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| Sunday, 7 December 2003 |
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Michael Holding talks to Farah Macan Markar Michael Anthony Holding. Born on February 16th 1954, Kingston, Jamaica, he's been one of the West Indian old dogs of fast bowling, ever since his test debut in 1975 against Australia to his last test against New Zealand in 1987. Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1977, with 249 test wickets and 142 one-day wickets in his career, he maybe retired from playing the game today, but he is still with it, up in the commentary box, rattling away with his deep Jamaican twang.
Of Dambulla, Mike feels it was not a very exciting match "England didn't turn out that well and Sri Lanka won the match with ease. Not much of a competition". Of the crowd he says it is much like that of the Caribbean where everyone is having a good time. "Sri Lankan match crowds are good. They turn up for all the matches, rain or sun and the bands play right through". What are his comments on the up-coming Test matches? "I think they will be keenly fought games. The last time England was here they won for their bowling was good. This time the bowling's a bit weak. But then on the other hand Sri Lanka has lost good batsmen like Aravinda de Silva, and some of the batsmen in the team are not up to form. It should be a good battle between the two sides. I just hope the pitches will be good, so that the toss doesn't count much, and we get some good cricket".
What has he to say of West Indian cricket? "Well everyone knows that it is no longer at the top of the tree like it was twenty years ago. West Indian cricket is struggling. The main problem is there are not enough good fast bowlers". Is cricket still popular in the Caribbean? "It is, but the style of cricket being played has changed drastically. Those days, about 20-10 years ago, you got a lot of street cricket. Nowadays there are no streets for the people to play in as there are lots more cars on the road. With jam packed roads, street cricket is today an impossibility in the Caribbean. As a result, people are getting into more organised cricket, in which they need a structured place to play. Still, the West Indians love their cricket, wherever they play it". A commentator. Keeping your tongue rolling on and off through out the match. A gift of the gab plus a love for cricket. It's what Mike enjoys most. "I get to tour the world, meet new and old friends and still be with the game I love. And it's a lot easier than playing it out there in the field". What's the Holding Commentating Speciality? "I guess that's something for those listening to decide. I just talk on what I see. Analyze matters. Yes, sometimes we do talk a bit of rubbish, have a bit of a chat with each other, to add to the entertainment. Commentating is entertaining your viewers, so at times you've got to lighten things up, add a bit of humour and colour to the match when things get dull". How critical are you behind the box? "I just say it as I see it. I don't sit on a fence and wait. I say what I have to say, even though it maybe considered at times by people as somewhat undiplomatic. I'm not a diplomat. If I were I'd be in the UN. I'm merely a commentator who speaks his mind". Tell us a bit about your spree as a fast bowler? "Being a fast bowler is strenuous hard work and pretty damaging to the body with all the injuries which come your way. You need to be strong and undergo a lot of training. I used to be very competitive on the field. I hardly smiled once out there. People used to think me unapproachable. Today people are surprised when they see me smiling. All I've got to say is it's a whole lot easier up here than out there". What's your biggest influence? "My parents. They taught me what life was all about. Taught my right and wrong, not just in terms of discipline but also the importance of working hard for something". Lastly a few comments on the game itself? "Cricket has changed a lot today. It's a whole new game. I would say this is for the number of one-day matches being played. One-day cricket has really changed the game. You get a lot more diving on the field, even in test matches, with fielders keen to save runs. The batting rates are much higher than what it was 20 years ago. Even the bowlers are working a lot harder in containing the runs as well as getting wickets. Cricket's evolved into a whole new game. You cannot compare the statistics of present day cricket with what was played yesteryear". |
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| Produced by Lake House |
Meeting Mike at the Colombo Plaza, what strikes me most is his height
tall and voice musical. I guess v. West Indian. This is Mike's second
visit to Sri Lanka. His first was to commentate at the ICC Trophy last
year, during which he toured much of the country climbing Sigiriya and
visiting the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. This time round due to the
massive dose of showers we've been experiencing, he hasn't ventured far
from the hotel. Ask him what he's been doing in Sri Lanka and his answer
is "Watching the rain fall".
Of Sri Lanka cricket as a whole Holding says it has come up a lot.
"I've never played against Sri Lanka as it hadn't Test status at my
time. But ever since it's got it, and specially since the 1996 World Cup,
Sri Lankan cricket has tremendously improved, especially in the one-day
side. This may be due to the fact that a lot more one-day's are played
today than test match cricket".
