off Harris, threading him through cover with the panache of a No.4. Steyn, meanwhile - delayed into the attack until the 12th over of the day - persisted with a war of bouncers against both batsman, and only when he pitched it up did he trouble the two left-handers. He was at his most vicious from around the wicket, however, and rapped Anderson a nasty blow on his forearm that required treatment from the physio .
The next ball, however, really shook Anderson's resolve when the batsman ducked into a bouncer, the grille of his helmet hammering into his right jaw. He was immediately floored, prompting Steyn and Hashim Amla to assess the damage, and though he looked groggy and stunned by the bouncer, he gave a sparse Headingley crowd reason to cheer by deciding to bat on. He only lasted a few more overs, but richly deserved the standing ovation for his courage.
Kevin Pietersen marched to the crease for a frenzied 13 from five balls, and Ian Bell fell to a screaming catch by de Villiers at gully - taking it one-handed, low to his right - while Cook carved out an impressively calm 148-ball fifty. Unlike South Africa's rescue act at Lord's, no England batsman could contribute a hundred, and though Tim Ambrose and Andrew Flintoff briefly threatened to take on the bowlers, South Africa were too disciplined and probing to let England get away.
Some of South Africa's fielders practised their golf swing at mid-on and mid-off earlier in the day, and tomorrow represents a much-needed break for both teams before the third Test gets underway at Edgbaston. England, however, need more than recuperation if they are to bounce back and level the series a week on Wednesday.
However great the feeling of inevitability was that England wouldn't survive six sessions, they didn't lie down submissively and wait for the axe to fall. South Africa were frustrated by Alastair Cook and James Anderson at the start of the day; by Stuart Broad and Darren Pattinson at the end. Broad smacked his third Test fifty and most authoritative to date, with 11 perfectly timed fours in a partnership of 61 in just 12.3 overs with Pattinson.
Broad has improved with each of his Test innings, but while his batting average is going in the right direction, he is taking his wickets at forties. Not that his place was directly under threat today, but his innings of 67 not out was a timely reminder of how valuable he is at No.8. His back-foot play through the leg-side off Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn was remarkable for the timing he showed, twice swivelling on shorter deliveries to lift them over the infield. After bringing up his fifty from just 41 balls, a powerful cover drive off Makhaya Ntini handed England the lead, though Pattinson was bowled shortly afterwards to end the entertainment. Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie knocked off the nine runs in seven balls as South Africa recorded an emphatic 10-wicket win.
South Africa have enjoyed the better of the conditions, truth be told, but such is the advantage of winning the toss at Headingley. Regardless of the pitch, however, their bowling performance was far improved from their Lord's display. Today's effort with the ball was a team performance. Steyn and Morkel each took three apiece; Kallis and Ntini two. Even Paul Harris briefly threatened, even though he went wicketless. Graeme Smith's seamers were made to work for their wickets, however, and England nearly managed to survive until lunch unscathed, thanks to a partnership of 59 between Cook and Anderson.
Anderson played with impressive composure and no shortage of class, though South Africa passed the edge of his bat on numerous occasions. Morkel and Ntini opened the bowling and Anderson, mostly playing off the back foot, was beaten twice by Morkel as the fourth-day pitch began to show worrying variable bounce. Balls shot through; the occasional one from Morkel, with his extra height, spat up, but it was an early concern for South Africa that they extracted so little movement.
Cook showed excellent judgement of his off stump all morning and the pair began to irritate South Africa with impish running between the wickets. If anything, it caught South Africa off-guard. Anderson was particularly eager, nudging singles out to cover and midwicket and taking on the fielders. These were decidedly dangerous runs, but South Africa's wild throws missed the stumps repeatedly. England were beginning to really frustrate them.
A languid cut by Anderson demonstrated his growing confidence, and he bettered it with two excellent fours off Harris, threading him through cover with the panache of a No.4. Steyn, meanwhile - delayed into the attack until the 12th over of the day - persisted with a war of bouncers against both batsman, and only when he pitched it up did he trouble the two left-handers. He was at his most vicious from around the wicket, however, and rapped Anderson a nasty blow on his forearm that required treatment from the physio .
