The Great Game Called Cricket...

Andy Flower

Zimbabwe Full name Andrew Flower

Born April 28, 1968, Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa

Current age 41 years 174 days

Major teams Zimbabwe, Essex, Marylebone Cricket Club, Mashonaland, South Australia

Nickname Petals

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Other Coach

Height 5 ft 10 in

Education Vainona High School

Relation Brother - GW Flower

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 63 112 19 4794 232* 51.54 10636 45.07 12 27 543 20 151 9
ODIs 213 208 16 6786 145 35.34 9097 74.59 4 55 141 32
First-class 223 372 69 16379 271* 54.05 49 75 361 21
List A 380 366 45 12511 145 38.97 12 97 254 48
Twenty20 21 20 2 595 83 33.05 481 123.70 0 4 70 8 6 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 63 2 3 4 0 - - - 8.00 - 0 0 0
ODIs 213 2 30 23 0 - - - 4.60 - 0 0 0
First-class 223 629 270 7 1/1 38.57 2.57 89.8 0 0
List A 380 132 103 1 1/21 1/21 103.00 4.68 132.0 0 0 0
Twenty20 21 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Career statistics Test debut Zimbabwe v India at Harare, Oct 18-22, 1992 scorecard
Last Test Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo, Nov 16-19, 2002 scorecard

ODI debut Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at New Plymouth, Feb 23, 1992 scorecard
Last ODI Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at East London, Mar 15, 2003 scorecard

First-class debut 1986/87
Last First-class Leicestershire v Essex at Leicester, Sep 20-23, 2006 scorecard
List A debut 1988/89
Last List A Durham v Essex at Chester-le-Street, Sep 17, 2006 scorecard
Twenty20 debut Surrey v Essex at East Molesey, Jun 14, 2003 scorecard
Last Twenty20 Surrey v Essex at The Oval, Jul 1, 2006 scorecard
Profile
The elder of two Test-playing brothers, Andy Flower was for a long time Zimbabwe's only batsman of true Test quality in all conditions. For a period of about two years from the start of 2000 he was so phenomenally consistent that he has no rival as the best player in Zimbabwe's history.

Flower continued to take on the tough roles, moving into coaching within the England set-up, firstly as assistant to Peter Moores and then, after the very public falling out between Moores and Kevin Pietersen, he was named interim coach for the 2009 West Indies tour. A few weeks after that trip the top job - team director - came his way.

He had two stints as Zimbabwe captain, leading them to their first Test victory against Pakistan in 1994-95, and then becoming the first Zimbabwean to lead a Test tour of England, in 2000. An assured player of fast bowling since his early days as an opener, Flower matured into one of the best players of spin in the world, and on the Indian tour early in 2001 he made 540 runs for twice out.

Opposing bowlers targeted him accordingly and after a phenomenal Test against South Africa at Harare, when he made 142 and 199 not out, he suffered a rare slump. He announced his retirement from international cricket after a turbulent 2003 World Cup, which started with an unprecedented protest by Flower, and his equally brave team-mate Henry Olonga, about what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Flower played for Essex from 2002 until 2006, and enjoyed a season in South Australia in 2003-04.

He was joined at Essex by his brother Grant in 2005, and they became the first brothers to score first-class centuries for the county in the same innings against Lancashire that year. But injury ruled him out of the 2007 season, and when the offer came to become England's assistant coach, he retired and took it.

But any thoughts of enjoying a few years under the wing of Peter Moores vanished in early January 2009 and less than 48 hours later he was thrust in charge of the national team. When England crumbled for 51 in Jamaica, Flower's calm but authoritative response impressed many and his standing improved throughout the tour. He has confronted many challenges in his career, but coaching England will rival any of them.

