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Joel Garner, the Big Bird, was the fourth component in the fast-bowling
machine which enabled Clive Lloyd to launch his fast bowling blitzkrieg
on World Cricket. He came to prominence at the same time as Colin Croft,
taking 25 wickets in five Tests against Pakistan in 1976-77. His height
was as big a problem as his pace. Indeed, in his early years, he tended
to bowl within himself on a full length, concentrating on the yorkers
that reduced England's batting to rubble in the 1979 World Cup Final.
Only on the retirement of Andy Roberts and the deceleration of Michael
Holding did he come out as an out and out fast bowler. At 6ft 8in he was
difficult enough to play. Brian Rose, who captained Garner at Somerset
as well as playing against him in two Test series, reckoned his bounce
was always too steep to drive, often to even play forward. In 1979-80 in
Australia, Garner scored 60 at Brisbane, although his once promising
batting never properly delivered. He took 6-56 against New Zealand and
5-56 against Australia in Adelaide at a time when the four fast bowlers
rarely gave each other a chance to get big hauls. He had 6-75 against
Australia at Georgetown in 1983-84, 6-60 at Port of Spain and 5-55 at
Edgbaston against England in 1984.
In the 1983 World Cup Final, the
first that West Indies lost, he bowled 12 overs and conceded only 24
runs. During his period with the West Indies the giant Garner perfected
an on-field comedy act with Alvin Kallicharran, who was more than a foot
shorter, where Kallicharran would jump up and pretend to whisper in
Garner's ear. (Bob Harragan)
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