The next ball, however, really shook Anderson's resolve when the batsman ducked into a bouncer, the grille of his helmet hammering into his right jaw. He was immediately floored, prompting Steyn and Hashim Amla to assess the damage, and though he looked groggy and stunned by the bouncer, he gave a sparse Headingley crowd reason to cheer by deciding to bat on. He only lasted a few more overs, but richly deserved the standing ovation for his courage.
Kevin Pietersen marched to the crease for a frenzied 13 from five balls, and Ian Bell fell to a screaming catch by de Villiers at gully - taking it one-handed, low to his right - while Cook carved out an impressively calm 148-ball fifty. Unlike South Africa's rescue act at Lord's, no England batsman could contribute a hundred, and though Tim Ambrose and Andrew Flintoff briefly threatened to take on the bowlers, South Africa were too disciplined and probing to let England get away.
Some of South Africa's fielders practised their golf swing at mid-on and mid-off earlier in the day, and tomorrow represents a much-needed break for both teams before the third Test gets underway at Edgbaston. England, however, need more than recuperation if they are to bounce back and level the series a week on Wednesday.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Pakistani Cricketers to Undergo Doping Tests
Pakistan's star cricketers lined up at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore on Sunday to undergo dope tests two months before the Champions Trophy.
Two years ago, Pakistan conducted similar, out-of-competition dope tests ahead of the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. That exercise ended on an explosive note when key pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone but by that time the competition had already begun and Pakistan had to pull the pacers out of their squad. Just days later, their team was bundled out of the first round.
This time the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hoping to avoid a repeat of that embarrassing episode. The Board is conducting the dope tests two months before the Champions Trophy and will receive its results much before the deadline for the announcement of the 15-man squad for the tournament.
On Sunday, 26 of the thirty players named in Pakistan's preliminary squad underwent the doping procedure at the NCA.
Shoaib Akhtar, the controversial pacer who failed a dope test in 2006, was among the players who gave away urine samples for dope testing. The samples were collected under the supervision of a World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) representative. Anti-doping experts of PCB and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) were also present on the occasion.
The biggest name missing from the exercise was that of master batsman Younis Khan, who is in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Three more cricketers - Yasir Arafat, Bazid Khan, and Azhar Ali - are playing professional cricket in England. A PCB official said anti-doping professionals accredited by WADA will collect urine samples from those players in England within the next few days.
Doping is a major issue in Pakistan's sporting circles these days after their leading pacer Mohammad Asif failed a dope test conducted during the Indian Premier League. Two of the country's Olympic-bound athletes also recently failed dope tests.
Two years ago, Pakistan conducted similar, out-of-competition dope tests ahead of the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. That exercise ended on an explosive note when key pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif tested positive for banned anabolic steroid nandrolone but by that time the competition had already begun and Pakistan had to pull the pacers out of their squad. Just days later, their team was bundled out of the first round.
This time the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is hoping to avoid a repeat of that embarrassing episode. The Board is conducting the dope tests two months before the Champions Trophy and will receive its results much before the deadline for the announcement of the 15-man squad for the tournament.
On Sunday, 26 of the thirty players named in Pakistan's preliminary squad underwent the doping procedure at the NCA.
Shoaib Akhtar, the controversial pacer who failed a dope test in 2006, was among the players who gave away urine samples for dope testing. The samples were collected under the supervision of a World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) representative. Anti-doping experts of PCB and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) were also present on the occasion.
The biggest name missing from the exercise was that of master batsman Younis Khan, who is in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Three more cricketers - Yasir Arafat, Bazid Khan, and Azhar Ali - are playing professional cricket in England. A PCB official said anti-doping professionals accredited by WADA will collect urine samples from those players in England within the next few days.
Doping is a major issue in Pakistan's sporting circles these days after their leading pacer Mohammad Asif failed a dope test conducted during the Indian Premier League. Two of the country's Olympic-bound athletes also recently failed dope tests.
South Africa in Command at Headingley on 3rd Day
South Africa maintained their domination of the second Test at Headingley, leaving England in the forlorn position of 50 for 2 at stumps on the third day, still trailing by 269. AB de Villiers' magnificent 174 lofted South Africa's first innings to 522, grinding down England's weary bowlers mercilessly. On a wearing pitch, the hosts have rather little hope of preventing South Africa taking a 1-0 series lead in the next 48 hours.