Notes
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 2002

He is the man who played the first ball in the first test match played, and he is
the first man to score first half century and first century in test cricket...
Charles Bannerman

Australia Full name Charles Bannerman

Born July 3, 1851, Woolwich, Kent, England

Died August 20, 1930, Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales (aged 79 years 48 days)

Major teams Australia, New South Wales

Batting style Right-hand bat

Other Umpire, Coach

Relation Brother - AC Bannerman
Batting | Bowling | Career statistics | Profile | Latest Articles | Latest Photos
Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 6s Ct St
Tests 3 6 2 239 165* 59.75 1 0 1 0 0
First-class 44 84 6 1687 165* 21.62 1 9 20 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 3 - - - - - - - - - - - -
First-class 44 137 44 0 - - - 1.92 - 0 0 0
Career statistics Test debut Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19, 1877 scorecard
Last Test Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879 scorecard
Test statistics - Statsguru Test analysis - Player analysis menu/filter Test match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Fielding series statistics
First-class span 1870/71 - 1887/88
Umpiring statistics Test debut Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 28-31, 1887 scorecard
Last Test Australia v England at Melbourne, Feb 28-Mar 4, 1902 scorecard
Test matches 12
Test statistics - Statsguru Test analysis - Officials analysis menu/filter Career summary --------------------------------- Umpire match list Umpire series list
Profile
Charles Bannerman was one of the three survivors of the twenty-two players who took part in what, according to records at present accepted, was the first Test match between England and Australia.

Only those whose memories go back many years can recall this very fine batsman. In his day he was the best in Australia. He had a splendid style, standing well up to the ball, and was master of nearly every stroke; indeed his batting was essentially skilful and polished. He drove finely to the off, and could hit with power and accuracy to leg. Over and above his qualities as a run-getter he had another claim to fame as being a first-class field, no matter the position in which he was put. The match in which he really made his name took place in Melbourne in the middle of March, 1877. James Lillywhite's team was then touring Australia and New Zealand, and so much had the standard of cricket in Australia improved since the previous visit of an English side under W. G. Grace that when Fifteen of New South Wales twice beat Lillywhite's men and a Fifteen of Victoria also overcame them, the challenge was made to play an eleven-a-side match against the Englishmen. The faith the Australians had in themselves was justified for, with England lacking the assistance of a recognised wicket-keeper, Australia won by 45 runs. In a return match a little later on the same ground Lillywhite's team won by four wickets. Charles Bannerman took part in both these matches, and in the first he had the distinction of playing an innings of 165. The runs were made against Shaw, Hill, Emmett, Southerton, Ulyett and Lillywhite, and not one of his companions was able to reach 20 in the same innings. During the first day he scored 126 of his side's 166 for six wickets. Never before had an Australian batsman scored a century against an English eleven. In the second match he made 19 and 30. In 1878 there came the first visit of an Australian team to this country, and Charles Bannerman was a member of it. In the course of the tour he scored 723 runs for an average of 24. He obtained the only hundred hit by any of the Australians that summer, making 133 at Leicester against Leicestershire. (He also reached three-figures for the side in both New Zealand and Canada, and, altogether, during a tour which in all extended over fourteen months, scored 2,630 runs for it with an average of 23.90). Towards the end of May he took part in the historic match at Lord's against the M.C.C., when the Maryleborne Club were dismissed by Spofforth and Boyle for 19. The Australians won by nine wickets. Bannerman paid no other visit to England, illness cutting short his career as a cricketer. At various times he undertook coaching duties in Melbourne and Sydney and at Christ's College, Christchurch, in New Zealand, and later became an efficient umpire. He was elder brother of the late AC Bannerman of stone-walling fame.

India's bowling is their Achilles' heel and recalling Rahul Dravid to prop the batting order is a retrograde step, according to former cricketers Wasim Akram and Sanjay Manjrekar.

Both reckon that Zaheer Khan's absence will render India a lesser force in this month's ICC Champions Trophy. Unless their batsmen step up to the plate to compensate with those extra runs, they feel, the team will be found wanting in South Africa.

"Their bowling is their weakness. The batsmen made up with some extra runs in Sri Lanka and that's how they won the tri-series there. To win Champions Trophy, the batsmen would have to do it again," said Manjrekar, who will be one of the 13 commentators during the September 22-October 5 tournament.

The one-day format has come under much flak recently, but it'll get a huge shot at redemption over the next couple of weeks with the Champions Trophy, which, under a new format, will feature the best teams and the best teams only. All eight teams, barring a weakened West Indian outfit, have a shot at the title, but if recent form - over the last few years and in the country where the tournament is being held - is any indication, the winners will be one of Australia, South Africa or India.

