smash84
The Tiger King
Oh yeah. Thanks for putting this up Rob. Much appreciated
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Sylvers
- Thread starter fredfertang
- Start date
doesitmatter
U19 Cricketer
Great article..just read now 
Biryani Pillow
U19 Vice-Captain
Great article.
I was a Member of Surrey for many years, including Clarke's tenure, and would agree with much that was said (bit harsh on Jackman who was still a decent bowler although past his best by then).
In 40 years of watching I would say that Silvers, if he slipped himself (which was far from every game), was the quickest I've seen. I can recall some amazing saves by Jack Richards when one slid down the leg side.
I never heard of him bowling 'angry'. I'm told by a couple from that team that he tended to go quieter if upset.
Two things goit him fired up to bowl his fastest:
A: A fellow West Indian coming in to bat.
B: A batsman he rated.
I recall one afternoon at The Oval. Clarke had ambled through a few overs earlier then gone to graze at gully. A wicket fell and in strode one I.V.A.Richards. Sylvester was given the ball (he'd have taken it otherwise) and we were treated to a few spectacular overs which, I think, ended in a draw somehow. It was like two heavyweight boxers slugging each other. Brief but amazing.
He would certainly have rated Gower, Waugh and others so they saw his peak. It was said that he disliked Boycott, and therefore bowled fast at him, but I was in a group in a pub once as Sylvester started out on what was probably a mighty session when someone raised this very question. Clarke said he had no problem with Boycott but he was a real good batsman - and so got the pace.
I used to sit in the old Pavilion on a small balcony near the away team changing room - and like all the regulars knew Ted the Dressing Room Attendant. It was day one of a match against Yorkshire in the days when teams could have two overseas on the staff but only one could play. Surrey had Silvers and Tony Gray (talented but lazy). About 10.15 Ted comes out and says "..'ere lads, who is playing today, Clarkey or Gray?" We said we didn't know yet and asked him the reason for the question "Boycs and Martyn Moxon just asked me," He goes back in and a few minutes later Boycott and Moxon go for a loosening up jog round the outfield. By the time they get back Ted has found out - Clarke is playing. A few minutes later the teams are announced and guess what? Boycott and Moxon, citing hamstring injuries, have pulled out. Yorkshire batted first and opened with Arnold Sidebottom
. A very angry Brian Close appeared from Yorkshire the next day (they were already on the way to a huge stuffing), locked the dressing door and you can guess the rest
I think the quickest I saw him bowl was one evening against Middlesex. Now I doubt anyone here would question Mike Gatting's courage but lets just say Micheal wasn't getting entirely behind the line
It was swift bowling on a not overly fast pitch.
When Surrey released him he went to one of the Northern Leagues but his Club up there cut him quite quickly saying he wasn't fit. Well he had never been 'fit' when he played for Surrey. He was never a scultured athlete and wasn't tall but he had hugely powerful, and apparently very supple, shoulders.
I think there were two West Indians who 'took the Rand' who would have made their squad even more feasome in the late 70/early 80s - Clarke and Franklyn Stephenson.
I was a Member of Surrey for many years, including Clarke's tenure, and would agree with much that was said (bit harsh on Jackman who was still a decent bowler although past his best by then).
In 40 years of watching I would say that Silvers, if he slipped himself (which was far from every game), was the quickest I've seen. I can recall some amazing saves by Jack Richards when one slid down the leg side.
I never heard of him bowling 'angry'. I'm told by a couple from that team that he tended to go quieter if upset.
Two things goit him fired up to bowl his fastest:
A: A fellow West Indian coming in to bat.
B: A batsman he rated.
I recall one afternoon at The Oval. Clarke had ambled through a few overs earlier then gone to graze at gully. A wicket fell and in strode one I.V.A.Richards. Sylvester was given the ball (he'd have taken it otherwise) and we were treated to a few spectacular overs which, I think, ended in a draw somehow. It was like two heavyweight boxers slugging each other. Brief but amazing.
He would certainly have rated Gower, Waugh and others so they saw his peak. It was said that he disliked Boycott, and therefore bowled fast at him, but I was in a group in a pub once as Sylvester started out on what was probably a mighty session when someone raised this very question. Clarke said he had no problem with Boycott but he was a real good batsman - and so got the pace.
