Inshan Ali has the kind of name you would expect to be plastered on the billboards as a magician. He is, in fact, a sleight of hand expert with a different wrist pint-sized West Indian left-arm trick spinner who I expect to give England’s batsmen as big a headache as those who try to solve the Indian rope trick. So, what must be uppermost in skipper Rohan Kanhai’s mind is not how many runs the West Indies will make. But how they bowl out England twice. That’s his major problem at times, great player, the unorthodox Insan. And that’s why I plump for bowling. His spin bowling, like Ian and Greg, was the only part of the West Indians’ attack, which I reckon can make this look like novices wrongfully read the pin path Boycott. Remember how Aussie, as the best test master, batsman, Geoff.
Inshan Ali, when he landed on target. tearaway Dennis Lillee tamed Boycott last year. Lillee was the first genuine test bowler Boycott had experienced. I rate him the Ray Robinson of spinner-pound for pound he’s the best in the world with his quick, whippy semi- world I’ve seen. roundarm googlies-he is the best bowler of his type I have seen since Australian- born George Tribe went to Northants and made monkeys out of the best batsmen in this Country.
Inshan started his Test career against India in 1970 and met with little success. He didn’t bother New Zealand much either the following season. When a Spin bowler completely deceives Ian Chappell in full flight three times in a many deliveries, then surely he’ well worth persevering with. Inshan’s bowling style is rare today, and I want to be there to see the opening moments of the absorbing battle between him and Boycott. Yet I hear whispers that little Inshan may not make the West Indies Test team. He would be one of the first men picked on my side. The West Indies bowling attack and batting line are most powerful at times. It is loaded with a boost in the world.
John Snow and Succession of very ordinary But earlier this year. I saw medium pacers, which England against the New Zealanders, will purists, Geoff Arnold, who had a picnic this frail youngster from Trinidad batsman plays against every day, really have to battle for their getter and his batting has a He’s a proline run- dad bamboozle Ian Chappell’s of the week, with Lance Gibbs wicket, now.
Australians with their mixed bag and left-armer Elquemedo charm. fluency, and Clive Lloyd, Alvin Kallicharan- rival Tom Graveney’s tricks. Willett is providing spin. Roy Fredericks and Keith Boyce are the edition Kanhai, Ray Lawrence, and Lawrance Rowe are well known in England. Then there is Maurice Foster, who stands up. He could be providing foot bat-man who will delight the sensation of the series. Overall, the Aussie batsmen. When to use footwork, better than any other cricketing nation in the world, Lance Gibbs is still a wise, world-ranking pinner. But poker-faced Willett, although accurate, doesn’t spin the ball enough. Despite the ravages of his illness, his large palm and unusually long fingers presented a very firm grip. He couldn’t speak, his vocal cords having been removed, but readily grasped the extended notepad to answer my questions.
“Most difficult batsman you bowled to?” His quick scribble was very legible: ‘Ian Chappell.’ “The reason for your success in cricket?” I practiced every day from 10 o’clock. It is the only reason why Preysal produces so many good cricketers. Practice. Practice, he scrawled again and again for emphasis. “Best match you ever played in?” Inshan Ali’s younger brother Imkhan died of cancer on 26 December 1969, aged 18.