They are the three top teams in the ICC ratings, with only one point separating them - South Africa are on 127, with Australia and India on 126. However, the gap between the third- and fourth-ranked teams is 17 points, with Pakistan on 109.

The stats of teams since the last Champions Trophy - which finished on November 5, 2006 - back the rankings completely. Australia, South Africa and India are the only teams to win more games than they've lost against the top eight teams. India have a win-loss ratio of 1.40, and the next best is New Zealand, with 0.88, which indicates just how big the gulf has been between the top three and the rest during this period.

During this period India have won 11 out of 17 series (including multilateral tournaments), of which six have been on the trot, the latest being the Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka. Australia have won six out of 12, but one of those was the 2007 World Cup. South Africa have won seven out of 10, including five out of five at home.

Top eight ODI teams against each other in ODIs since last Champions Trophy Team ODIs W/ L = ratio Bat ave RPO Bowl ave RPO
Australia 70 43/ 23 = 1.86 37.12 5.33 27.76 4.97
South Africa 46 28/ 16 = 1.75 35.37 5.31 29.10 4.93
India 78 42/ 30 = 1.40 33.87 5.38 33.69 5.41
New Zealand 55 22/ 25 = 0.88 31.00 5.20 34.53 5.15
Pakistan 44 20/ 23 = 0.86 30.97 4.99 34.15 5.31
Sri Lanka 60 25/ 31 = 0.80 28.98 4.96 28.58 4.94
England 62 25/ 34 = 0.73 28.74 5.00 31.40 5.19
West Indies 49 11/ 34 = 0.32 27.09 4.99 36.91 5.34


Not only have these three teams been the best everywhere in the last three years, they're also the top three in South Africa since the beginning of this decade (against the top eight sides). The home team have been by far the most dominant, which makes them - notwithstanding their ability to somehow lose key games - the favourites for the trophy. Australia have an excellent record here as well, thanks largely to their 2003 World Cup success, but India's stats in South Africa are considerably worse than their record elsewhere - in 14 matches, they've only won five, four of which came during their glorious run to the final in the 2003 World Cup.

India's numbers in South Africa aren't great, but five other teams have done much worse. Pakistan, for example, have a 20% success-rate, the same as West Indies, while New Zealand and Sri Lanka aren't much better.

Teams in South Africa in ODIs among the top eight teams since 2000 Team ODIs W/L = ratio Bat ave RPO Bowl ave RPO
South Africa 87 58/ 21 = 2.76 37.14 5.21 28.04 4.83
Australia 27 17/ 9 = 1.88 34.45 5.32 29.19 5.08
India 14 5/ 9 = 0.55 24.82 4.66 35.93 5.11
England 14 3/ 9 = 0.33 27.77 4.59 27.22 4.67
Sri Lanka 17 4/ 12 = 0.33 25.53 4.52 39.73 5.27
New Zealand 19 3/ 14 = 0.21 27.52 4.70 37.07 4.94
West Indies 13 2/ 10 = 0.20 28.43 4.86 44.35 5.27
Pakistan 13 2/ 10 = 0.20 23.98 4.72 38.20 5.61


The individual batting stats of players in South Africa offer some interesting insights too. For one, it explains - partially at least - why Rahul Dravid was brought back into the Indian team. He leads the averages chart among batsmen who'll be playing in the tournament - in 17 innings (against the top eight teams only) he has notched up nine half-centuries. Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis, the mainstays for Australia and South Africa, are next on the list. Only three other batsmen average more than 40.

On the other hand, there are several big names who'll be looking to improve their stats. Sachin Tendulkar, for instance, averages less than 32, with five 50-plus scores in 26 innings. Sanath Jayasuriya and Mohammad Yousuf haven't done much better. Sri Lanka's other big batting stars have struggled too - Kumar Sangakkara averages 28.85, while Mahela Jayawardene has embarrassing numbers: in 20 innings he has scored a total of 280 runs. In fact, the last time Sri Lanka toured South Africa was for the 2003 World Cup, a tournament in which Jayawardene had a shocker. His last eight innings in the country (against the top teams) read thus: 9, 3, 1, 9, 1, 0, 0, 5. That explains why Sri Lanka's record in South Africa is so poor.

