Malcolm Marshall

Malcolm Denzil Marshall (April 18, 1958 - November 4, 1999) was a West Indian cricketer, one of the finest fast bowlers ever to have played Test cricket, despite being (unusually for an out-and-out quick, especially when compared to the likes of fellow West Indian quicks Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose) under six feet tall. His Test bowling average of 20.94 is the best of anyone who has taken 200 or more wickets.

International debut

Despite doing little of note in the three Tests he played on that tour, he did take 37 wickets in all first-class games, and Hampshire saw enough in him to take him on as their overseas player for 1979. He was in West Indies' World Cup squad, but did not play a match in the tournament. Hampshire were not doing well at the time, but nevertheless he took 47 first-class wickets, as well as picking up 5-13 against Glamorgan in the John Player League.

Related Topics:
Hampshire - 1979 - West Indies - World Cup - Glamorgan - John Player League

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Marshall really came to prominence in 1980, when in the third Test at Old Trafford he accounted for Mike Gatting, Brian Rose and Peter Willey in short order to spark an England collapse, although the match was eventually drawn. After 1980/81 he was out of the Test side for two years, but a season of stunning brilliance in 1982 when he took 134 wickets at under 16 apiece, including a career-best 8-71 against Worcestershire, saw him recalled and thereafter he remained a fixture until the end of his international career.

Related Topics:
1980 - Old Trafford - Mike Gatting - Brian Rose - Peter Willey - England - 81 - 1982 - Worcestershire

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In seven successive Test series from 1982/83 to 1985/86 he took 21 or more wickets each time, in the last five of them averaging under 20. His most productive series in this period was the 1983/84 rubber against India, when he claimed 33 wickets as well as averaging 34 with the bat and making his highest Test score of 92 at Kanpur. A few months later he took five in an innings twice at home against Australia.

Related Topics:
1982 - 83 - 1985 - 86 - 84 - India - Averaging - Kanpur - Australia

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