My XI - Geoffrey Boycott: Michael Holding - 'The fastest, and then some'

[@sahadevansurendramanjeshwa1831]

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has rightly described the great fast bowler Michael Holding as the " Rolls Royce " among fast bowlers. His smooth run up, graceful action and the vicious thunderbolt that followed was a treat to watch. One should have seen how batsmen round the world 'ran for their life' while facing him - ducking, swaying and even flinching from his deliveries that were always at their necks. Only a very few batsmen like Geoff Boycott, Sunil Gavaskar, Glen Turner, who as openers could stand upto Michael Holding and his tribe at their time. A legend indeed.

[@davifdavid4347]

Reading through the comments section, I have noted that some say Thomson was quicker than Michael Holding. However, there was an aspect between said bowlers that cannot be dismissed in that,as Boycott has highlighted, Holding had a tendency to bowl within himself, which was still well in excess of 90 mph. When bowling flat out,though, and as his soubriquet suggests(Whispering Death),he was the quickest there has ever been. Take a look at Jeff Thomson's figures in England in 1975. With no shoulder injury for his supporters to cry about,he played 4 Test Matches,taking 16 wickets at an average of 28.56. The following year,Holding also played 4 Test Matches against England on the same dead pitches,against the same players,barring 4,and exceeded Thomson in every area of the art form, including speed. Holding took 28 wickets at a mind-blowing average of just 12.71. Had Holding produced those figures on fast tracks, his performance would have still been difficult to take in - to have turned in those stats,though,48 years later,continues to boggle the mind. His efforts for the W I in the 1976 series remains,to this day,the fastest bowling ever seen in England.

[@richwalker1965]

Best fast bowler I ever saw - a joy to watch - athletic and graceful and terrifying. Was at Old Trafford in 76 when he and Close faced each other. Amazing fast bowling. Not always Geoffrey's biggest fan but he knows batting and he knows what makes opening the batting in test matches hard. He knows quick!

[@hughjarreolee7821]

My formative cricket memories were from the Windies tour of England in 76. Richie Benaud et al on BBC commentary... I'm English, but Michael will always be my favourite bowler because of it. Truly a glorious time.

[@LeoDragon34]

I was a quick bowler at school and Holding was the bowler I wanted to emulate. That rolling of the shoulders and easy approach was sheer beauty. I remember starting my run-up on the boundary, raising a few eyebrows from my teammates. Only problem was that I was knackered after two overs!

[@TheIkaraCult]

love this comment. Always worth remembering how much pain bowlers have to go through

[@Treviscoe]

LOL on the last sentence :)

[@manojjain3055]

Boycott was the best commentator that I have ever seen.Great knowledge about cricket.

[@rickphillips5098]

He had knowledge as a commentator! But it always ended up talking about when he played and every one was better !

[@surajssubramanian7327]

Holding was an absolute athlete. A true Jamaican. He could run a 100 metres race in 10 seconds. A tremendous pace bowler.

[@vvshetty1]

What are u saying 😂 stupid

[@surajssubramanian7327]

@@vvshetty1 Can't you understand english?

[@vvshetty1]

@@surajssubramanian7327 he could run 100 mtrs in 10 seconds?😂 Did u go check n come?😂 When were you born dude

[@surajssubramanian7327]

@@vvshetty1 He would take part in the Jamaican national athletics championships and run the 100m in around 10 seconds. I read this in an article.

[@vish3161]

@@vvshetty1 If the idea is to just mock then go right ahead , but Suraj is correct. Holding was actually a 100 meter sprint contender for Jamaica and had a 100 meter timing that is better than the Indian 100 meter record today ..

[@p28-e7j]

The most graceful terrifying bowler I've ever seen. Whispering death. Michael Holding. The epitomy of a fast bowler.

[@alexlanning712]

Good to hear the legends reminisce

[@athhar3643]

Michael Holding commentating is as smooth as his run up. Could listen to that all day, every day.

[@bala9257]

Michael Holding was always like a sprinting gazelle when he was bowling. Truly a great WI legend of all time.

[@richardjohnson909]

Geoffrey knows his stuff and is among the most honest cricketers in the world. He was the batsman that could occupy the crease forever and was very hard to get out. The WI took great delight when they bowled him out 'cause they knew he was the ace in England's pack.