Batsmen against the top eight teams in ODIs in South Africa Batsman ODIs Runs Average Strike rate 100s/ 50s
Rahul Dravid 17 737 56.69 67.42 0/ 9
Ricky Ponting 22 1031 54.26 94.06 4/ 4
Jacques Kallis 113 4080 46.89 74.33 6/ 28
JP Duminy 13 398 44.22 81.72 0/ 2
Michael Hussey 10 338 42.25 93.62 0/ 3
AB de Villiers 34 1159 41.39 85.22 0/ 9
Graeme Smith 56 2079 39.98 83.72 3/ 16
Herschelle Gibbs 87 2739 34.23 82.97 9/ 9
Sanath Jayasuriya 29 899 32.10 81.72 2/ 5
Mohammad Yousuf 18 509 31.81 77.12 1/ 2
Sachin Tendulkar 26 822 31.61 73.92 1/ 4
Kumar Sangakkara 17 404 28.85 68.94 0/ 2
Mark Boucher 101 1522 27.67 82.58 0/ 5
Michael Clarke 10 243 27.00 71.68 0/ 3
Brendon McCullum 12 237 26.33 69.50 0/ 1
Paul Collingwood 10 181 25.85 78.35 0/ 1
Younis Khan 13 336 25.84 67.74 0/ 2
Yuvraj Singh 10 180 22.50 81.08 0/ 1
Shahid Afridi 13 206 17.16 120.46 0/ 1
Mahela Jayawardene 20 280 14.73 61.81 0/ 1


Among the bowlers, most of the wicket-takers have been the quick ones. Brett Lee leads the way with an excellent haul of 41 wickets in just 19 games, with three four-wicket hauls and a five-for. Shane Bond and Makhaya Ntini have been among the wickets as well. The spinners have reasonable economy-rates, but apart from Muttiah Muralitharan, they haven't had a lot of wicket-taking success.

Bowlers against the top eight teams in ODIs in South Africa Bowler ODIs Wickets Average Econ rate
Brett Lee 19 41 21.75 5.30
Shane Bond 10 17 24.52 4.80
Makhaya Ntini 67 99 26.75 4.69
Muttiah Muralitharan 22 31 27.80 4.06
Dale Steyn 10 16 30.12 5.18
Nathan Bracken 10 14 32.14 5.21
Jacques Kallis 113 95 33.30 5.09
Daniel Vettori 12 11 36.00 4.00
Shahid Afridi 13 12 37.75 4.81
Harbhajan Singh 11 10 44.10 4.72
Johan Botha 1 8 48.50 4.27
Sanath Jayasuriya 29 16 55.18 5.23

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has agreed to the ECB's request to appear in the first-ever day-night Test during the team's tour of England in May-June next year. However, the ICC has not yet cleared the idea and its approval will be subject to suitable equipment being developed for the purpose.

The idea was first proposed by the MCC during its World Cricket Committee meeting at Lord's in July as a way of making the game's longest and oldest format more appealing. The other proposals included the use of pink balls and a World Test Championship.

The ICC has made it clear that though the concept of day-night Tests was discussed by its cricket committee, no decision has been taken yet. "The ICC cricket committee had last year agreed in principle that the notion of day-night Tests should be investigated," an ICC spokesperson said. "For now, we are happy for members to try this at the domestic level first and if it proves successful, the cricket committee would consider recommending this on a trial basis at the Test level."

Apparently, there are a number of key issues related to the concept that are still being discussed: the colour of players clothing, whether the suggested pink balls retains its colour or needs to be changed frequently due to discolouration or wear and tear, to what extent would batting, bowling and fielding conditions vary and so on.

An MCC spokesman confirmed to Cricinfo that the World Cricket Committee would meet with the ICC in November. The future of Test cricket is on the agenda, and within that floodlit Tests will be discussed. "We are very keen to help in any way we can," the spokesman said, "and have been continuing with our trials of coloured balls to see if it will work on television."

