West Indies all time10 Greatest Fast/pace bowler

WHAT ABOUT BISHOP

Here is my list for the 19 best Windies pace bowlers of all time. It's a bit different from Meril's list:

1. Malcolm Marshall. Arguably the greatest pace bowler of all time.
Had it all!

2. Curtly Ambrose - speed, hostility and accuracy coming from an
awesome height; had the ability to raise his game a couple
notches seemingly on demand. A devastating strike bowler.

3. Wes Hall - the pioneer of modern WI pace bowlers; pace, a lion's
heart and amazing stamina; the best International pace bowler of
his time.

4. Michael Holding - The Rolls Royce of pace bowlers- lightning
quick.

5. Andy Roberts - The thinker behind the original Famous Four.

6. Joel Garner - Many of Ambrose's attributes without perhaps his
hostility and pace. Big Bird was a giant in so many ways.

7. Courtney Walsh - Mr. Longevity; the first bowler to reach 500 Test
wickets - a phenomenal feat for a pace bowler.

8. Manny Martindale - The best of the pioneers of pace bowlers- had pace, hostility and much more.

9. Learie Constantine - Quick, accurate and very hostile. Another of the pioneers.

10. Gary Sobers - the fact that he is the greatest cricketer of all timrs and could bowl in any of three styles should not be held against him. An outstanding exponent of the art of pace bowling; his being left-handed, of course, was a bonus.

Hello Francis,

I'm impressed with your top 10 West Indies pace/fast bowler in response to my opinion. I agree that Sir Garfield Sobers should not be penalized, because of his rare talent of bowling pace and spin, accompanied by being the greatest all-rounder to ever play the game; however, I cannot omit Colin Croft, when Croft left for the rebel tour, he was one of the greatest fast bowler, his economical rating was high and in a pace quartet, he took the incredible figures in test of 8 for 29 runs on one innings and ODI 6 for 15runs

Ian Bishop was great, but was decimated by injuries.

Charlie Griffith, unquestionably had some of the greatest yorker in his repertoire

Regarding Sir Leary Constantine and Manny Martindale. I cannot comment, because unfortunately I read of their talent, contribution and greatness, but didn't get the opportunity to see them perform. I will browse some tapes in the near future

Thank you,

Wes Hall - the best between 1950 and 1975 for them, very committed, fast and always competitive
Andy Roberts - wily old bowler who knew pace wasn't all there was to bowling - his length and deviation off the pitch were very good
Michael Holding - the fastest bowler in the world off his time. very efficient, economical and a superb athlete
Malcolm Marshall - as nasty as they get. richards used to consider him the best he faced. superb control and very good pace too.
Curtley Ambrose - that rheight of his added an extra dimension to his craft. and he had craft in plenty. perth, 1993
Colin Croft - another 'nasty'. one of the best of the 70's with holding and roberts
Courtney Walsh - probably the quietest of the lot, but very effective. no frills, no fuss, but he did the the trick
Gary Sobers - some said his bouncer was faster than Hall's! clever bowler.
Joel Garner - probably the most difficult to score off out of all these. not as great a wicket taker as the rest, but quite good.
Manny Martindale - pre-War bowler, along with Constantine, formed one of the great pace duos of the time

1 Marshall
2 Ambrose
3 Holding
4 Garner
5 Walsh
6 Hall
7 Roberts
8 Bishop
9 Croft
10 Griffith

The top 8 all had a considerable impact at test level for a sustained period, the last two had shorter test careers but were feared in their time for their pace and hostility.
You are harsh on Daniel and Clarke who were extremely unlucky to be around at the same time as Marshall, Holding, Garner, Roberts and Croft. Both would have walked into the side of any other test nation.
What about the greatest new ball parnership for another debate?
Hall and Griffith? Roberts and Holding? Garner and Marshall? Ambrose and Walsh?

Remember Tony Gray? He would've been something had he got the opportunity and not been injured.

That's true.

I feel all these lists have hardly done justice to Andy Roberts,the most complete fast bowler of his era with Dennis Lillee.No West Indian pace bowler has been more versatile than Andy Roberts,who posessed 2 types of bouncers,a deadly offcuter and outswinger and aslower ball.Roberts was capable of making a 120 over old ball cut back.Dennis Lille ratse Andy Roberts as the best pace bolwer of his era while Gavaskar and the Chappell brothers rate him the most lethal paceman they ever faced.Remember Roberts bore the brunt of the attack in India in 1974-75 and in Australia in 1975-76,capturing 58 wickets combined .Stas simply do not do this great maestro justice.

Malcolm Marshall has a great statistical record and posessed an armoury of deliveries that no other paceman could bowl like the skidding bouncer and the ball that doubled it's speed on impact .Michael Holding consistently is the fastest paceman in the history of the game with the most rhythmic and perfect action of all.He has to his credit the best ever over and best ever spell ever bolwed in test Cricket.Joel Garner was the most accurate and relentless of all,whose yorker and good lenth ball coming from such aheight was lethal.Curty Ambrose was the most accurate paceman of his era who extracted more bounce than anyone and the best match-winner amongst paceman of his time.

This is my lsit in order of merit

1.Malcolm Marshall
2.Andy Roberts
3.Curtly Ambrose
4.Michael Holding
5.Joel Garner
6.Wes Hall
7.Courtney Walsh
8.Charlie Griffiths
9.Roy Gilchrist
10 Sylvester Clarke