South Africa have outplayed them in nearly every session since the third day at Lord's, and it is due to their resilient batting that the home have been left kicking the turf in frustration. England's prospect of batting all day tomorrow and Tuesday to save the Test is not one they will cherish, on a surface beginning to offer variable bounce and movement. South Africa fought back brilliantly to save the Lord's Test, but that was on a pitch more akin to Lahore than London. Still, Headingley has history in creating history.
It was pleasing to see Makhaya Ntini return to something like his best, too. Poor at Lord's and disappointing in the first innings, he bowled much wider of the crease today - like he used to - as recommended by his former team-mate, Shaun Pollock. The acute angle created, slanting across both Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, affected the judgement of their off stump, but it wasn't until he went around the wicket that he really threatened. A surprise lifter outside off was fended behind by Strauss, and South Africa had kicked the door open on weary England.
England so nearly resisted. For once, Michael Vaughan survived several near misses off Dale Steyn who produced two leg-cutting jaggers that zipped off the seam. Vaughan picked him off through midwicket twice, but Steyn continued to attack and could easily have had him lbw on 9. However, with one over left in the day, Ntini squared him up with a corking leg-cutter to cap a perfect day's Test cricket
South Africa owe their position to Ashwell Prince and de Villiers, whose hundreds - though not always glitzy, attractive innings - were models of patience and resilience, and they needed to be. England fought hard this morning, grateful for a pitch that at last offered seam movement, and both batsmen could have fallen within the first hour. Inevitably, it was to Andrew Flintoff that Vaughan turned for early inspiration, and in a lively morning spell he found encouraging movement off the pitch, beating de Villiers with several leg-cutters and even luring the normally sober Prince into a washy drive outside off.
James Anderson impressed throughout, though to judge by his pained expression and Angus Fraser-like kicks at the turf, his patience wore thin as he passed the edge of Prince and de Villiers' bat time after time. de Villiers was particularly tentative, doubtless nervous about a possible hundred, and was beaten all ends up by a corking outswinger that came off his hip. England were at last making them work.
They were far from faultless, tiring visibly, and for all Anderson's occasional jaffas, too often they were followed by half-volley gifts that de Villiers made sure to capitalise on, flicking through midwicket with fine timing. Prince was less tentative, and accordingly less patient, edging the impressive Darren Pattinson behind one short of his 150. Nevertheless, South Africa's lead had swelled beyond 200.
Mark Boucher struggled, as he has all series, and narrowly escaped edging behind on numerous occasions, but de Villiers powered onwards and upwards to register his sixth Test hundred from 264 balls. The Headingley crowd unsportingly booed their disapproval, doubtless with a nod to de Villiers' non-catch which he tried to claim on the first day, but this was a courageous and skilful innings, even if the half-cut couldn't bear to acknowledge it. Anderson was eventually rewarded for persistence when he bowled Boucher, and de Villiers fell to an outstanding catch by Flintoff at first slip - diving to his left to pluck a grass-licker - while Monty Panesar picked up 3 for 65. The damage had been done, however, and in losing two late wickets, England look down and out.
The door hasn't quite been shut on them, but it is only just ajar. Not even the weather is looking down in their favour with two days' hard work ahead.
South Africa have outplayed them in nearly every session since the third day at Lord's, and it is due to their resilient batting that the home have been left kicking the turf in frustration. England's prospect of batting all day tomorrow and Tuesday to save the Test is not one they will cherish, on a surface beginning to offer variable bounce and movement. South Africa fought back brilliantly to save the Lord's Test, but that was on a pitch more akin to Lahore than London. Still, Headingley has history in creating history.
It was pleasing to see Makhaya Ntini return to something like his best, too. Poor at Lord's and disappointing in the first innings, he bowled much wider of the crease today - like he used to - as recommended by his former team-mate, Shaun Pollock. The acute angle created, slanting across both Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, affected the judgement of their off stump, but it wasn't until he went around the wicket that he really threatened. A surprise lifter outside off was fended behind by Strauss, and South Africa had kicked the door open on weary England.
England so nearly resisted. For once, Michael Vaughan survived several near misses off Dale Steyn who produced two leg-cutting jaggers that zipped off the seam. Vaughan picked him off through midwicket twice, but Steyn continued to attack and could easily have had him lbw on 9. However, with one over left in the day, Ntini squared him up with a corking leg-cutter to cap a perfect day's Test cricket
South Africa owe their position to Ashwell Prince and de Villiers, whose hundreds - though not always glitzy, attractive innings - were models of patience and resilience, and they needed to be. England fought hard this morning, grateful for a pitch that at last offered seam movement, and both batsmen could have fallen within the first hour. Inevitably, it was to Andrew Flintoff that Vaughan turned for early inspiration, and in a lively morning spell he found encouraging movement off the pitch, beating de Villiers with several leg-cutters and even luring the normally sober Prince into a washy drive outside off.
