Not being harsh, Botham looked all at sea as a batsman playing the best quicks, especially the mighty WI bowlers.
I wouldn't agree with that. He played them as well as most, and because of his friendships with some of them they were always keen to get him.
Anyone who thinks Hadlee was a better batsman than Botham needs their head read - and I wouldd be very comfortable putting Botham nicely ahead of Imran as well.
Good piece - thanks for writing it. I would add that England would probably have won the first test had not Gower, of all people, not dropped a sitter when Roberts skied an attempted swipe at, I think, Hendrick. As you say, Roberts went on to play a vital innings to see WI home. Had we won that test, given what followed, we would also have won the series, albeit rather luckily. One wonders whether Lloyd's captaincy would have survived successive losses, especially after his side's shocking behaviour in NZ.
I think when the chance happened the Windies only wanted 10 or less to win so it was likely done anyway. It was a very tight finish though.
I remember Alan Knott being given LBW (I think by Don Oslear) - a dreadful decision. Malcolm Marshall was bowling round the wicket (and he didn't swing the ball much in those days) wide on the crease. He bowled a short ball wnhich Knott ducked - the ball didn't bounce but was still going oveer the stumps. It also pitched outside the leg stump, hit Knott outside the line of the leg stump and even if it had been a shooter wouldn't have hit leg stump
. Even if Knott had only made 20 - and he was more than capable of that - England would likely have won the match, and given the later rain the series.
It was one of those summers that was truely 4 nice days and a washout.
I was a Surrey member at the time and recall the Saturday at The Oval when the ground went from bone dry to totally under water in 20 minutes. England were favourites to win on the 4th day and looked likely to have a big first innings lead then Garner and Holding out of nowhere swung the bat and put on 70 or so runs and the whole mood changed. I well recall the last morning being very cold and grey and the West Indian bowlers getting on top. For a long while they looked certain to win and it wasn't until Willey and Willis had batted together for about 2 hours that a draw seemed even possible. It got rather tense for a while then.
Other memories:
The key innings in the 1st match was actually from Deryck Murray. England were well on top and his innings, although he played and missed a lot, dragged his team up.
The 100s by Gooch and Richards at Lords were superb. I was atThe Oval shortly before this game and remember hearing one of the umpires, Bill Alley, loudly proclaiming that Gooch "will never make a Test player......"
Brian Rose's debut innings was excellent - he looked made for the part. Hardly played after that series.
) and the drop happened after I'd left. Roberts was batting 9 so there were 2 more to come - and Haynes was out just before the end.