Andy Roberts (cricketer)

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = West Indian
country = West Indies
country abbrev = WI
name = Andy Roberts
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast
balls = true
tests = 47
test runs = 762
test bat avg = 14.94
test 100s/50s = -/3
test top score = 68
test overs = 11135
test wickets = 202
test bowl avg = 25.61
test 5s = 11
test 10s = 2
test best bowling = 7/54
test catches/stumpings = 9/-
ODIs = 56
ODI runs = 231
ODI bat avg = 10.04
ODI 100s/50s = -/-
ODI top score = 37*
ODI overs = 3123
ODI wickets = 87
ODI bowl avg = 20.35
ODI 5s = 1
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = 5/22
ODI catches/stumpings = 6/-
date = 25 January
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/52817.html

Anderson Montgomery Everton 'Andy' Roberts (born 29 January 1951 on the island of Antigua in the West Indies) is a former West Indian cricketer. He was an excellent fast bowler, twice taking seven wickets in an innings of a Test match. In England, he played first class cricket for Hampshire County Cricket Club and Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Andy Roberts formed part of the "quartet" of West Indian fast bowlers from the mid-Seventies to the early Eighties (the others being Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft) that had such a devastating effect on opposition batsmen at both Test and One Day International level. He was also part of the West Indies team that won the first two Prudential World Cups in England in 1975 and 1979.

Despite an excellent record in Tests his international career was relatively short and ended in 1983. Imran Khan (former captain Pakistan national cricket team) once described a ball bowled to him by Andy Roberts as the fastest and most terrifying he had ever faced.

One of his trademarks was the use of two different bouncers. One was delivered at a slower pace and was often dealt with quite easily by the batsman. However, this was a ploy by Roberts to lull the batsman into a false sense of security. Roberts would then deliver the second bouncer, pitching in a similar spot to the first, but delivered at far greater pace. The batsman would attempt to play this delivery in the same fashion as the first slower bouncer only to be surprised by the extra pace and bounce of the ball. Many batsmen were dismissed- and many more struck painful blows- by Roberts using this ploy.

Andy Roberts' contribution to West Indies cricket has continued since his retirement as a player. As an administrator overseeing the preparation of pitches, he helped prepare the pitches in Antigua on which Brian Lara twice broke the world record for highest test scores.

Roberts was the first Antiguan to play Test cricket for the West Indies, thus leading the way many of his famous countrymen including Viv Richards, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose.

In October, 2005, Roberts was inducted into the United States Cricket Hall of Fame, becoming the second Antiguan to be recognized.

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