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Journalism of Courage
Former off-spinner Lance Gibbs, who once held the world record for taking maximum Test wickets, does not think West Indies have kept up the tradition of spin bowling as well as the Indians have over the years.
Gibbs says the spin legacy left by the likes of Bishan Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna has been preserved by Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. “You had Subhash Gupte, Bishan Bedi, Prasanna, Venkat and others and now Kumble and Harbhajan have some 700-odd wickets between them,” said Gibbs who retired with 309 Test wickets in 1976 and held the record for six years before Dennis Lillee overtook it in 1981.
The last great spinner to emerge from the Caribbean, Gibbs kept the tradition of Sony Ramdhin and Alf Valentine alive. Since then the reliance on pace has meant that the cricket set-up has no patience with young spinners.
Gibbs is quick to refute the suggestion of former West Indies quick bowler Andy Roberts that spinners never won matches in the Caribbean. “That is debatable. I won matches for the West Indies here. Ian Johnson of Australia was a high quality off-spinner and he took a seven-for in Guyana. He had Gary Sobers thrice in two Tests! Bedi and those fellows, though they didn’t win a Test, got wickets here. I think what you put in is what you get out.”
