At Headingley in 1984, Malcolm Marshall summed up the fierce and terrible beauty of one of the greatest teams of them all.

The most terrible thing I ever saw on a cricket field took place during the interval between innings. It involved a series of physical jerks. It was the perfect vignette of one of the greatest teams of all time. Just the sight of a player warming up was more than the England team could take. 

The place was Headingley, the year 1984, the opponents West Indies. England were doing okay. Certainly they were in the match despite being 2-0 down in the series. They made 270, and West Indies were making heavy weather against an inspired Paul Allott, who took 6 for 61. 

But even that wasn't the best news for England. Malcom Marshall was injured. He broke his thumb in two places while fielding in the gully, going after a shot from Chris Broad, and was told not to think about cricket for ten days. Thus at one stroke, the great terror of the world had been taken out of England's way. Lord, how they must have toasted Broad in the dressing room.

read the full article at The Cricket Monthly