[@ratanakarmudholkar5903]

Michael had a fluent run up .In my opinion he was a genuine fast bowler.

[@themanftheworld8439]

Michael Holding was the greatest fast bowler I have ever seen.Greatest fast bowler of all time imho.

[@Just_for_K]

Geofferry's voice goes deep in the mind. He is the voice of cricket game

[@TheFullSalesCycle]

Agreed

[@hagar6359]

yes totally

[@thegranddilligaf]

Say what you like about Boycott, but he sure as hell knows what he's talking about. Should do, he's faced them.

[@choppy249]

Dilligaf? Yes I agree that Boycott does know what he is talking about and I love him but as somebody has already pointed out, he definitely Did Not face Jeff Thompson at his fastest who was actually timed a bit quicker than Holding on a few occasions. Also when Tommo was timed it was after his serious shoulder operation in which he had already slowed down by about 10mph according to all the batsmen that faced him. So I think that Thompson was certainly the faster bowler but I do believe Holding was probably a better bowler all round. That being said , Thompson actually won a most accurate and fastest bowling competition against Holding and all the other great fast bowlers of the time. So I think looking back , if you were a top batsman you would not have really relished facing Holding or Thompson in their prime. They were both awesome and frightening bowlers to have faced no doubt.

[@ds1868]

@@choppy249 The surname is spelt Thomson.

[@campbelldawes3584]

@@choppy249 I’ll think you’ll find Boycott faced Thompson in 74/75

[@vhtevhte]

@@choppy249 Off the wicket he is the fastest bowler to have played.The ball consistently landed few yards short of the half pitch and yet batsman could not get into position in time to hook or pull him.

[@flash-uj6ly]

Pragyan Ojha is a better bowler than Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall,Colin Croft and Andy Roberts. Pragyan Ojha is billion times better than Michael Holding. Pragyan Ojha is fastest to take 100 test wickets in his 22nd test match. Who is Michael Holding? Some third class garbage thrash fast bowler! Watch this video of Pragyan Ojha destroying west indies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHOsq2uXl9ZofdU Pragyan Ojha is billion times better than Michael Holding. Who is Michael Holding? Some third garbage bowler.

[@freespirit906]

I remember the comment 'The stumps are flying, the bowlers holding'. Pure class...

[@taffbanjo]

And also "The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey". Classic Test Match Special!

[@starnafin]

Should that not be "The bowler's holding the batsman's Willie"

[@davidbacon2726]

classic Jonners and Aggers commentary. They couldn't stop laughing after this.

[@73North265]

@@davidbacon2726 No that was way pre-Aggers (he was still a young player when that happened). The classic Aggers/Jonners giggle-fest was Botham trying to jump over the stumps in the late 80s or early 90s. My favourite Jonners line was "There's Neil Harvey standing at leg slip, legs wide apart waiting for a tickle"

[@johngibbard8792]

@@taffbanjo It never happened.

[@rajagleo]

I always love Both Geoffrey and Mic's accent!

[@Aman-nk5uq]

Treat to ears hearing this man´s voice. His voice and accent is everything. He belongs to the 2nd or 3rd last generation of actually great charismatic cricketers. I am 22 years old. RIP cricket since 2007-08. After that cricket started to be played by boys and not men.

[@SukhwinderSingh-xs2zn]

gotim you’re absolutely right

[@johnmac9572]

So true - today's soyboys , millionaires with big bats, short boundaries and mental health issues. Poster boy Will (won't ?) Pecovski , so Brave to come out ... Pathetic !

[@Wayneh58]

Aman what a great comment. I stopped watching cricket about then.

[@flash-uj6ly]

Pragyan Ojha is a better bowler than Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall,Colin Croft and Andy Roberts. Pragyan Ojha is billion times better than Michael Holding. Pragyan Ojha is fastest to take 100 test wickets in his 22nd test match. Who is Michael Holding? Some third class garbage thrash fast bowler! Watch this video of Pragyan Ojha destroying west indies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHOsq2uXl9ZofdU Pragyan Ojha is billion times better than Michael Holding. Who is Michael Holding? Some third garbage bowler.

