ESPNcricinfo suggests five county players to keep an eye on
Subhankar Bhattacharya12-Apr-2018ESPNcricinfo suggests five county players to keep an eye onJoe Clarke (Worcestershire, 21)
“He could be the new Joe Root,” said Worcestershire’s head coach Kevin Sharp about Joe Clarke and considering England’s lack of Test runs they could do with another one. Clarke has got age on his side and his 920 runs last season helped Worcestershire win promotion. Could Clarke play under Root’s captaincy this summer? Alex Davies (Lancashire, 23)
Another youngster who made waves in 2017 was Alex Davies. Lancashire’s keeper-batsman was the county’s highest run-scorer in the Championship and became the county’s first keeper to score 1000 first class runs in a season. Competition is rife for the England keeping spot, with Ben Foakes the next in line, but Davies can add himself to the shortlist with another strong season.
Jamie Porter (Essex, 24)
If Essex were to credit one player for their remarkable Division 1 triumph in 2017, it would probably be Jamie Porter. Porter and Simon Harmer shared 147 wickets, Porter a shade ahead of the offie with 75 wickets at 16.83 apiece. Porter does not bowl at express speeds – he remains within the 80mph mark – but he can move the ball both ways with surgical accuracy. England’s James Anderson will inevitably have to call it a day and, with options limited, Porter will not have abandoned hopes of Test honours. Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire, 20)
Matthew Fisher’s career has encountered more injury speedbumps than he would like, but Yorkshire need a strong showing from this lanky pace bowler to offset absences elsewhere. His Yorkshire teammate Tim Bresnan famously predicted: “I think he is going to be an unbelievable bowler” and if he remains injury free he can begin to prove it. Hamidullah Qadri (Derbyshire, 17)
When he made his debut for Derbyshire in June last year, Hamidullah Qadri became the first county cricketer to have been born in the 21st Century. Besides this unique accolade, Qadri also made headlines for bowling Derbyshire to victory in his very first game. The Afghanistan-born off spinner claimed 5 for 60 against Glamorgan in the second innings. More chances are bound to come as the season progresses.
David Munden, photographer and former county batsman, has died at the age of 60 after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Mar-2018David Munden, the renowned cricket photographer and former county batsman, has died at the age of 60 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.Munden, who was a fixture on England cricket tours in the 1980s and 1990s, had been on Leicestershire’s books from 1975 until 1981 when, as captain of their second XI, he signed off with a century in his final appearance against Worcestershire at Grace Road.He was a contemporary of David Gower’s at the club, with whom he also represented England Under 19s on their tour of the Caribbean in 1976.”His passion for cricket was evident in the way he took to photographing the game once he realised he would not go on to enjoy a senior county career,” said Mark Baldwin, the chairman of the Cricket Writers’ Club.”He was a highly popular and much-respected colleague in and around press boxes at home and abroad. Cruelly, David’s illness eventually forced him to retire from his photographic work and he fought against the debilitations of Parkinson’s for many years.”In 2015, Leicestershire held a fundraising testimonial for Munden at Grace Road, where his father Victor and uncles Donald and Paul had also represented the club.The news of Munden’s death comes in the wake of the loss of Dave Callaghan, the BBC Yorkshire broadcaster, and Neil Bell, the BBC South East sports reporter.”In different ways and across different mediums the three of them contributed much to the promotion and presentation of cricket to a wide audience,” added Baldwin, “and they will be remembered with huge affection. What they shared, meanwhile, was a deep love of cricket and respect for the game.”