James Anderson impressed throughout, though to judge by his pained expression and Angus Fraser-like kicks at the turf, his patience wore thin as he passed the edge of Prince and de Villiers' bat time after time. de Villiers was particularly tentative, doubtless nervous about a possible hundred, and was beaten all ends up by a corking outswinger that came off his hip. England were at last making them work.
They were far from faultless, tiring visibly, and for all Anderson's occasional jaffas, too often they were followed by half-volley gifts that de Villiers made sure to capitalise on, flicking through midwicket with fine timing. Prince was less tentative, and accordingly less patient, edging the impressive Darren Pattinson behind one short of his 150. Nevertheless, South Africa's lead had swelled beyond 200.
Mark Boucher struggled, as he has all series, and narrowly escaped edging behind on numerous occasions, but de Villiers powered onwards and upwards to register his sixth Test hundred from 264 balls. The Headingley crowd unsportingly booed their disapproval, doubtless with a nod to de Villiers' non-catch which he tried to claim on the first day, but this was a courageous and skilful innings, even if the half-cut couldn't bear to acknowledge it. Anderson was eventually rewarded for persistence when he bowled Boucher, and de Villiers fell to an outstanding catch by Flintoff at first slip - diving to his left to pluck a grass-licker - while Monty Panesar picked up 3 for 65. The damage had been done, however, and in losing two late wickets, England look down and out.
The door hasn't quite been shut on them, but it is only just ajar. Not even the weather is looking down in their favour with two days' hard work ahead.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Flintoff Returns to Test Team
It is not just that Andrew Flintoff bowls like the wind, strikes the ball as cleanly as anyone and catches safely wherever he fields. There is also an unstoppable life force about this giant too; a bristling get-up-and-go and a humour that makes him admired whatever impossible task he is attempting.
He is due to return to the England side against South Africa at Leeds for the second Test. I say due, but that is foolishness.
Why would the selectors bring back the best all-rounder in the world and then have his only worry to arrange glasses neatly on a tray and to remember to have a towel nearby lest some fast bowler needs to remove the sweat from his brow.
Flintoff — Freddie if you are one of his familiars, a loving spectator or a tabloid journalist — is such a massive man at 6ft 5in, perhaps 16st and giving the impression that he and barn doors have much in common.
He is the cynosure of all eyes; his waves make huge noises wherever he is.
His pal — they are neighbours in the posh parts of Cheshire, they and their families dine together, they are both in truth Lancashire lads, with similar accents and attitudes — Michael Vaughan, the England captain, reminded us after the Lord’s Test earlier this week that Flintoff was not a wizard. Why he chose to say that is anyone’s guess for Freddie is a magic man.
He has already forced the South Africans, reinvigorated by their long defensive retreat at Lord’s to admit that they talk about him all the time in their dressing room.
We were a bit surprised he did not play at Lord’s, said the coach Mickey Arthur. He is such a formidable cricketer.
Flintoff will take the place of Paul Collingwood. It is a like-for-like replacement; but it is not Mighty Joe Young in for King Kong.
Flintoff has been building up for this moment with Lancashire, taking wickets and catches, hitting sixes while Collingwood has been bowling slower and slower, failing with the bat and, worst of all, looking down in the mouth.
Don’t blame him. He wakes every morning to headlines which announce the return of Flintoff and he retires every night with the memory of yet another wretched day at the crease.
Collingwood has been a fine player for England with half a dozen miraculous catches in the gully or thereabouts, competent bowling and a double hundred not to mention an average in the forties. But he is no Flintoff. Who is? And unless Flintoff finds another tweaked muscle or cracked bone there is only one winner between the two in a complete cricketer competition.
South Africa may have to find a replacement for Neil McKenzie who strained his groin batting for almost 10 hours at Lord’s.
He is due to return to the England side against South Africa at Leeds for the second Test. I say due, but that is foolishness.