[@vantheman1244]

Reading the comments on this page brings me to the boil. DO NOT CRITICISE BOYCS. Why do so many people on here have a go at a great English cricketer, a great English cricketer. You don't have to like someone to recognise their ability. Boycott is an all-time great. Ask Holding. By the way on the '81 tour to the West Indies, after Barbados, Boycott scored a hundred against Holding, Roberts, Garner and Croft. How old was he.........41. Give it a rest and learn about your cricket history before running down a great great batsmen who played through 3 decades for England. Boycott was the prized English wicket from the late sixties through to the early 1980's.........ask all the great bowlers of that time.

[@Aman-nk5uq]

His voice and accent is everything. Respect. Great batsman too. 22 years old here. I dont care much about cricketers after McGrath, Ponting, Sachin generation. Thats was the last era of actual great charismatic cricketers.

[@raymondvanterpool9802]

Simon Moorcroft

[@theuglyhairmonster2]

because he is mr I am. that's why no one likes him.

[@Alex-xh7sg]

Rubbish ...... he says it how it is ~ Period

[@theuglyhairmonster2]

Grace Darling he says it how he wants it to be, not how it is...

[@jongreenwood3029]

Michael Holding’s greatest moment? Bowling me out in Barbados 😂 Love it!

[@Faranzo14]

“One when he got me out... that’ll be a magical moment, that’ll get played!” Fiery you legend you! 😂😂

[@chrislpickard1637]

Boycs..... I remember watching him bat for days and days when I was a nipper. Belligerent to say the least. A master at his trade (and I grew up in Oz!!).

[@krisfinch7131]

Respect for Geoff and any other batsman who stood up like a man to the pace of holding, big bird, Roberts etc.... they have balls !

[@leightondavies7413]

2 absolute Legends

[@nialloneill5097]

And Brian Close...with his open shirt, hairy chest, Neanderthal man approach.

[@JP1234815]

@@nialloneill5097 I doubt anyone would copy Brian Close's technique to face fast bowlers!!

[@annar6430]

You were truly great,wish you were still at the crease Boycs

[@saturdayplayer2492]

They had a fair few in those times. He was pure class. A great player.

[@stratac30]

I’m clearly remember going to Lords in May 1976 to watch the West Indies play MCC in a tour match and in his first over Michael Holding floored Denis Amiss with a fearsome short of a length ball in his first over, poor old Denis had to go off, boy was Holding quick you just couldn’t see the ball leave Holdings hand. However Denis did get his own back later in in the summer when he scored a double century in the Oval Test.

[@douglasporter3865]

Boycs mentions the Oval in 1976 and he is (as usual when talking about cricket, especially when not about himself) 100% right. Holding turned in a masterpiece performance and he got his wickets mainly by pitching it up. Unusually for that season, not a violent display with not so much of the batter and bruise approach but a lot of very fast, very straight bowling. As Sir Geoffrey also rightly says, Holding was a supremely graceful athlete and you have to think that helped him bowl so fast for so long - smooth running and a textbook delivery that gave him express pace without violently straining himself. Any young fast bowler modelling himself on Holding would be doing himself a favour.

[@dawnkirkbride6466]

late reply but that spell has to be one of the quickest as the wicket was dead flat.I've seen lots of real quick spells but to see those stumps cartwheeling through the air before the batsman knew anything is incredible and imo those deliveries had to some distance quicker than the 95 mph stuff I've seen.Waquar Younis in his pomp may of done something similar through the air.

[@jonathancumberbatch2000]

The fastest I’ve ever seen. Ever grateful that KZbin has preserved video of MH at his peak. Has anyone seen anything faster than those 1976 tour clips? I only allow Akhtar as a peer, but he often lacked control.

[@trinihammer]

what about geoff thompson ?

[@joncumber2020]

@@trinihammer certainly by all accounts he was a terrifying prospect, particularly in Australia, between 1974 - 1976, but he became increasingly erratic after that. Boycott handled him quite well in the 1977 centenary match and he was never really a consistent threat thereafter. Lovely bowling action though.

[@trinihammer]

@@joncumber2020 i agree with you 100%. however there are some sites on youtube that are geoff thompson fanatical no doubt austrailian.

[@ianmoore9437]

@@joncumber2020 By 77 Thomson had suffered a shoulder injury from a fielding collision. Generally accepted that, after that injury, he was never able to consistently bowl as quickly as he had up until 75/76. Up until 75/76, Thomson was a proven to be a little quicker than the rest. Loved watching Holding bowl though.

[@FranssensM]

Legend discussing legends. The respect shines through.

