Malcolm Marshall

With pitter-pat feet that twinkled like he was wearing dancing shoes, Malcolm Marshall slithered to the crease.

He is frequently regarded as the best West Indies fast bowler of all time and unquestionably among the most complete fast bowlers, cricket has ever seen.

Marshall had all the tricks and knew how and when to use them. In addition to that, he was having enormous cricket intellect, strength, and fearlessness.

Personal Information

Born: 18 April 1958 Nationality: West Indian
Years Active: (1978-1992) Birth Place:Bridgetown, Barbados
Death:4 November 1999  
Height: 5ft 11in Role: Bowler
Batting Style: Right-Handed Bowling Style: Right-arm Fast

Malcolm Marshall’s Journey

Family

Marshall took birth in Bridgetown, Barbados. His grandfather Denzil DeCoster Edghill was also a cricketer. His father Guirdwood Lfill was a policeman who died in a road accident when Marshall was just one year old. He was raised in the parish of Saint Micheal, Barbados. He took his education from St. Giles Boy’s School from 1963 to 1969 and then moved to Parkinson for further studies. He was brought up by his grandfather after his father’s death who trained him in cricket.

Ascend to Glory

Marshall experienced a golden period at the world level from 1982–1983 through 1985–1986. He took 21 or more wickets and had an average of under 20 in each of the series he participated in during that time.

Marshall destroyed India in the 1983–84 series by collecting 33 wickets and scoring runs at an average of 34. He achieved his highest Test score of 92 at Kanpur during this process. Malcolm Marshall was one of the selected few bowlers who proved to the world that a great fast bowler is not determined by height and muscle. He marked a fantastic bouncer that batsmen found to be nearly unplayable.

In the famous "Blackwash" tour against England in 1984, Marshall played a key role. The West Indies is still the only team to defeat England. He played a crucial role in the series, taking 24 wickets at a remarkable strike rate of 42.

Low Point

Malcolm Marshall received harsh criticism for his unplayable steep bouncers. In a one-day encounter in February 1986, he shattered Mike Gatting’s nose. He ended the test career of Warwickshire opener, Andy Lloyd after hitting him on the temple behind his right eye.

Marshall's Record

In Test cricket, Marshall is regarded as one of the best and most talented fast bowlers of the current age. He bowled with a deadly bouncer and produced a terrifying velocity.

Additionally, based on statistics, he went on to become the most effective test match bowler of the 1980s, taking 235 wickets at an average of 18.47 in just five years.

Marshall also has seven first-class hundreds and eleven Test fifties, making him a very threatening lower middle-order batsman. With 376 wickets, he finished his career as the West Indies' all-time leading wicket-taker in test cricket. He kept this record until Courtney Walsh surpassed it in November 1998.

Retirement

Malcolm Marshall retired from international cricket on March 8, 1992. In almost 300 games, he recorded 533 wickets as his final total. Marshall became the coach of the West Indies and Hampshire cricket teams in 1996.

Marshall was under treatment for colon cancer during the 1999 World Cup. The legendary fast bowler passed away on November 4th, 1999.

Career Statistics

Former cricketer Malcolm Marshal was the fast bowler of all time. He was a fearsome bowler and dangerous middle-order batsman. In reference to Marshall's bravery, who despite breaking his hand continued to play while wearing a protective plaster. Marshall bowled to take seven wickets and batted to smash a one-handed boundary.

ODI
Matches: 136 Runs Scored: 955
Batting Average: 14.92 Top Score: 66
100/50: 0/24 Wickets: 157
T20
Matches: 79 Runs Scored: 1899
Batting Average: 27.93 Top Score: 117
200/100/50: 0/2/14 Wickets: 20
Test
Matches: 81 Runs Scored: 1810
Batting Average: 18.85 Top Score: 92
100/50: 0/10 Wickets: 376

Image Gallery

Malcolm Marshall’s Cricket Glimpses