My XI Cricketers pick their favourites

The best fast bowler ever bar none, in my view, was my fellow countryman, 'Maco' Marshall. Possessed the complete fast bowler's skills set. Capable lower-order batsman too. So sad he's no longer with us.

I remember when he passed away. It was 1999/2000 and I was in Pakistan. West Indies were on tour in New Zealand (they pummeled the Windies...to my disgust). I remember always skipping to the sports section in the newspaper, and that morning, for some odd reason, I remember that article about MM dying from cancer. I look up to quicks like him because i myself am not tall but I like to bowl fast. He was definetely a bowler apart.

He was my childhood Hero. Wasim Akram, Holding, Mc Grath, Lillee, Jeff Thompson, Garner, Roberts .....i never changed my opinion, I haven't seen any one good as Marshall.

I can remember Indian media named him as baby all-rounder on his 1978 WI tour of India, he was just 18 then. He may have visited SL too on that tour's Colombo leg and I think he did not play a match in Colombo. WI lost 1983 WC final to India un-expectedly but came to India for full tour. ODI series was won as 5-1 and test series as 3-0. That Kanpur test(I think it was the 1st test) Gordon Greenidge scored 194 but Malcolm Marshall was the MM, because his 88 and more than 10 wickets. In that series he demolished Indian batting except last test SG's 234NO at Chennai. Macho was unforgettable figure during our younger days as cricket fans. We miss you Macho!.