The Mitchells have kept the Brisbane pitch in the family for over 30 years
Peter English21-Nov-2010The Gabba pitch has been the Mitchell family business for more than three decades, and the latest offspring is causing excitement and fear ahead of Thursday’s opening Ashes Test. Brisbane’s stereotype is a swing-bowling paradise but the generalisation doesn’t often apply for more than the first couple of sessions in five-day affairs. This time it might be different, threatening old-fashioned thrills for the bowlers and unfamiliar spills for batsmen who have grown up on undeviating wickets.Seam, swing, bounce and speed are the perfect storm for bowlers and the attributes have rumbled during an unusually wet Brisbane spring. Only 31 overs were possible in one four-day game in October and the past two fixtures have been no fun for the batsmen. The Sri Lankans were knocked over for 115 in an ODI that came a week after the local Queenslanders, who say they are used to surfaces “with branches growing on them”, were dismissed for 75 and 96 in the Sheffield Shield.Showers have been predicted in the lead-up to Thursday’s Test and the curator, Kevin Mitchell jnr, is likely to bring forward the intensive phase of his preparation in case there are too many disruptions. The lack of sunshine being forecast will create a ripple of nerves for the groundstaff and run-makers.”If that’s the case over the final days and it’s humid and cloudy for the match, it could be a little bit more lively than usual,” Mitchell jnr told ESPNcricinfo. “Our wickets are definitely quick and pacy, which is what we are trying to do. If the conditions overhead are in favour of the bowlers, you can get a double whammy: swing in the air and cut off the pitch, and bounce and pace as well.”Under Mitchell jnr’s watch, which began when he took over from his father, Kevin snr, in 1991, the Gabba has overtaken the WACA as the quickest pitch in the country. The surface gives character to a ground built on a swamp in the late 1800s, and one that has grown into a modern stadium. For a Test the pitch is usually green on the opening morning, providing the bowlers with a chance, before it loses its colour and supports the batsmen. Towards the end it suits the spinners, who enjoy the extra bounce even if the ball isn’t turning.When the wicket is topped up by Queensland’s summer rain and thunderstorms the usual order becomes mixed up. Two years ago, when Australia were hosting New Zealand, the covers were blown off during a mini-cyclone the night before the game and one set of sails in the grandstand were ripped. Mitchell jnr went into the ground at 1.20am and saw the heavy sandbags had been blown away and water was on the square, but couldn’t believe his luck – there were only two puddles on the side of the Test pitch.”It was not a problem,” he said. “You could have started on time, but we started 30 minutes late.” Australia were bowled out for 214 on the opening day, but it was enough to stay well ahead of New Zealand. New South Wales won outright on their visit north last month by scoring 262 in the first innings. When it’s hot and dry, 400 is not enough in a Brisbane first innings, but when it’s damp or humid a total of 200 can make a side feel rich.
Under Mitchell jnr’s watch, which began when he took over from his father, Kevin snr, in 1991, the Gabba has overtaken the WACA as the quickest pitch in the country
Mitchell snr’s last game in charge was water-damaged, but not weather-affected. It was the Ashes Test of 1990-91, a three-day affair because someone had put a hose under the covers before the match. “Half was green, half was brown,” Mitchell snr said. “It was a shock. Half of it was a wet wicket. It was someone being smart.”Australia won by 10 wickets in a match in which the highest score was England’s 192 on the opening day. The tourists haven’t always been disadvantaged by the Queensland weather. An ear-splitting, stand-wobbling electrical storm made their life easier on the final day in 1998-99. England were 6 for 179, with all their specialist batsmen gone, when the sky almost literally opened up after tea.Mitchell snr, now 75, grew up near the Gabba, collecting bottles at the ground for pocket money as a child, and watching Don Bradman play there in the 1940s. He returned by accident in the 1970s, filling in to help a friend while taking a break from his carpentry business. Soon the main job became vacant and he said he’d do it for the season. “Then I’m off,” he said. “I’d spent 15 years in the army, and being out there on the ground was like being in jail.”His son visited from Mt Isa in 1987, planning a short stay – and still hasn’t left. The pair’s most famous partnership came during a one-dayer between Australia and New Zealand in 1987-88. Mitchell jnr spotted dark storm clouds to the west of the ground and crossed the road to pull his dad from the pub, where he was feasting on mudcrabs. Within a couple of minutes Mitchell snr was racing on to the field – the sun was still out and the sky was blue – to tell the shocked umpires and players that “it’s going to rain like buggery”. He ripped out the stumps, stuck the covers on, and the heavens quickly opened. The unconventional intervention saved the game, which Australia won.If something unorthodox is needed over the next week Mitchell jnr will be well prepared. Having learned off his father, and developed his own techniques, he and his beautiful pitch will be ready. Rain, hail or shine.
Aston Villa’s transfer activity this summer has been a careful balancing act, reflecting both ambition and necessity.
