The first Antiguan to play Test cricket, Andy Roberts was a fearsome fast bowler who was the first of the famed quartet of the Windies pace attack in the early '70s. The intimidating tactics of the Windies pacers are still talked about in today’s times and most of the veterans regard Roberts as a wonderful practitioner of that art, more so because his weaponry also included a deadpan, expressionless face.

Roberts was a robust individual with an alert mind and put his broad shoulders to perfect use in what was regarded as a rhythmic run-up. He had two variations of his stock delivery, the bouncer. One was delivered at a slower pace and was often dealt with quite easily by the batsman. However, this was a ploy by Roberts to lull the batsman into a false sense of security. Roberts would then deliver the second bouncer, pitching in a similar spot to the first, but delivered at a far greater pace. The batsman would attempt to play this delivery in the same fashion as the first slower bouncer only to be surprised by the extra pace and bounce of the ball. Many batsmen were dismissed- and many more struck painful blows- by Roberts using this ploy.

Roberts made his Test debut against England in Bridgetown, Barbados at the age of 23. In a career spanning 11 years, he picked up 202 wickets in 47 Tests at an average of 25.61. He twice picked up seven wickets in an innings and an equal number of 10-wicket hauls. He was part of Clive Lloyd’s unbeatables who won the first two ODI World Cups in 1975 and 1979. He was a part of the Leicestershire & New South Wales teams. He ended up with 889 First-Class wickets. Although, his pace deserted him, his ability to move the ball kept him in the game towards the fag end of the career. Imran Khan has said that the deadliest delivery he faced in Test cricket was bowled by Andy Roberts.

After retirement, Roberts has taken up the role of an able administrator overseeing the preparation of cricket pitches. In February 2014, he was knighted along with Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose. Sir Andy Roberts was indeed a great servant of the sport.

By Siddharth Prabhakar