[@mizofan]

Very enjoyable series, this. Good work, Boycott!

[@Veaseify]

Back then with no helmets and unlimited bouncers in an over, plus they only bowled 12-13 overs an hour between the four of them so they were just as quick in the last hour as the first..Modern batsmen, even the greatest like Tendulkar would have had a hard time. Modern fast bowlers are neutered by the laws, compare footage of Thomson and Lillee and the four Windies against say, Dale Steyn and Zaheer Khan - it looks like a different game!

[@huthwaiteman]

Only Boycs could talk about a players greatest moments and talk about himself! Legend!

[@markhiggins8315]

True enough, but to be fair to Geoff that over would have legendary status without Boyc's "congenital self promotion condition" which he's bravely suffered from his entire life. Still he was a genuine top notch opening bat and really knows his cricket.

[@nialloneill5097]

@@markhiggins8315 Seen him live, when he scored his 100th 100 at Headingley, it was like a Carnival day for Sir Geoff, who was knighted on the day; the master of defensive, grind em down, give em nowt cricket. I too felt for him with his aptly termed condition, interesting name, but as precise as a Holding bouncer to the chin; but I felt more for his many teammates who struggled to come to terms with his condition, which turned a team game into an egocentric, individual sport, especially once they gave him the Yorkshire captaincy. FATAL! He scored a few hundred not out though at that time, batting the day out in true Boycs style, regardless of the result; a one man team! Especially after many of the others said it was them or him afterwards, and threatened to leave the club, if he didn't go. And thus ended the reign of one Sir Geoff of Fitzwilliam, one of the greatest knights of all...well, so he says!

[@Veaseify]

I saw Michael Holding open the bowling for West Indies v Minor Counties at Jesmond (Newcastle in England) in 1980. One side of the ground was adjacent to a cemetery, the wall was one of the straight boundaries and Holding started his run up by kicking his back leg against the wall...then proceeded to bowl with an orange somebody gave him from the crowd. Never seen a more terrified looking batsman than the guy who faced that!

[@pinakichaudhuru5010]

When Jeffrey speaks, u just listen. So analytical, speaks with logic n no bias...salute u sir. Stay put, always. 🙏

[@rufioswitch2132]

For context, Boycott chose not to go on the 1974/75 Ashes series to Australia when Jeff Thomson took 33 wickets at 18 in the series and bowled the fastest in history (so they say!)

[@Edward1312]

This man had the nice's action out of any fast bowler I've ever seen.

[@Bernie8330]

Kagiso Rabada's action is also pretty nice.

[@graguitar6493]

i still preferred andy roberts action but agreed he had a great action. Patterson had the best action of them all imo

[@kennethcrowther2277]

Hadlee had the most beautiful action of them all.

[@brucekilby9957]

Holding was good commentator as well. Whispering Death is one the best Nick names.🇯🇲🏏

[@bodsnvimto]

Earlier this year, during Test Match commentary, he was asked who he thought was the quickest between himself & Thomson. To quote his answer: "Well, you'd have to ask someone who faced us both, but I'd say Thommo." WOW! What a humble thing to say. Could you imagine Cristiano Ronaldo admitting that Lionel Messi is better than him? Mikey, as he is known, was a great, fearsome, player but is now a superb commentator. He also comes across as a proper gent of a man.

[@zibtihaj3213]

he is humble. that is all. Enough people said that they were both same or Holding was more consistently quick but every now and than Thommo was quicker than the whole world......but consitant speed was Holding

[@bodsnvimto]

I can believe that but I suppose we'll never know. What we can surmise though is that Holding was a better bowler. Thommo might have been rapid but he was also erratic. His partner Lillee was clearly better. The only other WI bowler who I could put on a par with Mikey is the late, great Malcolm Marshall.

[@jamesdarmon2583]

Greg Chappell (who would have faced both) says Thommo was quicker, and that Holding agreed with this. He also points out that, with Holding's classical action, you see the ball at the point of delivery. Thomson hides it, which makes him even tougher to face.

[@YD-uq5fi]

Thommo's stats aren't that great. He was fast, but not a great bowler.