After losing academy graduate Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle and contending with persistent Premier League profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), Unai Emery’s side have sought reinforcement across multiple positions.
The Midlands outfit have already added Evann Guessand from Nice, but there remains a pressing need to bolster creativity and experience in midfield, particularly in the event of Morgan Rogers’ departure.
The club’s early campaign has been patchy, with a draw against Newcastle followed by a 1-0 defeat away at Brentford.
Despite summer interest from Newcastle and Manchester United, Ollie Watkins continues to lead the line.
However, there is a growing recognition that midfield reinforcement is required to support their talismanic striker, which in turn will unlock the team’s full attacking potential.
Previously, Aston Villa have gambled on other technically gifted Brazilian midfielders, exemplified by Philippe Coutinho’s arrival after struggling for form at Barcelona.
Now, another South American talent is emerging on the radar, with the potential to recapture that same blend of flair and influence.
Villa enquire about potential Rogers replacement
According to journalist Santi Aouna, Aston Villa have opened discussions with West Ham regarding the possibility of signing Lucas Paquetá.
The 27-year-old Brazilian, who has amassed 55 caps and 11 goals for his national side, is considered one of several midfield options should Villa need to replace Morgan Rogers before the close of the transfer window.
West Ham are understood to be holding out for a fee in the region of £60m, with initial inquiries suggesting Villa would need to meet a minimum valuation of £40m before talks could commence.
Paquetá has undoubtedly experienced a turbulent period at the London Stadium, having faced betting allegations in August 2023.
Although he was cleared of all charges in 2025, the episode is reported to have affected him profoundly.
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Nevertheless, he continues to be highly rated.
Former West Ham player Declan Rice praised the attacking midfielder’s abilities, describing him as “mind-boggling” in terms of quality and vision.
Clubs including Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Tottenham have reportedly monitored the player, though news of Spurs’ recent acquisition of RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons will reduce the likelihood of any continued interest.
For Villa, Paquetá represents a chance to combine proven Premier League experience with the technical finesse necessary to complement both new arrivals and established stars such as Watkins.
Why Paquetá could be Villa’s next Coutinho
Tactically, Paquetá offers Aston Villa a multifaceted solution.
Primarily an attacking midfielder, the Brazilian excels in creating and progressing offensive sequences, with metrics that underline his all-around capability.
According to FBref, last season, he ranked in the 74th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.89) and the 79th percentile for progressive passes (6.16), demonstrating his ability to influence both goal-scoring opportunities and build-up play.
Additionally, he boasts the 84th percentile for touches in the opposition penalty area and the 75th percentile for tackles per 90, illustrating a willingness to contribute defensively – a balance Emery prizes in transitional play.
His aerial ability is also notable, with the 89th percentile for aerial duels won per 90, making him a threat in both open play and set-piece scenarios.
The comparison with Coutinho is plain to see.
Before arriving at Villa Park, the Brazilian struggled to live up to his colossal pricetag at Barcelona before briefly flourishing on loan at Bayern Munich.
When at his best, Coutinho combined exceptional vision, dribbling, long-range shooting, and set-piece delivery, ultimately making him a dangerous attacking asset.
Paquetá, arriving at a stage in his career where his technical maturity and Premier League familiarity intersect, could offer a more immediate and sustained impact than his predecessor.
From a squad composition perspective, Paquetá could integrate seamlessly with Villa’s existing framework.
Lucas Paqueta in action for West Ham United.
He would complement Watkins in attack, add creativity in the final third, and relieve pressure on newly-signed Guessand, allowing Emery greater flexibility in rotation and tactical setups.
The midfielder’s proficiency in linking play and breaking lines would enhance Villa’s transitional play, which has been a key focus under Emery’s management.
If the deal progresses, it would also signify Villa’s commitment to international-level talent capable of impacting the Premier League immediately.
After losing Ramsey, and with ongoing interest in Rogers from external clubs, adding a player of Paquetá’s calibre would send a clear message regarding the club’s ambitions.
Aston Villa are prepared to invest in both technical skill and experience to remain competitive domestically and in this year’s edition of the Europa League.
