Marshall, Malcolm Denzil

▪ 2000

      Barbadian cricketer (b. April 18, 1958, Bridgetown, Barbados—d. Nov. 4, 1999, Bridgetown) who, despite his short stature (1.78 m [5 ft 10 in]) and slight, 79-kg (175-lb) frame, used a fast run-up, quick arm, and formidable skidding bouncer to become one of the finest fast bowlers of the modern era. Marshall, whose policeman father died when he was a baby, was introduced to cricket by his maternal grandfather. He made his first-class debut for Barbados in 1977–78, and, after taking 6 for 77 against Jamaica in his first match, he was selected to play for West Indies against India. During a first-class career with Hampshire in England (1979–93) and Natal in South Africa (1992–93; 1995–96), he took a total of 1,651 wickets (average 19.10). In 81 Tests, he took 376 wickets (average 20.94), a West Indies record that stood until 1998, and achieved the modern game's third-best strike rate (46.77). Marshall was also a useful middle-order batsman, scoring 11,004 first-class runs, including seven hundreds, and 1,810 runs in Test matches. His most impressive display was against England in 1984, when he broke his left thumb but went on to bat one-handed and take 7 for 53 to bowl England out. Marshall made his last Test appearance in 1991 and was dropped from the one-day side in 1992, but he continued to play the first-class game until 1996. He was diagnosed with colon cancer while serving as a coach for the West Indies side at the 1999 World Cup.

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