'Today's fast bowlers are very slow learners'
Andy Roberts, the former West Indian fast-bowling great, suggests the reasons for the decline of pace bowling in the Caribbean
Nagraj Gollapudi
11-May-2005
Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts, or just Andy Roberts - either is evocative. Once part of one of the greatest fast-bowling attacks, he unnerved batsmen with his deadly pace and accuracy ... and those bouncers. Roberts, who supervises the pitch at the Antigua Recreation Ground, hated to lose, and in this exclusive interview suggests the reasons for the decline of pace bowling in the Caribbean:
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What are the chief factors for the decline of fast bowling in the West Indies?
Actually, there is a general decline of fast bowling around the world, but more so in the West Indies. Because of our history of producing great fast bowlers the decline becomes so alarming. Over the years we have been blaming basketball as one of the main reasons, but basketball is not any reason at all. It is lack of motivation in the cricket in the Caribbean - there isn't as many people playing like the years gone by. Our administrators are not focusing on the development of the game and that is the most important factor we are lacking. We need to inject our cricket with some things and these people are not doing it.
Actually, there is a general decline of fast bowling around the world, but more so in the West Indies. Because of our history of producing great fast bowlers the decline becomes so alarming. Over the years we have been blaming basketball as one of the main reasons, but basketball is not any reason at all. It is lack of motivation in the cricket in the Caribbean - there isn't as many people playing like the years gone by. Our administrators are not focusing on the development of the game and that is the most important factor we are lacking. We need to inject our cricket with some things and these people are not doing it.
How about the young fast bowler - is he a complete product when he enters the international arena?
The fast bowlers of today are very slow learners. They are not strong as they used to be. We are pushing them into Test cricket too early, and hence you've a lot of injuries and a lot of burnouts because their bodies are not ready for the demands. Their bodies aren't matured. People think you can bowl fast with strength in the shoulders, but no. You need strength in the entire body: your legs, your back, everything needs to be strong.
The fast bowlers of today are very slow learners. They are not strong as they used to be. We are pushing them into Test cricket too early, and hence you've a lot of injuries and a lot of burnouts because their bodies are not ready for the demands. Their bodies aren't matured. People think you can bowl fast with strength in the shoulders, but no. You need strength in the entire body: your legs, your back, everything needs to be strong.
Are they getting the right kind of coaching when they are young?
I don't think somebody can coach you to bowl fast. That is one thing you can't do. You have it or you don't. If you have it then it's best to work with what the individual has. You cannot tell somebody to bowl this way or that way. Now we are adopting something that is foreign to our culture and our development. We are adopting the Australian way of fast bowling now. It hurts a little bit because we've produced some of the greatest fast bowlers in recent history and we are trying to get away from that and trying to adapt to some other culture.
I don't think somebody can coach you to bowl fast. That is one thing you can't do. You have it or you don't. If you have it then it's best to work with what the individual has. You cannot tell somebody to bowl this way or that way. Now we are adopting something that is foreign to our culture and our development. We are adopting the Australian way of fast bowling now. It hurts a little bit because we've produced some of the greatest fast bowlers in recent history and we are trying to get away from that and trying to adapt to some other culture.
Accuracy is the greatest part of taking wickets. If you can bowl the ball on the stumps, allow the batsman to play and allow the ball to move either by making it swing or cut, then you have a better chance of taking a wicket than if you are negative and bowl outside the line
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Does the lack of a professional set-up across various levels act as a deterrent?
No, I don't think so. We never had a professional set-up in the Caribbean before, but how did we produce so many great players? The love for the game is not as it was before. You have to love something in order to make a success of it.
No, I don't think so. We never had a professional set-up in the Caribbean before, but how did we produce so many great players? The love for the game is not as it was before. You have to love something in order to make a success of it.
Today's youth is migrating to better places to get more creature comforts. Is cricket missing out on good talent?
I don't think any youngster is going to make a better living out of anything else in the Caribbean than cricket. If you are good at cricket you'll earn more than any other job. But you have to be good at it. And for you to be good at it you have to love it; you have to dedicate yourself to it.
I don't think any youngster is going to make a better living out of anything else in the Caribbean than cricket. If you are good at cricket you'll earn more than any other job. But you have to be good at it. And for you to be good at it you have to love it; you have to dedicate yourself to it.
Why is this love missing?
I really don't know.
I really don't know.
We have heard about greats like you willing to help out youngsters. Has any bowler approached you for help?
Very, very few since I've retired. There are a number of people who want us former greats to come up to them to offer our services. I am not for that. If someone needs help from me I will put myself to offer that. But do not sit back and expect me to come to you to offer you help. It could be because of their attitudes, which I feel are instilled by others.
