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His test game (as Clive lloyd wanted) just before Holder worked out his. What a balanced team we would have. The more I see things is the more I appreciate Clive Lloyd's vision and genius. We were great under his guidance and the more I live the more I'm understanding this.
He picked a young puppy Michael Holding when no one on earth expected it, not even the local Jamaicans.Things like that are easily forgotten by mere mortals.

In reply to Raggs

Michael Holding and Seymour Newman were pegged for greatness from U-19 days but his development was stymied by injury, while Newman gave up cricket for track and field. Holding started playing FC Shell Shield cricket while he was still in high school at KC playing Sunlight Cup cricket.

He hadn't taken many wickets up to that point, because of the stop/start nature of his career, because of injury his problems but everyone who knew anything about cricket recognised that Michael Holding was a prodigy

In 1973 Holding clean bowled Australian opener Ian Redpath everywhere he saw him; clean bowled Alvin Kallicharan, Charlie Davis, Deryk Murray and other test players. He ws then selected for teh President' Eleven and was being touted for a place in the squad for the 1975 World Cup. It is not as if Holding came out of nowhere.

It is therefore not accurate to say that "everyone was surprised" when he was selected for the tour of Australia in '75-'76. Viv Richards' selction in 1974 was more a surprise than Holding's a year later.

In reply to Raggs

Or if Dwayne Bravo & Kieron Pollard were interested in playing FC & Test cricket.

In reply to jacksprat

Fredricks put a hammering on Holding for a guyana team that Lloyd was captaining. It would have been easy for Lloyd to overlook him after that. I know it's well nigh impossible for you, but stop being a jackass!!

In reply to Larr Pullo

Fredricks and Matthew(s) beat up on Uton Dowe, not Holding. I guess you're too young to remember the details, so you're excused.

Holding peppered LLoyd with bouncers so much that the Big Cat aggressively advanced towards him after one landed in his rib-cage. That's where Lloyd's fascination with Holding started.

In reply to Drapsey

Fredricks beat Holding too. First ball he ran into Freddo he ran into a rasping square drive. He was bowling from the Northern end at Bourda. He might have had a better second spell but Freddo tore into him from ball one when the game started.

In reply to jacksprat

Viv Richards selection to tour India in 1974 was only a surprise to people who were not following the English County season in 1974. I went to London in the summer of 1974 and it was obvious that Viv was special as he and Andy Roberts had great breakout seasons that year,Andy more than Viv.These two innings made Viv's name inevitable when Clive went down to the Caribbean in August to help select the team.
Here and here

In reply to Dukes

Correct. Viv was Alf Gover's school in England developing his game and Lloyd were very aware of him and Roberts. Lloyd did his own scouting of players who he wanted to bring into the WI team, that's why he is the perfect person to lead a WI revival. He has a great eye for the intangibles that make good test players.

In reply to Larr Pullo

That was in 1973 but even then both Umpire Kippins and my good friend Robert Sam said after that match that Holding was destined to play for the West Indies.I saw that match and remember Holding ending up on the South Stand roof from a Fredericks hook.
However in 1975 also at Bourda Holding dismissed both Freddo and Kallicharran cheaply to seal his place in the team to Australia.Holding had a grand total of 16 first class wickets when he was selected to tour Australia.

In reply to Larr Pullo

Another person that Lloydie brought into the team was Patrick Patterson based on reports out of Tasmania where Patto had terrorized batsmen.Clive flew in to Jamaica and organized a net session with Patto and then Patto was selected.
I got that from the horses mouth!!!!

P.S Actually he knew about Patto even before his Tasmania thing because he was instrumental in getting him a couple of games for Lancashire very early on.

In reply to Dukes

I wasn't in the WI when Patterson played, but what I do know is that Lloyd could sit down and give you a technical breakdown of every single player in the WI and all the test players of the various test playing nations.

In reply to Larr Pullo
You can't resist speaking out of your ass..as usual!

Was Lloyd the sole selector?

Nothing in your pompous bloviating refutes the fact that Holding was not a surprise selection
since he had been on the selectors radar.

I repeat: Viv Richards was more of a surprise when
picked ,because, despite his
obvious promise. his average was only about 27 Runs. He was only picked when Foster withdrew and made when Rowe also later withdrew.

In reply to jacksprat

Asshat Sprat, Lloyd had ultimate control of his teams. If he wanted you on the team no one could keep you off, and if you were a slacker and he wanted you off, no amount of selectors in name could get you a play.

In reply to Dukes
Patto was a known quantity but I think he was also a victim of circumstances and a little politicshttps.

He had played U19 cricket and even opened the bowling with Courteny Walsh for Excelsior High School in the Sunlight Cup but he was a countryboy who lived in Portland.

Then as now, selection had a lot to do with favoritism and where you are from,which club you played for, or who liked you.

In reply to jacksprat

!!


What a nice word. Thanks, I will remember it.


Hmmmmmmm.............Wonder if Larr look it up yet??




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In reply to jacksprat

I remember seeing them bowl together on the same team at a match at Jarrett Park around 1971-72.


It was an exciting time because they were still in high school and were so good.

Newman (Wolmers) was faster than Holding (KC) but Holding even then had the outswinger which he used with telling effect.

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In reply to Raggs


Very true. In the recent years WI have had Dw. Bravo, Sammy, Russell who could/should have been teams' world class all rounder. Now Holder has shown potential lets hope he can develop his game more and finally WI can have someone to extend the batting and/or allow a 2nd spinner when needed.

In reply to Raggs

Dwayne Smith.

He was once, after a brilliant century, called the next coming of sobers.

Now his speciality is hoping off planes while on the runway and complaining about horn.

Wait a Lil bit nah guys...gosh.

In reply to Larr Pullo

Very few know that Lloyd had such power and then Viv. After that reaogn tbe WICB biggies declared that no one captain will have such control over WI cricket again.

I saw Mikey snd Daniels get stick at U19 from Bacchas and Timor but that did not mean they were not very good young quicks in the eyes of those watching. I get what you are saying that Lloyd knew that there would be a bit of a learning curve but he daw thr potential was greater in those he opted for. Lloyd did do a lot of island hopping and scouting.

In reply to Raggs

Russell has time on his side as he is still young. the issue is he is a wanted man in the 20/320 arena and that is where the money is so I doubt he will ever spend the time to develop his game in the longer version!

Not too late for Russell to play test cricket if he wants.

In reply to unitsypher

That's the crux of the matter. Old farts will pretend that they don't understand why present day players opt for the chance to make in one day the money others make in five.