ROBERTS_PROFILE_SEP1995

Roberts, Anderson Montgomery Everton

Born: 29 January 1951, Urlings Village, Antigua, Leeward Islands Role: Right-arm fast bowler

Andy Roberts was the first of the famous of quartet of fast bowlers to gain a stranglehold on the world`s best bestmen, which enabled the West Indies to dominate international cricket for over 10 years from the late 1970`s.

He did not play cricket seriously until the age of 16, but developed his skills at the Rising Sun Club of St John`s, with Antigua`s other cricketing protege, Viv Richards. The pair made such an impression that they were sent to the Alf Gover School in Eng land for some formal coaching, before being unleashed into the Test arena in the mid-1970`s.

Although Roberts bowled well against England in their match against Leeward Islands in 1974, he struggled on his test debut on a placid Bridgetown wicket. Even so, he established his credentials with Hampshire later that year, topping the national first-c lass averages with 119 wickets (13.62) from 21 games. Soon his phenonomenal pace, which brought him 100 Test match wickets in a record time of two years and 142 days, would be terrorising batsmen in International competition. In 1974-75 he took a record 32 wickets in the test series against India, including 12 for 121 in the fourth game at Madras ironically in a losing cause, and another 12 from two matches in Pakistan. In 1975 John Arlott wrote of him: "Andy Roberts is the ra re combination of fire, settled physique and mature mind in a young fast bowler - and he is not yet at his peak".

After winning the acclaim as a batsman in the inagural World Cup, when he shared in a nail-biting last wicket partnership of 64 with Deryck Murray to bring off a famous victory for the West Indies against Pakistan early in the competition, Roberts was the dominant bowler in the subsequent Test series against Australia. He collected 22 wickets (26.36) including a match winning seven for 54 in the second test at Perth, in a series which also the birth of his partnership with Holding.

Injury to Roberts prevented the touring Indians suffering too much at his hands early in 1976, but later that year he caused havoc in England as, aided and abetted by Holding, he took 28 wickets at 19.17 apiece. In the second match he became the first Wes t Indian to take 10 wickets in a Test at Lord`s and at Old Trafford found himself on a hat-trick twice in the second Innings. Drinks were taken before Roberts returned to see his second hat-trick ball dropped in the slips; the disappointement was met by a glum look at the heavens by the laconic Antiguan. He still finished with six for 37 in the innings as the triumphant West Indies machine gathered pace.

Roberts was less impressive against the visting Pakistanis in 1977, but lifted his side to victory in the first Test against Australia at Port-of-Spain in 1978 with five for 56 in the vistors` second innings. By this time however the burden of continuous cricket had started to take its toll, and as one of Kerry Packer`s recruits, he left Hampshire halfway through the English season to concentrate on his world series commitments. Roberts subsequently returned to the official Test fray suitably rejuvenated to become the third West Indian to take 200 Test wickets.

Having lost some of his momentum in the Test series at the turn of the decade, he warmed up for England`s visit in 1981 by taking 25 wickets from four Shield games for the Combined Islands. However, he performed modestly in the Test series and when he los t his place for the final game and was dropped in the second match of the subsequent tour of Australia, his international prospects seemed bleak. But the Antiguan lifted himself for the final test in Adelaide to set up victory for West Indies with four f irst innings wickets , and returned to the Caribbean to take 24 wickets in four shield games.

He was in devastating form against the visiting Indians in 1983 , finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 24 victims ( 22.70) and took a further 28 wickets at under 20 apiece for the leewards , whom he captained , in the Shell Shield . During this purp le patch , Roberts took a hat-trick against Barbados and 11for 114 against the Windward Islands , having taken nine wickets in the first test against India the week before , including five for 39 in the second innings as the last four touring batsmen fell in the space of 20 balls .

Roberts toured India later in 1983 and in the fifth match at Calcutta took his 200th test wicket when he dismissed Roger Binny ; he celebrated by making his highest first- class score of 68 , sharing in a ninth wicket stand of 161 with Lloyed as W est Indies romped to a decisive victory.

Like all great fast bowlers , towards the end of his career Roberts remained effective when he cut down his pace and was used in shorter spells.Until late in his playing days , he inspired fear in the hearts of batsmen as he ran into bowl and , a fter his retirement , returned to his native Antigua to nurture the game on the island that , along with Richards h, he had put on the cricketing map.

Tems : Leeward Islands, combined Islands, West Indies , Hampshire , Leicestershire , New South Wales First -class debut : 16/1/70 Leeward Islands v windward Islands First - class career : 856 wickets (20. 92) and 3,328 run (15.47) Test : 47 Test debut :6/3/74 West Indies v England Test record : 202 wickets (25.61) and 762 runs (14.94)