[@heftyalan1152]

Bods More humble than Ronaldo saying I am the best ever which is complete nonsense anyway

[@Andrew-is7rs]

Michael Holding is one of the most terrifying bowlers in history because of his nature. Lilly and Tommo.. Ambrose and Walsh... Roberts as well were a terrifying bunch dont get me wrong. But Holding was majestic, handsome, really fast and utterly deadly. Holding is a true sporting legend and must get a knighthood for, not only his game, his manner, but his opinion on sport. An utterly true sporting icon

[@debasishdeka]

Where is wasim n Waqar ...

[@nellorelion]

what a man on what a man..!!!

[@mohammadrizwan6210]

Marvellous Michael

[@Billie0708]

The Greatest All Time XI: From the Realms of Immortality 1 Jack Hobbs 2 W.G Grace 3 Don Bradman (C.) 4 Sachin Tendulkar 5 Viv Richards 6 Gary Sobers 7 Adam Gilchrist (W.) 8 Shane Warne 9 Wasim Akram 10 Dennis Lillee 11 Sydney Barnes 12th: Imran Khan. Substitutes: ( Victor Trumper , Brian Lara , Jacques Kallis , Muttiah Muralitharan , Malcolm Marshall ) Manager :- Sir Frank Worrell .

[@Lindaeditz8]

Lara over Sachin,much more attractive batsman and did it when it mattered,affected results,not just stats

[@tonydee1013]

Poetry in motion, watching him bowl. One of the good guys in cricket.

[@aethelwulf8753]

Holding was the fastest Boycott ever faced, well that's only because Boycott was absent in the one series that England just HAD TO HAVE HIM, yes the Thommo Ashes series of 74-75. Holding was awesome for sure, I saw a LOT of Holding in his prime, I heard an old-timer say that Holding was very similar to the great Ted McDonald in runup and delivery, never seen film of Ted but Lindwall and Holding had many similar things in common, sheer pace and style but to me Lillee had the best delivery of all.

[@mohammadrizwan1338]

Legendary

[@dopplereffeckt675]

Sorry mate, but its Holding for me. Its not just pace that makes a great fast bowler, but the ability to produce dot ball after dot ball, good line and length, and to disguise the attack. Thomson was a very good bowler, but a great batsman could master him, but Holding, well he was lethal, not just because he could play a short one, but he knew when to play it, and mix it up. Just my opinion....

[@stuartmark7]

Is the correct answer

[@orvilledillon8752]

Od.i remember playing a local match against holding and playing forward defensive when a smooth bouncer shaved my cap off my head and hit the stumps....lol i didn't see what happened

[@harry6555]

Geoff Boycott and Colin Cowdrey were two of my favourite players

[@morgoth16]

Thanks. For anyone who had seen the Windies of the 70's and 80's it was the most intimidating team ever to have taken to the field. I recall Marshall and Holding completely annihilating India and Pakistan away from home on spin friendly wickets. Marshall averaged 22 in India and about the same in Pakistan. Those were good Indian and Pakistani teams more adept at playing pace. The current bunch of nitwits would've been crying for mommy while facing Holding, Marshall, Garner & Roberts.

[@andrewwatts8485]

He was superb

[@garyr11]

BOYCOTT was a true great and was Holding HOLDING also IMO had the best bowling action ever BOYCOTT was great at building inns and could bat for hrs one of the best defensive batsman of all time

[@joncumber2020]

The enforcer. Genuinely frightening fast bowling. Still the reason many countries still shiver a bit regarding West Indies. Another like him may yet one day emerge.

[@boymeetsbush8232]

I think Andy Roberts was the enforcer. Andy hit more people that Michael, Joel Garner and Collin Craft combined

[@richposports7030]

Boyc tells it as it is!

[@carlh429]

Scoring a Test century in the Caribbean series of early 1981 against the West Indies pace quartet of Holding,Croft, Roberts and Garner at the age of 40 as Boycs did commands respect.

[@kevinwaters5872]

Holding’s run up was cricket’s best sight. I believe Marshall was the ‘deadliest’ quick , but Holding was “ poetry in motion “.

[@cqwt6103]

Geoffrey didn't front in 74 to face Thomson. Self imposed exile I think he called it. Finally fronted in 77 the year after Tommo done his shoulder. Smart man.

[@markhiggins8315]

Get your facts right. When England set off to Australia for the 74/75 series none of them had even heard of Jeff Thompson. This can easily be verified by the players stories of how they first came across him in a state match. Jeff had played one test a year or two before when injured and without any impact against I think it was Pakistan but not certain, the point is Boycott in no way was avoiding Thompson.