Ultimately, a successful move for Paquetá could mirror the allure of Coutinho’s signing while avoiding the pitfalls that hindered his predecessor.
Villa would acquire a player with vision, creativity, and finishing ability, tempered by Premier League experience and tactical maturity – qualities capable of elevating both the midfield and the team’s overall attacking profile.
For supporters, it represents an opportunity to witness Brazilian flair integrated into a system designed for consistency and results, potentially bridging the gap between raw talent and polished Premier League performance.
Emery's own Grealish: Aston Villa agree terms for "magical" late signing
Aston Villa are ready to welcome one or two late signings to their squad as the transfer window draws to a close.
USMNT forward Brandon Vazquez scored for the second consecutive Champions Cup game to book CF Monterrey a spot in the next round.
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Rayados defeat FC Cincy 3-1 (aggregate)
Vazquez scores winner in each leg
Monterrey to clash with Miami in quarterfinals
WHAT HAPPENED?
Vazquez found the back of the net in the 67th minute to ice the game, making it 2-1 to the Mexican side, and 3-1 on aggregate. He scored the winner in each leg for Rayados, putting his ex-club FCC to bed each time. Now, with the victory, he's rewarded with a match against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the quarterfinals of the region's marquee competition.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The 25-year-old, who narrowly missed out on the 23-man USMNT roster for their CONCACAF Nations League roster this March, added his eighth goal in 13 appearances for Rayados since his January arrival. He's been on fire in Mexico, and now, will have his eyes on a leaky Inter Miami defense in the next round.
The Herons "biggest weakness," Vazquez will look to exploit their backline, but what they lack defensively, they can attribute for up top. Monterrey will have to handle the attack of Messi and MLS-leading scorer Luis Suarez, with a midfield pivot of Federico Redondo and Sergio Busquets behind them. The biggest question looming moving forward, though, will be the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's injury status.
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WHAT NEXT FOR VAZQUEZ AND MESSI?
The Inter Miami superstar will have time to recover, however, with the next round of the Champions Cup not arriving until April 2 and 9. Although time and location for the home and away legs has yet to be determined, there is a period of recovery available. As for Vazquez and Rayados, they will look to continue their incredible form into the weekend when they clash with Atlas in Liga MX action.
South Africa have moved down a spot, to No. 2, after losing the ongoing ODI series against India
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018After winning their first bilateral series in South Africa, India have climbed to the top of the ODI rankings for the third time in six months. India overtook South Africa – who will finish the ongoing series ranked second – after beating them by 73 runs in the fourth ODI in Port Elizabeth. India are also the top-ranked Test team.India had become the No. 1 ODI side after taking a 2-0 lead in the series, but had to win four of six matches to retain that ranking after the series. If India win the final ODI, they will finish with 123 rankings points, and South Africa with 117. South Africa had to either tie or win the ODI series against India to stay at the top of the rankings.India’s series win means England could move past South Africa, to No. 2, if they beat New Zealand 5-0 in the upcoming ODI series. Afghanistan, meanwhile, have also climbed past Zimbabwe to No. 10 on the ODI rankings after winning the third ODI in Sharjah on Tuesday, but will have to win the series to retain that position.
