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Vanburn Holder from Barbados struggled manfully to fill the gap in West
Indies fast bowling after the retirement of Hall and Griffith and before
the emergence of Roberts and Holding, but he had little support from
anyone other than Keith Boyce. He went on to become the fourth
fast-bowler in the early years of Clive Lloyd's strategy. While he was
only brisk fast-medium he moved the ball around and was effective with
another class bowler at the other end. Holder joined Worcestershire in
1968 and was at the top of the list of apprentice opening bowlers
brought by West Indies to England in 1969.
He took 4-48 during the
Headingley Test. He took four wickets in an innings against India in
1971, twice against Australia in 1973 and against England a few months
later, but it was not until 1974-75 at Bombay, that he bowled a side
out, taking 6-39 against India. He took 5-108 and 3-115 at Melbourne in
1975-76 and 15 wickets in four Tests in England in 1976. He was brought
back in 1976-77 when West Indies sacked their team for joining World
Series Cricket, taking 6-28 in the Trinidad Test against Australia.
He
toured India with the second string, which also included two emerging
stars in Malcolm Marshall and Sylvester Clarke. In the 1975 World Cup,
Holder took 3-30 at the Oval in the semi-final against New Zealand, but
conceded 65 in 11.4 overs in the Final. (Bob Harragan)
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