The MCC could have a dual role in this process: as well as being fully behind floodlit Tests. Lord's could be the ground to host the match. One of the Bangladesh Tests is currently allocated to Headingley; the other is part of the bidding process, with Lord's in the running to hosting it. "We would like to host it and we have our brand new floodlights," said the spokesman.

The future of Test cricket has been the subject of debate within the ICC over the last year with the concept of a Test championship initially gaining ground. But the idea was opposed by the India and England cricket boards who did not find merit in sharing their substantial TV revenue that would have gone to a common pool.

India and England have subsequently backed the idea of day-night Test cricket as a way of taking the format forward amidst the rise of Twenty20 cricket. However, the ICC, which is finalising its Future Tours Programme post-2012, is yet to arrive at a decision on the matter. The ICC's executive board meets next in October, when the issue is likely to be discussed again.

Michael Holding

West Indies Full name Michael Anthony Holding

Born February 16, 1954, Half Way Tree, Kingston, Jamaica

Current age 55 years 207 days

Major teams West Indies, Canterbury, Derbyshire, Jamaica, Lancashire, Tasmania

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm fast

Other Commentator
Batting | Bowling | Career statistics | Profile | Notes | Latest Articles | Latest Photos
Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 6s Ct St
Tests 60 76 10 910 73 13.78 0 6 36 22 0
ODIs 102 42 11 282 64 9.09 377 74.80 0 2 30 0
First-class 222 283 43 3600 80 15.00 0 14 125 0
List A 249 153 25 1575 69 12.30 0 7 81 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 60 113 12680 5898 249 8/92 14/149 23.68 2.79 50.9 11 13 2
ODIs 102 102 5473 3034 142 5/26 5/26 21.36 3.32 38.5 5 1 0
First-class 222 38877 18233 778 8/92 23.43 2.81 49.9 39 5
List A 249 12662 7074 343 8/21 8/21 20.62 3.35 36.9 9 3 0
Career statistics Test debut Australia v West Indies at Brisbane, Nov 28-Dec 2, 1975 scorecard
Last Test New Zealand v West Indies at Wellington, Feb 20-24, 1987 scorecard
ODI debut England v West Indies at Scarborough, Aug 26, 1976 scorecard
Last ODI England v West Indies at Melbourne, Jan 30, 1987 scorecard
First-class span 1972/73 - 1989
List A span 1975/76 - 1989
Profile
Wisden overview
It began intimidatingly far away. He turned, and began the most elegant long-striding run of them all, feet kissing the turf silently, his head turning gently and ever so slightly from side to side, rhythmically, like that of a cobra hypnotising its prey. Good batsmen tended not to watch him all the way lest they became mesmerised. To the umpires he was malevolent stealth personified so they christened him Whispering Death. No-one in the game has bowled faster. His over to Geoff Boycott in the cauldron of Kensington Oval early in 1981 has gone down in history as the finest, fastest, most ferocious gambit of all time. Five years earlier, towards the end of the drought-ridden summer of 1976, The Oval had become a wasteland, parched beyond recognition, with slow flat heart-breaking pitches, and it was on this, in the final Test of the season, through the simple device of bowling ramrod-straight at high pace and to a full length, that he conjured 14 wickets for 149, the finest match figures ever by a West Indian. Now in the commentary box, he is gentle but fearless, a rational critic who beguiles with his deep fruity measured Jamaican twang. Mike Selvey

Notes
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1977

Tasmania First-Class Career Span: 1982-83

Clive Lloyd

West Indies Full name Clive Hubert Lloyd

Born August 31, 1944, Queenstown, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana

Current age 64 years 332 days

Major teams West Indies, British Guiana, Guyana, Lancashire

Nickname Big C, Hubert

Batting style Left-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Other Referee