Ollie Rayner has a chance to discover some form after losing his Middlesex place to Ravi Patel
George Dobell19-Jun-2018Ollie Rayner has joined Hampshire from Middlesex on a short-term loan deal.Hampshire are currently without leg-spinner Mason Crane (who has suffered a recurrence of back pain as he recovers from a stress
fracture), off-spinner Brad Taylor (who has an ankle injury) and will shortly lose left-arm spinner, Liam Dawson, to England Lions duty.Off-spinner Rayner – good enough to claim 50 Championship wickets when Middlesex won the Championship in 2016 and win a place in the Lions side – will therefore provide spin-bowling cover for the upcoming Championship matches against Yorkshire (starting on Wednesday) and Lancashire (starting on Monday).It shows, however, that Rayner has dropped out of the Middlesex first team for the moment. After a trying start to the season – Rayner has
claimed four wickets in five Championship matches for Middlesex this season at an average of 64.50 – he has lost his place to the left-arm
spinner, Ravi Patel.The loan deal lasts a month but Middlesex can recall him at any time if their needs change.”It’s great that Angus Fraser and Middlesex have allowed him to come to us and he’ll play a part in the next couple of Championship games,”
Giles White, the Hamphiire director of cricket, said. “He’s a good bowler and has done well for Middlesex over the years. He bats and
catches well at second slip too so it’s a good fit for us.”Hampshire are currently in seventh position in Division One in need of a victory or two to lift them away from relegation fears. Middlesex
are seventh in Division Two and struggling to sustain the promotion challenge that most anticipated. Both sides have just the one
Championship victory so far this season.”I’m obviously disappointed to not be featuring in the forthcoming round of Championship matches for Middlesex,” Rayner said. “However
when one door closes, another one opens, and I’ve now got a great opportunity to go and play some first eleven cricket with Hampshire.””As with a lot of loan agreements this is a win-win situation for both Middlesex and Ollie,” the club’s Director of Cricket, Angus Fraser,
said. “Having chosen to pick Ravi Patel ahead of Ollie this week, Ollie was extremely keen to play some first-class cricket, and
Hampshire’s predicament has allowed this to happen.”Should Middlesex’s situation change we have the right to recall Ollie to the club.”
Punjab’s batting never imposed itself, the bowlers lacked the venom to stop Bangalore, and their fielding … well that was just deplorable
Jamie Alter in Mohali02-Apr-2010 Nothing’s gone right for Brett Lee in this season•Indian Premier LeagueA perplexing innings
Sent up the order to open, Manvinder Bisla ate up 26 balls for 28 runs. Once Shaun Marsh was dismissed early, the pressure was on Bisla to justify the decision to open with him. Bisla scored the majority of his runs off the South African pair of Dale Steyn (eight off four balls) and Jacques Kallis (nine off eight balls), whom he seemed keen to charge and waft at. Watching him repeatedly charge or back away, it was evident how limited a player he is. Apart from the cut, when he made room, and the uncontrolled clip off the pads, a shot he appeared eager to play but couldn’t pull off regularly, there was little to his stock. No matter what the line or length, Bisla wanted to jump out of the crease and put the ball over the infield. You couldn’t help but contrast his methods with those of Virat Kolhli, who paced his innings with solidity while scoring at the frenetic pace required in this format.And what was Bisla attempting against Anil Kumble? When veteran international players have had troubles against Kumble’s wiles this IPL – the delivery that beat Matthew Hayden was one of the season’s best – Bisla should have been more cautious instead of trying to step out first ball. On the third ball from Kumble he tried to hit across the line and was beaten. He then made room and streakily cut Kumble in the air wide of the catchers. After again trying and missing, his dismissal was the result of an apparent brain freeze. He tried to scoop Kumble over short fine leg, exposed the stumps, and had the furniture rearranged. Instead of helping Punjab, Bisla’s inning hurt them.Catches win matches … oh dear
This was the worst fielding effort I have seen this IPL and when – not if, as there is now virtually no chance – Punjab sit down and look at on-field reasons as to why they didn’t reach the semi-finals, this match will return to haunt them. In the 14th over, Sreesanth put down what will rank as one of the easiest chances of the competition; Kohli hit a slower ball straight to Sreesanth at long-on but it went in and out at about shoulder height.The less said about Ravi Bopara’s fielding the better. First he ran around from third man and let the ball through his legs to give Kevin Pietersen a much-needed four. Then, in the 16th over Bopara was again at it, running in from long-on and failing to take a simple catch from Pietersen that came at him at a nice catchable height.But … drum roll … the enduring image of the evening. After glaring at his butterfingered fielders, it was time for the captain to step up. After a 25-run over that turned the match around, Kumar Sangakkara ran backwards from cover to a swish from Pietersen, settled under the ball, and muffed it. It wasn’t over: before lying on his ground wondering how he’d missed the catch, Sangakkara managed to kick the ball to the boundary for four. These were international cricketers fielding like middle-aged men in .Let down by Lee
With 48 required from 24 balls, Punjab were still in with a shot. Enter Brett Lee, the team’s strike bowler, their most expensive overseas name, and a figure they had been dying to have back in the side. Lee begins with a full toss, which Robin Uthappa dumps 15 rows behind the straight boundary. The next ball is also wretched – length – and is slammed for four. After two near-yorkers Lee reverts back to length and watches Uthappa send the ball over midwicket for the biggest six of the game. He then sprays five wides down the leg side. That horror over took Lee’s IPL returns to three games, 63 deliveries, zero wickets, 111 runs, and an economy rate of 10.57. Lee has been short of match practice but there are no excuses – that 25-run over cost Punjab the match.
