Malcolm Marshall

Malcolm Marshall was a Barbadian fast bowler whose pace, skill and Test bowling average of under 21 place him among the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

Malcolm Denzil Marshall was born on 18 April 1958 in Bridgetown, Barbados, and his father, a policeman, died in a road accident when Malcolm was just one, leaving his grandfather to help teach him the game on the beaches and playgrounds of Saint Michael, Barbados. Marshall made his Test debut against India in 1978, and developed into widely regarded the greatest fast bowler in the sport's history, combining searing pace with remarkable control and cricketing intelligence across a career that terrorised batting line-ups throughout the 1980s. Marshall took 376 Test wickets at an average of 20.94, one of the lowest averages ever recorded by a bowler with 200 or more wickets, and was also an accomplished batter, coming closer than almost any West Indian since Garry Sobers to being a genuine all-rounder. Marshall played county cricket for Hampshire for 15 seasons, and became coach of both Hampshire and the West Indies in 1996, before being diagnosed with colon cancer during the 1999 World Cup. He married his long-term partner, Connie, weeks before his death on 4 November 1999, at age 41, in his native Barbados, a loss deeply mourned throughout the cricketing world.

Marshall combined genuine pace with exceptional accuracy and the ability to swing the ball both ways. Despite his relatively modest height for a fast bowler, he generated steep bounce and could move the ball off the seam with devastating effect. His intelligent use of variations in pace and length, coupled with an aggressive approach, made him virtually unplayable on his day.

Marshall is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history and set the standard for pace bowling excellence. His remarkable Test bowling average of 20.94 remains one of the best among fast bowlers with significant careers.

• ICC Cricket Hall of Fame