Height 6 ft 4 in

Education Chatham High School, Georgetown

Relation Cousin - LR Gibbs
Batting | Bowling | Career statistics | Profile | Notes | Latest Articles | Latest Photos
Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 6s Ct St
Tests 110 175 14 7515 242* 46.67 19 39 70 90 0
ODIs 87 69 19 1977 102 39.54 2434 81.22 1 11 39 0
First-class 490 730 96 31232 242* 49.26 79 172 377 0
List A 375 343 72 10915 134* 40.27 12 69 146 0
Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 110 45 1716 622 10 2/13 2/22 62.20 2.17 171.6 0 0 0
ODIs 87 10 358 210 8 2/4 2/4 26.25 3.51 44.7 0 0 0
First-class 490 9551 4104 114 4/48 36.00 2.57 83.7 0 0
List A 375 2938 1958 71 4/33 4/33 27.57 3.99 41.3 1 0 0
Career statistics Test debut India v West Indies at Mumbai (BS), Dec 13-18, 1966 scorecard
Last Test Australia v West Indies at Sydney, Dec 30, 1984 - Jan 2, 1985 scorecard
Test statistics - Statsguru Test analysis - Player analysis menu/filter Test match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Bowling match list Best innings bowling Best match bowling Bowling series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Most catches in an innings Fielding series statistics
ODI debut England v West Indies at Leeds, Sep 5, 1973 scorecard
Last ODI Pakistan v West Indies at Melbourne, Mar 6, 1985 scorecard
ODI statistics - Statsguru ODI analysis - Player analysis menu/filter ODI match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Best innings bowling Bowling series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Most catches in an innings Fielding series statistics
First-class span 1963/64 - 1986
List A span 1969 - 1986
ICC match referee statistics Test debut South Africa v India at Durban, Nov 13-17, 1992 scorecard
Last Test Bangladesh v Sri Lanka at Bogra, Mar 8-11, 2006 scorecard
Test matches 53
Test statistics - Statsguru Test analysis - Officials analysis menu/filter Career summary --------------------------------- Referee match list Referee series list
ODI debut South Africa v India at Cape Town, Dec 7, 1992 scorecard
Last ODI Bangladesh v Canada at St John's, Feb 28, 2007 scorecard
ODI matches 133
ODI statistics - Statsguru ODI analysis - Officials analysis menu/filter Career summary --------------------------------- Referee match list Referee series list
T20I debut New Zealand v Australia at Auckland, Feb 17, 2005 scorecard
Last T20I England v Sri Lanka at Southampton, Jun 15, 2006 scorecard
T20I matches 2
T20I statistics - Statsguru T20I analysis - Officials analysis menu/filter Career summary --------------------------------- Referee match list Referee series list
Profile
6'5" with stooped shoulders, a large moustache and thick glasses (his eyes were damaged when he was 12 as he attempted to break up a fight at school), Clive Lloyd was the crucial ingredient in the rise of West Indian cricket. A cousin of Lance Gibbs, he was a hard-hitting batsmen and one of the most successful captains in history. An almost ponderous, lazy gait belied the speed and power at his command and the astute tactical brain that led the West Indies to the top of world cricket for two decades.

Clive Lloyd made his first-class debut as a left-hand middle-order batsman in the then British Guiana in 1963-64 and played for Haslingden in the Lancashire League in 1967. He was offered terms by Warwickshire before signing for Lancashire, making his debut for them in 1968, and winning his cap the following season.

Lloyd had already made his Test debut, against India at Mumbai (then Bombay) in December 1966, hitting 82 and 78 not out as he put on 102 runs with Sobers to win the match on a pitch helping the spinners. His first home Test also brought his first Test century, 118 against England in Trinidad that helped stave off defeat. Another century followed in the fourth Test of that series to confirm he was at home at the highest level. Touring Australia in 1968-69 he hit another Test century, at Brisbane, in his first Test against them.

Lloyd was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1971 for his performances in the previous 12 months, when he'd scored 1600 runs for Lancashire at 47. Often raising his game for the big occasion, he struck 126 against Warwickshire at Lord's to help Lancashire to the Gillette Cup (1972), and hit a wonderful century in the first ever World Cup Final at Lord's in 1975 to take the West Indies to victory.

At his best Lloyd was a flamboyant destroyer of bowling. His heavy bat, powerful shoulders and full swing of the arms could turn the course of any game, once scoring 201* in just 120 minutes against Glamorgan - equalling the record for the fastest ever first-class double hundred (1976).