[@peteanderson4395]

@@markhiggins8315 very well said... it's claimed Tony Grieg never forgave Boycs for leaving the England team to face the wrath of Lillee and Thommo.. what you said about Thommo is correct he was relatively unknown at the time and it was also thought that Lillee was passed his best after a serious back injury I think

[@truth7653]

No body all pure run up & athleticism in his effort. Rhythm. Top bowler.

[@MegaEnforcer95]

Holding was clocked at 157 kmh in 76. i reckon he must have touched 160kmh a few times. Thommo I think would have been 155-160 with some 163-4 kmh balls.

[@scoldedcat]

Do you know if Boycott ever faced Thomson ? I can't remember It. I know he was out injured for the '74-'75 tour of Oz.

[@MegaEnforcer95]

scoldedcat He might have faced him but Thommo had a shoulder injury last game of 74/5 Ashes so he lost some pace. He clocked 160 in 1975 after his injury so I don't think Boycs faced him at his quickest. I think Boycs might have faced him in 1979.

[@scoldedcat]

MegaEnforcer95 I checked the '77 series. Boycott did face him in the 3rd test at Trent Bridge. Thommo got him in the 1st innings for 107 and he got 80 in the 2nd. Then in the 4th test, Geoff got 191 before falling to Pascoe. So he handled him pretty well. Lillee was out with his back injury that series, I think.

[@zibtihaj3213]

Thommo bowled Boycott just as spectacularly as Holding , it was in a Charity match in which Thommo was pissed off at Boycott. It is all in Viv's latest book

[@johnpallot623]

scoldedcat qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

[@Rnrf5150]

Michael holding's name is as beautiful as his bowling.

[@mizofan]

ha ha, I remember 76 as a wonderful summer of sun and W.Indies hammering England

[@andrewbaverstock2672]

Boycott never faced Jeff Thomson at his peak. All the West Indians, including Clive Lloyd and Michael Holding himself, said that Thommo was in another league pace wise. End of story.

[@kunalsingh3121]

I agree Holding was more deceptive than out and out quick. In my observation Thomson is perhaps the quickest bowler of Modern Era (50 years). Andy Roberts and Young Malcolm Marshall (epsecially Roberts) were actually quicker than Mikki.

[@trinihammer]

i dont care about of your end of story. michael holding was faster than thomson now put that in your digiredoo and smoke it.

[@davifdavid4347]

Stop talking rubbish,no West Indian said Thommo was in another league. It's all in your imagination.

[@davifdavid4347]

​@@kunalsingh3121What do you know,stop chatting rubbish.

[@davifdavid4347]

​@@trinihammerHolding was faster according to Tony Greig and many other Test status batsmen I could name.

[@GGritsun]

An incredible bowler

[@billdeal8718]

Ah, but did he ever face Phil Tufnell with a sou’easter behind him

[@charisma7095]

Who's that?

[@alexlanning712]

only when he had his corset on

[@Bernie8330]

@@charisma7095 An Oval specialist.

[@jimmartin9704]

Now your talking

[@flash-uj6ly]

Pragyan Ojha is a better bowler than Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall,Colin Croft and Andy Roberts. Pragyan Ojha is billion times better than Michael Holding. Pragyan Ojha is fastest to take 100 test wickets in his 22nd test match. Who is Michael Holding? Some third class garbage thrash fast bowler! Watch this video of Pragyan Ojha destroying west indies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHOsq2uXl9ZofdU Pragyan Ojha is billion times better than Michael Holding. Who is Michael Holding? Some third garbage bowler.

[@christophernation4793]

Back in the day when you could sit on the grass between the boundary rope and the stands, I used to sit behind the bowlers' run-up. At the Oval one time, Michael Holding was bowling from 'my end'. His run-up was so long it started from about 5 yrds from the rope. Every time he got to the end of his run-up a W.Indies woman just near would start up with "Oh! Holdins'! Holdins!'". The great Holdings would give her a smile and a wink and a "See you later, doo-doo! look".

[@pranjalgupta5785]

well hmm i dont concur with you on this mate.I am huge fan of the great West Indian quickies and they would have been too much for the current Indian team and would have ripped them apart but not tendulkar and that too in his prime. come on man you have got to show some respect. The man is a legend. I agree even for tendulkar "the fearsome foursome" would have been difficult to negotiate but "destroyed" him is i think is a bit too much.would have an interesting battle for sure.

