Michael Holding

Michael Anthony Holding (born February 16, 1954) was a West Indian cricketer. He was known as 'Whispering Death' due to his quiet approach to the bowling crease. He was an outstanding athlete as a teenager and used his skills from the 400 metres on the cricket pitch, with one of the longest run-ups of any bowler. His bowling is smooth but very quick and he used his great height (6' 3 1/2") to generate large amounts of bounce off the pitch. He teamed up with the late Malcolm Marshall to devastate many great batting line-ups in the world. He was a natural athlete, who in his early days specialized as a middle-distance sprinter. He is now a broadcaster and often appears on Sky Sports' cricket coverage in the UK.

Related Topics:
February 16 - 1954 - West Indian - Cricket - Teenager - Metres - Pitch - Run-up - Bowling - Malcolm Marshall - Broadcaster - Sky Sports - UK

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Holding was the bowler in what is often described as "the greatest over in test history", which he bowled in 1981 in Bridgetown to English batsman Geoff Boycott. The first five balls increased in pace, causing Boycott to have to react very rapidly to avoid being hit. The final ball saw Boycott clean bowled, to the great delight of the crowd.

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Holding is partly responsible for one of the more well-known commentary gaffes in cricket history. During a test match between the West Indies and England, Holding was to bowl to English player Peter Willey. The commentator at the time, Brian Johnston, described the action, quite accurately, as "The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey". This was, however, an inadvertent double entendre as the word "willy" is English slang for a penis.

Related Topics:
Peter Willey - Brian Johnston - Double entendre

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