Far from inhibiting his batting, Lloyd's first tour as captain (1974-75) marked a dramatic improvement after a run of low scores. 163 in the First Test at Bangalore (his century came in just 85 balls) was followed by a Test-best 242* in the Fifth Test in Mumbai to set up a series-deciding win for the West Indies. Often he was obliged to curb his natural, attacking instincts in order to work his team out of trouble, as on the tour of Australia of 1975-76 where he scored 469 runs at an average of 46.9 as his team were swept aside 5-1 by Thomson and Lillee.

The unsuccessful tour of Australia proved to be a major turning point in West Indian cricket however, as Lloyd decided to adopt the intimidatory tactics of the Australians and stack his team with fast bowlers. Some may say his job as captain was fairly straightforward: with a battery of fast bowlers including Roberts, Marshall, Garner, Holding and Croft at his command, and batsmen of the calibre of Greenidge, Haynes and Richards, he certainly had some handy players to call upon. But he instilled his talented side with the professionalism and determination to win consistently and when the conditions suited the opposition. He united the disparate threads of the separate nations that make up the West Indies, and was the force that gelled them as a team rather than a bunch of talented individuals. There was controversy too, though. Slow over rates and intimidation of batsmen with short-pitched bowling were both characteristics of his reign as captain. His side changed the way Test cricket was played too, as other nations copied the formula of fast bowling and intimidation he had come to admire in Australia.

During the Packer crisis Lloyd resigned as captain after disagreeing with the selectors on the eve of a Test against Australia (1977-78), but he returned to lead his team to the 1979 World Cup. On the subsequent tour of Australia he underwent surgery on his knee that improved his mobility and effectiveness. Centuries at Adelaide and Old Trafford followed, and back in the West Indies he found the most consistent form of his career as in nine successive innings his lowest score was 49 (run out). He averaged 76 in the series against England and a phenomenal 172.50 in domestic cricket.

Although age slightly decreased Lloyd's belligerence at the crease, he remained a key player in the middle order; able to dig the team out of trouble or add impetus when applicable. In Australia in 1981 he played the crucial innings to secure the West Indies a win at Adelaide to draw a series that had seemed destined to be won by Australia, encouraging his fast bowlers to rush on to the pitch and carry him off on their shoulders. Normal service was resumed with home and away victories against India and Australia. On his final tours he averaged 67 in England (1984) as the West Indies completed a famous 5-0 "blackwash", and 50.85 against Australia (1984-85) as he helped secure a 3-1 triumph.

Lloyd's final record as captain was remarkable, including a run of 26 Tests without defeat, and 11 successive wins. He also became the first West Indian to win 100 Test caps. Having been a schoolboy athletics champion, he became a brilliant cover fielder before knee problems forced a move to the slips, where he pouched many of his 90 Test catches.

Lloyd was a useful right-arm medium-pacer too, taking 114 first-class wickets in all (including a best of 4-48, Lancashire v Leicestershire at Old Trafford, 1970) with 10 in Tests. He was awarded a testimonial by Lancashire in 1977 (that raised £27,199) made captain of the club in 1981 and brought his children up in the county.

Although Lloyd has worked as a civil servant for Guyana Ministry of Health, he has remained involved in cricket. He has coached and commentated on the game, as well as managing the Guyana team. A promising career as ICC Match Official (he officiated in both semi-final and final of the 1996 World Cup) was put on hold to take on the management of the West Indies team after their disappointments in the World Cup. It was a frustrating period for Lloyd, whose hands were tied by the decision not to appoint him as a full selector (although he was a selector while on tour), and whose responsibilities became increasingly administrative. He resigned at the end of the 1999 tour of New Zealand after a three-year period that coincided with a decline in the fortunes of West Indies cricket.

With that experience behind him, he resumed his duties as an ICC Match Referee - a position he occupied with great presence and no little humour to earn the respect and confidence of the players. They knew he understands the game as well as anyone and that he holds the good of the game in the highest regard at all times.

In 2008 Lloyd was appointed the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee after Sunil Gavaskar stepped down to pursue his role as a media columnist and commentator.

Notes
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1971