[@philsinatra]

Check out the footage of Thomson bowling in Australia. There can't have been a pacier bowler than this.

[@ruddyragga9147]

fred west Thompson was the type of bowler I liked when I opened . We call fast and foolish he was irratic and inconsistent.

[@chookvalve]

blowing your own trumpet again rags! Tommo would have killed you actually.

[@elijahdockery8120]

Ruddy Ragga according to Thompson himself his erratic and inconsistent bowling was one of his biggest weapons. He once said “if I don’t know where the ball is going, how the hell is the batsmen supposed to know”

[@johnveitch7410]

Good job for Tommo in not having to bowl to you. It woul have played hell with his fingers. Well done. Regards.

[@stephenwright1476]

agreed

[@MegaEnforcer95]

12 out of 14 batsmen LBW/bowled on a slow Oval wicket?! Dafuq?! Serious speed...

[@judgementravi480]

One of great defender of England opener little score batting 2 days 😀 what a reply didn't show the fearful about holding little bit scare it's terrific one even realy scared

[@byza101]

Imagine a team that had a bowling attack of Warne, Marshall, Ambrose, McGrath facing up an attack that had Muralitharan, Holding, Akram and Steyn

[@chrisp4170]

What about Tuffnell?

[@byza101]

@@chrisp4170 I’m sure Tuffnell would be a diamond to have a lager with

[@rudolphreece3882]

Mikey was also very educated and intelligent.

[@phillipr61]

Boycott was in test exile the two years Thompson was at his fastest 74-76 Were was he during the 74-75 ashes, when his country needed him most

[@snacks975]

Many people do not know that Thommo also gave him a torrid couple of overs in a charity match. Thommo was pissed off at him and got him out. Viv described that in his book.

[@russellcampbell9198]

Didn't come out to face Thommo in 74/75 when Thommo was humming. That said, Holding was lightning quick and accurate too.

[@ds1868]

Sir Geoffrey refused to play for England 1972/77. Nothing to do with Jeff Thomson.

[@dnimon936]

@@ds1868 uh huh..........

[@shanelawson5072]

@@ds1868.. the point was he didn't face Thommo at his quickest for whatever reason.

[@markhiggins8315]

When England set off for the 74/75 tour of Australia none of them had even heard of Jeff Thompson. You can easily check this out from many stories of how they first enciuntered him so to suggest Boycott deliberately avoided him is just not true.

[@davifdavid4347]

With the exception of the Pakistanis, no one knew about Thommo in 75. If you're suggesting Boycs was scared of Thommo,then you're being ridiculous.

[@roadrunner1337]

Truly generous Geoff.

[@harshaphukan5091]

The Rolls Royce of fast bowlers!

[@johnfitzjohn4300]

The Man Was a Ledgend

[@Shahid4261-z4g]

An excellent commentary

[@ajitvikrambhargava8824]

wouldnt it be wonderful if i could back in time,make sachin play vs holding?:(

[@ledzeproberts2111]

What a 70s team I was lucky enough to be in the same hotel in 1976 in Torquay

[@georgeash4008]

It is now Sir Geoffrey, a well deserved Knighthood.

[@georgeash4008]

@Darren Kempster I didn't know Sir Geoff had campaigned on domestic violence, but the fact that he has just shows what a great guy he is.

[@georgeash4008]

@Darren Kempster What guilty of helping on the issue? Like he smuggled someone into the country to escape domestic violence and got convicted of the smuggling.

[@georgeash4008]

@Darren Kempster I am glad his partner was convicted for attacking him. Just because he is a sporting hero does not mean he cannot be a victim abuse.

[@georgeash4008]

@Darren Kempster Thanks for clarifying, it was my mistake for getting it confused.

[@stephenwright1476]

that's right.... for cricket.....and boring us to tears!!!

[@davidrhodes7655]

The best ever beautiful rhythm 155km/hr on average sometimes up around 160km/hr beautiful to watch

[@hamzamuhammadkhan]

His story telling is amazing

[@rakeshmishra679]

The greatest Artist of Fast bowling

[@cinefan555]

We miss your commentary

[@leelagainpaulsingh8835]

Very underrated bowler.

[@rajagleo]

Yeah, His name is Mic! He didn't made noise, but got it!