Why would the selectors bring back the best all-rounder in the world and then have his only worry to arrange glasses neatly on a tray and to remember to have a towel nearby lest some fast bowler needs to remove the sweat from his brow.
Flintoff — Freddie if you are one of his familiars, a loving spectator or a tabloid journalist — is such a massive man at 6ft 5in, perhaps 16st and giving the impression that he and barn doors have much in common.
He is the cynosure of all eyes; his waves make huge noises wherever he is.
His pal — they are neighbours in the posh parts of Cheshire, they and their families dine together, they are both in truth Lancashire lads, with similar accents and attitudes — Michael Vaughan, the England captain, reminded us after the Lord’s Test earlier this week that Flintoff was not a wizard. Why he chose to say that is anyone’s guess for Freddie is a magic man.
He has already forced the South Africans, reinvigorated by their long defensive retreat at Lord’s to admit that they talk about him all the time in their dressing room.
We were a bit surprised he did not play at Lord’s, said the coach Mickey Arthur. He is such a formidable cricketer.
Flintoff will take the place of Paul Collingwood. It is a like-for-like replacement; but it is not Mighty Joe Young in for King Kong.
Flintoff has been building up for this moment with Lancashire, taking wickets and catches, hitting sixes while Collingwood has been bowling slower and slower, failing with the bat and, worst of all, looking down in the mouth.
Don’t blame him. He wakes every morning to headlines which announce the return of Flintoff and he retires every night with the memory of yet another wretched day at the crease.
Collingwood has been a fine player for England with half a dozen miraculous catches in the gully or thereabouts, competent bowling and a double hundred not to mention an average in the forties. But he is no Flintoff. Who is? And unless Flintoff finds another tweaked muscle or cracked bone there is only one winner between the two in a complete cricketer competition.
South Africa may have to find a replacement for Neil McKenzie who strained his groin batting for almost 10 hours at Lord’s.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Legend of the Day — Andy Roberts
Anderson Montgomery Everton 'Andy' Roberts (born 29 January 1951 on the island of Antigua in the West Indies) is a former West Indian cricketer. He was an excellent fast bowler, twice taking seven wickets in an innings of a Test match. In England, he played first class cricket for Hampshire County Cricket Club.
Andy Roberts formed part of the "quartet" of West Indian fast bowlers from the mid-Seventies to the early Eighties (the others being Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft) that had such a devastating effect on opposition batsmen at both Test and One Day International level. He was also part of the West Indies team that won the first two Prudential World Cups in England in 1975 and 1979.
Despite an excellent record in Tests his international career was relatively short and ended in 1983. Imran Khan (former captain Pakistan national cricket team) once described a ball bowled to him by Andy Roberts as the fastest and most terrifying he had ever faced.
One of his trademarks was the use of two different bouncers. One was delivered at a slower pace and was often dealt with quite easily by the batsman. However, this was a ploy by Roberts to lull the batsman into a false sense of security. Roberts would then deliver the second bouncer, pitching in a similar spot to the first, but delivered at far greater pace. The batsman would attempt to play this delivery in the same fashion as the first slower bouncer only to be surprised by the extra pace and bounce of the ball. Many batsmen were dismissed- and many more struck painful blows- by Roberts using this ploy.
Andy Roberts' contribution to West Indies cricket has continued since his retirement as a player. As an administrator overseeing the preparation of pitches, he helped prepare the pitches in Antigua on which Brian Lara twice broke the world record for highest test scores.
Roberts was the first Antiguan to play Test cricket for the West Indies, thus leading the way many of his famous countrymen including Viv Richards, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose.
In October, 2005, Roberts was inducted into the United States Cricket Hall of Fame, becoming the second Antiguan to be recognized.
Andy Roberts formed part of the "quartet" of West Indian fast bowlers from the mid-Seventies to the early Eighties (the others being Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft) that had such a devastating effect on opposition batsmen at both Test and One Day International level. He was also part of the West Indies team that won the first two Prudential World Cups in England in 1975 and 1979.
Despite an excellent record in Tests his international career was relatively short and ended in 1983. Imran Khan (former captain Pakistan national cricket team) once described a ball bowled to him by Andy Roberts as the fastest and most terrifying he had ever faced.