A recap of the key decisions taken by the ECB over where major matches would be held in England and Wales
Andrew McGlashan15-Feb-2018What’s the big deal about the announcement?It set out a raft of venues for major matches – men’s internationals, domestic finals and the new T20 tournament – for the five-year period 2020-2024. It means the counties involved now know when England will be in town, a big occasion for the clubs, and can start thinking more seriously about the new T20 competition (yes, it launches in 2020). While exact schedules won’t be announced until closer to each season it allows the clubs to start planning and to shape their financial situation for the years ahead.Did everyone get what they wanted?No, but you will never keep everyone happy in a process like this. Hampshire, whose ground is the Ageas Bowl, were very hopeful of the big prize of an Ashes Test but that has gone to Headingley. That means another Test in the north of England. Lord’s also lost a long-standing fixture – the domestic one-day final it has staged since it began in 1963 – with Trent Bridge taking that.So who is the biggest winner?Well, probably Headingley for the above reason. They now have Tests against Australia and India in the cycle – the two prime opposition – and the same goes for their Roses rivals Lancashire. Both are also host grounds for the new T20. Lord’s has held on to two Tests a year despite one dropping off the calendar. There will be grumblings about that, but it’s an iconic fixture for any side and usually sells very well. Edgbaston is also cemented as the ‘home’ of T20 finals day.A Test has been cut…so England are playing less cricket?From 2020, yes a little. There will now be six Tests per season – sometimes a marquee five-match series and a one-off match at Lord’s – alongside six ODIs (two series of three under the new FTP), whereas now there can be as many as 10, and six T20Is which is a little increase. So in reality, the number of days of England cricket barely changes.What about the grounds who previously had Tests?As mentioned, Hampshire will be a bit miffed. Durham, the Riverside Ground, knew they wouldn’t be in the mix after their financial problems which needed an ECB bailout while Cardiff didn’t go for any having struggled to sell them. So it’s back to what can be termed the ‘traditional six’ which is, perhaps, also an acknowledgment at some misplaced expansion of the Test field.Has Trent Bridge missed out on another Ashes Test?Indeed, and that will disappoint the England team (going 2-1 up in 2005, a nail-biting win in 2013 and the small matter of 60 all out in 2015), although maybe not the Australians. There is no Ashes Test there in 2019 and now neither in 2023. Nottinghamshire have been diplomatic about it.Test cricket’s a bit London-centric, isn’t it?That could be argued, for sure, with half of each year’s Test allocation now in the capital. However, despite the often steep ticket prices, both Lord’s and The Oval have excellent attendance figures. The English game is fortunate that Tests continue to sell strongly – although not completely across the board – and London does very well.What about day-night Tests?As with exact fixtures and touring schedules, those sorts of details will be firmed up over the coming years. It remains to be seen if day-night Test become a yearly event in England or a little bit more of a novelty factor.Are there any more details on the new T20 tournament yet?Not really. What the teams will be called is the next stage. In ECB speak these are, “eight venues around which new partnerships would be formed and new teams created”. There is also a chance that some matches will be taken out of their host centres to spread the games further around the country; for example a game from Cardiff could be played in Taunton or one from Headingley in Durham. Also, no decision has yet been made on where the play-offs and final will be held.The 2019 World Cup happens before this cycle, but we don’t know those venues yetYes, they are still to be confirmed. That is an ICC event so is managed by them and a local organising committee. An announcement is expected shortly on the host venues for the tournament which runs from May 30 to July 14, 2019.
Take no prisoners, show no mercy. So what if you’ve got to wear pink on occasion?