Very, very few since I've retired. There are a number of people who want us former greats to come up to them to offer our services. I am not for that. If someone needs help from me I will put myself to offer that. But do not sit back and expect me to come to you to offer you help. It could be because of their attitudes, which I feel are instilled by others.
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How about the West Indies board?
Even they do not need my help. Some time back when I was working with the fast bowlers they were introducing biomechanics into the training, for which they said I needed to get certified. I didn't want to be an out-and-out coach and I didn't want to get accredited to teach what I knew best. I don't teach from the book, I teach from the experience I got from my years of bowling fast and learning the art of fast bowling. What hurts me is a lot us are willing to help West Indies cricket, but we are not getting the opportunities due to our administrators.
Even they do not need my help. Some time back when I was working with the fast bowlers they were introducing biomechanics into the training, for which they said I needed to get certified. I didn't want to be an out-and-out coach and I didn't want to get accredited to teach what I knew best. I don't teach from the book, I teach from the experience I got from my years of bowling fast and learning the art of fast bowling. What hurts me is a lot us are willing to help West Indies cricket, but we are not getting the opportunities due to our administrators.
Bennett King, the Windies coach, said the lines bowlers bowl in regional cricket aren't conducive to taking wickets at international level. Do you agree?
If you want to get wickets you must attack the stumps, you must allow the batsman to play. If you bowl outside the line, most batsmen, once they've picked the line, are not going to play. Accuracy is the greatest part of taking wickets. If you can bowl the ball on the stumps, allow the batsman to play and allow the ball to move either by making it swing or cut, then you have a better chance of taking a wicket than if you are negative and bowl outside the line.
If you want to get wickets you must attack the stumps, you must allow the batsman to play. If you bowl outside the line, most batsmen, once they've picked the line, are not going to play. Accuracy is the greatest part of taking wickets. If you can bowl the ball on the stumps, allow the batsman to play and allow the ball to move either by making it swing or cut, then you have a better chance of taking a wicket than if you are negative and bowl outside the line.
Is that one of the reasons why the current crop aren't consistent enough?
I don't think they are learning the art of fast bowling. They do not practise enough. They need to practise the specifics - you practise what you want to do in the matches.
I don't think they are learning the art of fast bowling. They do not practise enough. They need to practise the specifics - you practise what you want to do in the matches.
You played under Clive Lloyd's winning unit. What did that West Indies team have that the present team doesn't?
Everything: love for the game, commitment, attitude, will to win. We never liked losing. I don't think the current lot has it.
Everything: love for the game, commitment, attitude, will to win. We never liked losing. I don't think the current lot has it.
How much does being part of a winning unit help?
Well, don't forget we didn't start as a winning unit as we were beaten 5-1 in Australia [in 1975-76]. But we learnt from that. I knew exactly what I wanted to do - I had to improve. Those days I was bowling fast, and just doing that wasn't getting me anywhere.
Well, don't forget we didn't start as a winning unit as we were beaten 5-1 in Australia [in 1975-76]. But we learnt from that. I knew exactly what I wanted to do - I had to improve. Those days I was bowling fast, and just doing that wasn't getting me anywhere.
So how do you stop the rot?
I am not sure if the current staff looking after the national team is equipped to stop it. You can't stop just at the international level, it has to start from the lower levels.
I am not sure if the current staff looking after the national team is equipped to stop it. You can't stop just at the international level, it has to start from the lower levels.
Have the wickets, some of which have become featherbeds, played a damaging role?
That is one of the theories I've been hearing, that the pitches are not as fast as before. But if the wickets are fast, bouncy and there is enough movement for the bowlers, do you think the bowlers will learn to bowl? If you have something every time you go to do it, something responding to you, do you think you'll learn the thing better? If the pitches help the bowler every time he will never learn to bowl. If he wants to do something, he will have to go about finding various ways, and then he will learn to bowl.
That is one of the theories I've been hearing, that the pitches are not as fast as before. But if the wickets are fast, bouncy and there is enough movement for the bowlers, do you think the bowlers will learn to bowl? If you have something every time you go to do it, something responding to you, do you think you'll learn the thing better? If the pitches help the bowler every time he will never learn to bowl. If he wants to do something, he will have to go about finding various ways, and then he will learn to bowl.
Will the presence of a bowling coach help?
In terms of strategy, it will help. But the focus shouldn't be just on the senior team, because we are putting all our eggs in the senior and neglecting the development. So we just can't make do with one bowling coach, we need him at every level of development of the player.
In terms of strategy, it will help. But the focus shouldn't be just on the senior team, because we are putting all our eggs in the senior and neglecting the development. So we just can't make do with one bowling coach, we need him at every level of development of the player.
Nagraj Gollapudi is sub-editor of Wisden Asia Cricket