Whispering Death Shouts
West Indian Mikey Holding is one of Cricket’s greats.
The Jamaican was a fast bowler of the highest order and, in my opinion, is a man of the highest quality. As a cricketer, I had the privilege of playing against him (even though it was thoroughly unpleasant facing him!), but more significantly, it gave me the opportunity to come to know him as a man.
Mikey’s deep Jamaican accent has contributed to his cult following as a commentator, but for me, the quality of his contributions on air for the past twenty years, make him the game’s outstanding pundit. His deep love of Cricket comes through in his voice, and his respect for the game emerges in his every comment. He has a wonderful sense of humour, and a humility not often present in elite sportspeople, some of whom attempt to cultivate an image to trade off, purely for personal gain.
Mikey’s voice is one of reason, logic and impartiality. He is a principled, honest, and highly intelligent man.
It has been my great pleasure to have enjoyed his company on several occasions over the past few years. I recall fondly a breakfast we shared at The Wanderers Hotel in Johannesburg, on the day of the ICC World Cup Final in 2003. Afterwards, we walked to the ground together, and amongst other topics, discussed the 1983 World Cup Final at Lord’s, when India surprisingly beat the mighty West Indies (who were bidding for their third consecutive World Cup triumph) in a low-scoring match. I could sense how hurt Mikey still was by this chastening experience, but also how empowering it was subsequently.
The complacency that West Indies felt at the halfway stage of that game led them to believe that victory was a formality. It led to their downfall, and complacency is not a word anyone could ever associate with Mikey Holding, the man, or the fast bowler. He continues to live his life with the principled nature of the best of men, and a self-discipline and personal integrity which I admire so much in a man.
Three years ago, during one of London County’s conventions for elite coaches and Professional Mentors, Dr Ken Jennings, former South Africa Coach Eric Simons and I, breakfasted with Mikey in London on the morning of the late Bob Woolmer’s Memorial Service in St John’s Wood. The range of topics we discussed was fascinating. The respect and love for the game, and the need for Cricket’s leadership to display the vision and values necessary to ensure its’ future is healthy, was the essence of what I took away from our invigorating conversation, re-inforcing what I already believed to be true – that a commitment to values is the foundation for success.
Every person involved in the game has a huge responsibility to ensure that we pass on a legacy of the game to the next generation in a more healthy state than we received it. Players will come and go, but it is the game which remains. However, it is the health of the game which is the critical factor, and its leadsership is vital in this process.
In recent years, Mikey has been an outspoken critic of the ICC, the West Indies Cricket Board, and Allen Stanford, long before others questioned the intentions and quality of this individual or these bodies to lead the people they are charged with the responsibility of serving.
He resigned from ICC’s Committees, and was the first to resign from Allen Stanford’s ‘Legends’ Board because he did not believe that the intentions and behaviour were healthy. He has been a critic of the West Indies Cricket Board too, and refuses to participate in groups or processes which he does not believe in. In short, his principles lead to controversial actions, but his love and respect for Cricket have never diminished. He acknowledges the impact the great game of Cricket has had on his wonderful life, and is passionate about the importance of the game’s role in society. He leads by quality personal example, and the congruency of his words and actions make deafening statements about how he believes the administration of the game needs to respond better, in order to protect the best interests of the game, and thereby avoid future crises.
I watched the Sky satellite television coverage of the final moments of the 4th Test between England and Pakistan, and witnessed the gloom which surrounded Lord’s after the damning allegations of ‘spot-fixing’ against some Pakistan players published in the News of the World today. Pakistan’s players were ushered into Lord’s via a back entrance, and chose not to practice this morning. There was even some doubt about whether they would take the field today.
Pakistan Captain Salman Butt (who was dismissed last night) has been implicated in the allegations along with his opening bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamer, who both walked out to bat in silence, except for some ‘boos’ from the crowd.
For Mohammed Aamer, the 18 year-old left arm fast-bowling sensation, the present situation is a travesty. He was dismissed for a ‘pair’ on his Lord’s debut, after batting for only five balls today, and left the iconic arena uncomfortably. He will face a very challenging period in his life from this afternoon onwards. If he is proved guilty, I cannot believe his actions are those of a commercially-minded and greedy individual who is seeking out ‘the main chance’ of making a ‘fast buck’. What I believe is more possible, is that (if he is proved to be guilty) then he may have been ‘encouraged’ to get involved in this criminal activity by people with more life and cricket experience than him.
Aamer is the youngest international bowler to take 50 Test wickets, and in taking 6 England wickets in the first innings at Lord’s, he earned the right to have his name inscribed on the Bowlers’ Honours Board in the visitors dressing room. His spell of four wickets for no runs in the space of 8 balls ripped the heart out of England’s top order batting and will go down in history as one of the great exhibitions of fast bowling seen at Lord’s. His name will sit alongside the greats who also achieved the distinction a five wicket haul in a Lord’s Test Match, including the great Mikey Holding, who took 6-67 for West Indies against England in 1980.
For the sake of the game, and this highly talented young man’s life, I can’t help but think that if only he could have enjoyed access to the likes of Mikey Holding as a senior player and mentor, he would be experiencing a totally different emotion presently. I believe that the quality of example in one’s life set by one’s elders is a significant factor in one’s personal and professional development. In Cricket, the quality of the senior players is key to the evolution of successful teams. One of world cricket’s brightest lights is in danger of being cast into the shadows forever. My over-riding emotion is one of sadness right now.
After the match, in keeping with the sombre nature of the day, the usual on-field presentations did not take place to commemorate the end of the Test Series. Instead, a low-key ceremony was conducted in The Long Room by ECB Chief Executive David Collier.
Meanwhile, in the Media Centre, David Gower was busy anchoring a post-match reflection for Sky Sports in the company of Mikey Holding and Nasser Hussain. The topic of conversation was dominated by the crisis the game now faces, and the quality of contribution Mikey offered was full of good reason, based on sound principles, and a heartfelt passion for Cricket. He was unequivocal about what needs to happen in Cricket to root out this cancer. Better leadership is needed to navigate the sport away from its current difficulties.
The leadership of Cricket must never become self-serving for the individuals in key positions. The wider interests of the game need to be served.
Mikey Holding, known as ‘Whispering Death’ during his career (due to his balletic long run-up followed by extreme, hostile pace), has never spoken so loudly as he did on screen today. His sadness and disappointment at the present circumstances surrounding world cricket, could be seen in his slumped body language, and regular shaking of his head, when considering the mess the game faces, and his lack of faith in the decision-making bodies, based on their previous form.
I propose a solution: let respected Cricket people lead our game towards a brighter future, not the ’professional’ administrators whose polliticking seems to know no bounds. Career politicians are regularly proposed as ICC Presidents. What happened to the Cricket people? The best Cricket people know the game, and cherish its place in life. They have an empathy with the modern players and the officials. For me, administrators should ensure the details are followed through on, but the vision, strategy and integrity of the game needs to be put in the hands of Cricket’s best men.
People who know me well, will be aware that my respect for Steve Waugh, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Andy Flower is of the highest order. They all achieved in the ultimate form of the game, often in challenging circumstances, and are deep thinkers about the game. In short, they value Cricket highly.
I believe that the best attract the best in life, and if a top man in Cricket were to be placed in charge, he would be able to corrall others of similar ilk, to play their part in defining the future of a game which so many people care about so deeply.
A better future will require identifying the right people, looking at the leadership process, and addressing the underlying processes properly.
If he is available, I suggest we all vote for Mikey Holding to help run Cricket, if we want to enhance the possibility of it remaining a genuinely great game.