Fazeer Mohammed03-Jun-2009His name alone was enough to attract attention.Coming from a country considered for long to be on the very distant frontier of West Indies cricket, Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts had to be exceptional to break new ground for the people of his home island of Antigua.But it was not his raw pace, or those clever variations in the speed of his bouncers, or the growing list of batsmen he sent to hospital that first drew my attention to him. Nope, it was Andy Roberts the match-winning batsman, the cool, unemotional cricketer who became my hero.For a 10-year-old well on the way to being totally absorbed with the game, the first World Cup in 1975 came at just the right time. And it was in their second match of a memorable sun-blessed tournament that West Indies were rescued by a 64-run last-wicket partnership between wicketkeeper-batsman Deryck Murray and Roberts, which took them to victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston.So many years later, the moment when Roberts played Wasim Raja’s fourth delivery of the final over to midwicket for the winning run remains palpably fresh. We Trinidadians obviously had a lot of faith in our compatriot Murray. But Roberts? From an island that not too many of us even knew existed? This fellow had to be someone special. Seeing that as far as most of us myopic “big islanders” were concerned, the only cricketers of any worth came from Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, and Guyana.Even before those heroics in Birmingham, Roberts had already gone a long way towards shattering the mould, harvesting a previously unheard of 32 wickets in India in 1974-75, his first full series. So by the World Cup he was already an established member of the side. He had left a trail of destruction the previous season in England, taking 119 first-class wickets for Hampshire.I had yet to see him in the flesh and he was already my favourite, especially after he destroyed Australia with 7 for 54 in the second innings of the Perth Test of 1975-76 series. Listening in the dead of night to the radio coverage, it seemed that even the commentators seemed to be in awe of this fast bowler who was leading our response to Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.The otherwordly feeling of our boys battling it out so very far away, not to mention being robbed blind by Australian umpires, made Roberts’ effort all the more heroic. Watching the black-and-white television highlights a month later, by which time the series was already lost, took nothing away from the enjoyment of the spectacle.There was no comparison, of course, to the silky smoothness of newcomer Michael Holding’s run-up. But Roberts was the man, exploding into his delivery stride and letting those no-good Aussies have it full blast. And it was his demeanour of a cold-blooded assassin – shoulders hunched, brooding and expressionless – that contributed to his intimidating aura. In an era when Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson were lighting up the cinemas, Roberts was right up there with them, even if he had to wear white, and then that sissy pink during the days of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.Roberts the match-winning batsman, the cool, unemotional cricketer, won many a fan•Getty ImagesYet behind that sullen exterior was a very proud man, not one preoccupied with propriety and diplomatic niceties but a thoughtful fast bowler who, like most outstanding cricketers of his and earlier times, could identify the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent after just a few deliveries and didn’t have to wait for the coach to point them out on his laptop after the day’s play.It is said that Roberts had to be physically restrained after Tony Greig’s “grovel” remark ahead of the 1976 series in England. Out in the middle, though, there was no holding back. By uprooting the home captain’s off stump before he had scored in his first innings of the series, Roberts let another lethal delivery do the talking for him, and for all of us back home who wanted to see the haughty South African suffer for his insensitivity.Yes there is a rejoicing in the ruthlessness, like when Peter Toohey, one of the few quality players in a weakened Australian side, dared to hook Roberts in the opening session of the 1977-78 series, at the Queen’s Park Oval. The sound of leather on bone as the batsman was caught almost flush between the eyes seemed to reverberate around the ground. No one likes to see someone get hurt, but if you want to take on the finest fast bowler of the day on a rain-affected pitch, then brace for the consequences.Next morning the front page of a local newspaper showed Toohey just about semi-conscious, blood trickling down his face, Viv Richards cradling his body and waving to the pavilion for assistance. And just on the perimeter of the shot, there was Roberts, back to the camera, leaning over for a closer look.He may have been genuinely concerned about a fellow player’s welfare, yet he looked for all the world like a hired gun examining his handiwork before walking back to the top of his mark and awaiting the next victim in the firing line.Whatever his failings since the end of his playing days, nothing will diminish his stature to me as a great fast bowler pure and simple. Lethal and ruthless, but certainly not thoughtless, he was the forerunner in the glorious era of unprecedented Caribbean domination by speed.I cherish the memories, and wait and hope for his kind to come this way again.