I used to sit in the old Pavilion on a small balcony near the away team changing room - and like all the regulars knew Ted the Dressing Room Attendant. It was day one of a match against Yorkshire in the days when teams could have two overseas on the staff but only one could play. Surrey had Silvers and Tony Gray (talented but lazy). About 10.15 Ted comes out and says "..'ere lads, who is playing today, Clarkey or Gray?" We said we didn't know yet and asked him the reason for the question "Boycs and Martyn Moxon just asked me," He goes back in and a few minutes later Boycott and Moxon go for a loosening up jog round the outfield. By the time they get back Ted has found out - Clarke is playing. A few minutes later the teams are announced and guess what? Boycott and Moxon, citing hamstring injuries, have pulled out. Yorkshire batted first and opened with Arnold Sidebottom
. A very angry Brian Close appeared from Yorkshire the next day (they were already on the way to a huge stuffing), locked the dressing door and you can guess the restI think the quickest I saw him bowl was one evening against Middlesex. Now I doubt anyone here would question Mike Gatting's courage but lets just say Micheal wasn't getting entirely behind the line
It was swift bowling on a not overly fast pitch.When Surrey released him he went to one of the Northern Leagues but his Club up there cut him quite quickly saying he wasn't fit. Well he had never been 'fit' when he played for Surrey. He was never a scultured athlete and wasn't tall but he had hugely powerful, and apparently very supple, shoulders.
I think there were two West Indians who 'took the Rand' who would have made their squad even more feasome in the late 70/early 80s - Clarke and Franklyn Stephenson.
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fredfertang
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I remember being told about the way he bowled Viv Richards by one of the members at the Oval - may even have been you perhaps! Would love to have seen it, but never did, nor do I recall anyone ever batting with any real confidence against him - my abiding memory is the legs batsman's legs twitching in the direction of square leg.
I vividly recall one year when I got to the Lancashire game at the Oval when Graeme Fowler got under Sylver's skin - in fairness to Foxy his twitching was down to an ugly technique rather than being frit, but he snicked a couple, Sylvers tried to blast him out, and the harder he tried the worse Foxy's technique became but he kept getting fluky runs - it got to a point where you just knew that Sylvers was going to pin him the next over - but then someone else got him out - Sylvers conspicuous by his absence from the Surrey celebrations
I vividly recall one year when I got to the Lancashire game at the Oval when Graeme Fowler got under Sylver's skin - in fairness to Foxy his twitching was down to an ugly technique rather than being frit, but he snicked a couple, Sylvers tried to blast him out, and the harder he tried the worse Foxy's technique became but he kept getting fluky runs - it got to a point where you just knew that Sylvers was going to pin him the next over - but then someone else got him out - Sylvers conspicuous by his absence from the Surrey celebrations
stumpski
International Captain
Just been reminded of a funny thing - not directly related to Sylvester though.
When I first joined Surrey - around 1981 or '82, pretty much straight after leaving school - I'm sure that one of the membership benefits listed was that members could ask members of the playing staff to bowl at them in the nets! This made a number of extraordinary assumptions: that county members would be players themselves; that they would all be batsmen; and that they'd be competent enough to be able to play against county standard bowlers. I didn't want David Thomas or Graham Monkhouse running in at me, I'd barely been able to lay bat on ball in school games - the thought of facing Sylvers was not worth thinking about. Does anyone else remember this? It can;t have been peculiar to Surrey I'm sure.
When I first joined Surrey - around 1981 or '82, pretty much straight after leaving school - I'm sure that one of the membership benefits listed was that members could ask members of the playing staff to bowl at them in the nets! This made a number of extraordinary assumptions: that county members would be players themselves; that they would all be batsmen; and that they'd be competent enough to be able to play against county standard bowlers. I didn't want David Thomas or Graham Monkhouse running in at me, I'd barely been able to lay bat on ball in school games - the thought of facing Sylvers was not worth thinking about. Does anyone else remember this? It can;t have been peculiar to Surrey I'm sure.
Biryani Pillow
U19 Vice-Captain
I think you are mistaken - Surrey never offered that. The MCC used to but that was a long time ago.
Surrey had Junior Members nets around the start of the season but they would probably assign one of the younger staff members or a 2nd XI player to do that. No established player would have deigned to do it.
Fred - in the innings I mentioned I don't think Viv was bowled. I recall he was out to a huge skyer. It was in keeping with the passage of play.
It was far from guaranteed that Sylvers would bowl flat out. It was as likely, maybe more likely, that he would trundle it down at less than fast medium. especially late in the day.
I recall a match against Lancashire when they had Michael Holding who, possibly on rotation, wasn't playing. Surrey were batting and I noticed 3 players heading off for a net- which were on the ground (outside the boundary of course) down towards the Harleyford Road. It was Clarke, Holding and Monte Lynch - I decided to amble round for a look. Sylvers and Mikey were jogging in off very few paces and whipping it down. After a few minutes Monte turned to me and asked if I wanted to swop with him. I declined.
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stumpski
International Captain
Ah thanks, it did seem like some peculiar throwback to pre-war times. As you say it would have been one of the Colts or groundstaff who'd have had to do that anyway.
Like Wayne Daniel, Clarke would have played many more Tests for weaker sides; he did his career considerable harm with that brick-throwing episode in Pakistan. What would West Indies do for a bowler like him now?
Like Wayne Daniel, Clarke would have played many more Tests for weaker sides; he did his career considerable harm with that brick-throwing episode in Pakistan. What would West Indies do for a bowler like him now?