[@Mirkwood50]

I love Geoff Boycott...Best English player of all time.

[@gurmukhsingh6097]

U great both of u God bless u

[@specialistsprofessionalsin1331]

Patterson appeared very quick fast dangerous murderous killer bowler. Lillee thomson holding imran brett lee shoaib aktar waqar devon malcolm shane taut at their peaks of careers.Batting without helmets protective gears and no limitations of bouncers Huge difference to play with and without protective gears and unlimited bouncers short pitched bowling. Helmets protective gears uncured rough uneven pitches its like earth and sky distance. I have played season cricket and I know exactly what it means I have seen my team mates at other end got hit with bouncers on their faces blood all over them hospital & finally got stitches which scared them and me to death at times . No limitations of bouncers and yet walk out there with bowlers wanting to kill you destroy you with quick fire short pitched bowling. That's why whenever anybody talks about records I ask them immediately is this with or without helmets protective gears and no limitations of current bouncers rules regulations favoring the batsmen. That's why Gavaskar Viv Richards are the the Bentleys Rollce Royce of Batting I tell them. If you ask any of the current top 10 batsmen to face and bat without helmets and gadgets protective gears and even with the bowling restrictions and limitations of bouncers, still I bet they will not bat the way they are batting and scoring right now.....Thats why always Records before 1985 and records after 1985 must be different grades and categories

[@amitpawar10]

Someone who has got Sunil Gavaskar 11 times out.. is beyond extra-ordinary

[@andrewhawthorne2892]

Boycott has probably faced more of the modern-day fast bowlers than anyone else - including even Courteney Walsh, who got his wicket in a County game in 1986, but not before Boycott had scored 80.

[@showtime6663]

Sir Geoffrey missed the point on height. Holding powered it down from 9' ,pace and bounce. Top class bowler.

[@matthewmichaels5522]

The prince of speed and my greatest bowling idol. The Rolls Royce of bowler's. Pure class.

[@graemenewt]

I would say its all about deception, people like thommo and johnson are I would think exceptionally difficult to face due to their action being so slingy and as a batsmen you cant set yourself as your unsure to the length of the delivery due to their low slingy arms...

[@phillipr61]

Michael Holding himself along with Aussie quick, Len Pascoe, plus Viv Richards said Thommo was the quickest they d seen

[@vizigoththeo6674]

boondull of wickits ... haha love Geoff

[@sandeepshetty1589]

Michael Holding did not even bend his back and bowled fast

[@JeewanthaBandara]

1:27 Epic Face. 'That's a little bit scary.'

[@michaelhehir8116]

Didn’t face Thomo at his fastest in 74/75. He did face him in ‘77 but that was after Thomo stuffed his shoulder and it was on slow English pitches. Thomo and Holding were timed in competition in about’78/79 in the same conditions and the same measuring apparatus and Thomo was clearly faster and again this was after his injury.

[@Drinckx2]

Of course he thinks Holding is the fastest. When Jeff Thompson was bowling at his fastest - certainly faster than the very swift Holding - Boycott was nowhere to be seen, letting England down by making himself unavailable for selection (in '74-75, England were losing players to injury because of Lilley and Thompson's hostility, having to call Colin Cowdrey out of retirement. In '76, his old Yorkshire sparring partner, Brian Close, in his mid-forties, was called into the England team to face the hostile West Indies' barrage of Holding and Roberts). So to him, yes, the brilliant Michael Holding was the quickest he faced.

[@markhiggins8315]

None of the English players had even heard of Jeff Thompson when they set off for Australia in 1974. This can easily be verified by the players stories of how they first encountered Thompson in a state match before the first test. Thompson had played just one test a year or two previously when injured and with no impact against I think it was Pakistan but I'm not certain. The point is that whatever Boycott's reasons were for not going to Australia it had nothing to do with Thompson.

[@srinivasvangala3783]

West Indies Fast Bowlers : 1) Malcolm Marshall 2) Curtly Ambrose 3) Michael Holding 4) Joel Garner 5) Courtney Walsh 6) Andy Roberts 7) Wes Hall 8) Colin Croft

[@jonrichardson8461]

Jeff Thomson was measured as the fastest bowler in the 70s and most who played against him in his peak period 1974-77 before a shoulder injury he was the fastest. Boycott didn’t play against Thomson in that period. But Holding was next at his peak.