One of his trademarks was the use of two different bouncers. One was delivered at a slower pace and was often dealt with quite easily by the batsman. However, this was a ploy by Roberts to lull the batsman into a false sense of security. Roberts would then deliver the second bouncer, pitching in a similar spot to the first, but delivered at far greater pace. The batsman would attempt to play this delivery in the same fashion as the first slower bouncer only to be surprised by the extra pace and bounce of the ball. Many batsmen were dismissed- and many more struck painful blows- by Roberts using this ploy.
Andy Roberts' contribution to West Indies cricket has continued since his retirement as a player. As an administrator overseeing the preparation of pitches, he helped prepare the pitches in Antigua on which Brian Lara twice broke the world record for highest test scores.
Roberts was the first Antiguan to play Test cricket for the West Indies, thus leading the way many of his famous countrymen including Viv Richards, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose.
In October, 2005, Roberts was inducted into the United States Cricket Hall of Fame, becoming the second Antiguan to be recognized.
"Muralitharan is Key", says Harbhajan
Harbhajan Singh does not doubt mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis' potentials but the star off-spinner believes it is old trickster Muttiah Muralitharan who would pose bigger threat for the Indian batsmen in the forthcoming Test series.
Harbhajan heaps praise on Mendis, who ran through India's famed ODI batting order in the Asia Cup final in Karachi, and said it was an extraordinary display of quality spin bowling.
"It was a treat to watch Mendis bowl during the Asia Cup final," Harbhajan told ESPN's 'Sportscenter' programme.
"The deliveries with which he got Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma and even RP Singh were outstanding. I have seen people doing this with a tennis ball but it is incredible that he is doing it with a cricket ball. There is so much to learn from Mendis," said Harbhajan.
But still it's too early to compare Mendis with Murali and the old warhorse would create more problem for the Indian side, believes Harbhajan.
"It will be Muralitharan who will pose a bigger challenge and do well in the series and not Mendis. You cannot compare Mendis and Murali. Oh, come on, Murali has been doing it for so many years whereas Mendis has just started," he reasoned.
The aggressive offie himself would have to live up to the expectation in the series, to prove that he remains the same potent force despite spending the last three months in the wilderness following the slap-gate episode.
"I am ready for it. In fact to sit on the sidelines has made me hungrier and I am willing to play any role that the team wants me to," said Harbhajan, who remains out of action since slapping India teammate S Sreesanth after an Indian Premier League Match.
One after another controversy has stalked Harbhajan but the offie says he now wants people to remember him for all the right reasons.
"I committed a mistake and I admitted it. I think we all need to move on from there and look ahead. From now on, people should remember me for all the right reasons and not controversies," he said.
Looking back at the slapgate issue and its aftermath, Harbhajan said, "That period was really tough for me and I didn't know where I was heading. I think God helped me come out of that. He's been very kind."
Harbhajan heaps praise on Mendis, who ran through India's famed ODI batting order in the Asia Cup final in Karachi, and said it was an extraordinary display of quality spin bowling.
"It was a treat to watch Mendis bowl during the Asia Cup final," Harbhajan told ESPN's 'Sportscenter' programme.
"The deliveries with which he got Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma and even RP Singh were outstanding. I have seen people doing this with a tennis ball but it is incredible that he is doing it with a cricket ball. There is so much to learn from Mendis," said Harbhajan.
But still it's too early to compare Mendis with Murali and the old warhorse would create more problem for the Indian side, believes Harbhajan.
"It will be Muralitharan who will pose a bigger challenge and do well in the series and not Mendis. You cannot compare Mendis and Murali. Oh, come on, Murali has been doing it for so many years whereas Mendis has just started," he reasoned.
The aggressive offie himself would have to live up to the expectation in the series, to prove that he remains the same potent force despite spending the last three months in the wilderness following the slap-gate episode.
"I am ready for it. In fact to sit on the sidelines has made me hungrier and I am willing to play any role that the team wants me to," said Harbhajan, who remains out of action since slapping India teammate S Sreesanth after an Indian Premier League Match.
One after another controversy has stalked Harbhajan but the offie says he now wants people to remember him for all the right reasons.
"I committed a mistake and I admitted it. I think we all need to move on from there and look ahead. From now on, people should remember me for all the right reasons and not controversies," he said.
Looking back at the slapgate issue and its aftermath, Harbhajan said, "That period was really tough for me and I didn't know where I was heading. I think God helped me come out of that. He's been very kind."
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