From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, the West Indies produced some of the most formidable pacers in international cricket. Meanwhile, Australia’s current trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood have been reliable performers in all forms.

Cricket fans recall the last three decades of the twentieth century as the “golden age of fast bowling”. The famed “Four Horsemen” were Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft. They are widely regarded as the first class of West Indies bowlers to torture opposition formats, regardless of the conditions under which they played.

Roberts was recognised for his speed and ferocity. He was known as the “brain” of the quarter. Roberts employed two distinct bouncers. One of them was bowled at a slower pace, and batters usually avoided it. However, that was the Antiguan speedster’s strategy since he had another bouncer in his arsenal that he could bowl at a high tempo and surprise the batters. The Urlings Village native played 47 tests and 56 one-day internationals, taking 202 and 87 wickets, respectively.

Meanwhile, Holding was known for his quickness and menacing demeanour. His nickname, “Whispering Death,” well describes his bowling abilities. He could bowl at alarming speeds with a fluid motion. Holding played 60 Tests and 102 One-Day Internationals, taking 249 and 142 wickets, respectively.