By Roger Seymour
At the book launch of Clem Seecharan’s Hand-In-Hand History of Cricket in Guyana, 1865 -1897, Volume 1: The Foundation in the Woodbine Room at the Cara Lodge, Georgetown, on Friday, 13th May, 2016, Ian McDonald whilst introducing the event’s guest speaker Deryck Murray, referred to the 1975 Prudential World Cup second-round match versus Pakistan. Murray, former West Indies wicket-keeper and later Trinidad and Tobago diplomat, following protocol, smiled warmly, but as he rose to speak a few minutes later, he was all business. At the podium, the former Cambridge Blue turned slightly to face the head table, and said, “You know Ian, the West Indies …”
The 1975 World Cup Squad
One Day International cricket was still very much in its infant stage, and the format for inaugural Prudential World Cup was quite simple: eight teams divided into two groups of four, three round-robin matches in each group, the top two qualifying for the semi-finals, with the group winners facing the runner-ups from the other group. England, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, India and Pakistan were joined by Sri Lanka, then the best ICC Associate, and East Africa. The East Africa team, which consisted of weekend club cricketers from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, was selected for the final slot since Africa’s then cricketing powers South Africa and Southern Rhodesia – Zimbabwe today – were in sporting exile due to their apartheid policy. England, India, New Zealand and East Africa were drawn in Group A, with Australia, Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka in Group B. The draw had taken place a year in advance with restrictions to ensure that Australia and England (who were involved in a Test series that summer) were separated in the initial stage, as were India and Pakistan – who had not played each other since the 1965 Kashmir War – and, likewise, the minnows, Sri Lanka and East Africa.
Wednesday, 11th June – It’s the second round of matches. On the previous Saturday, England had defeated India by 202 runs, while New Zealand disposed of East Africa by 181 runs. At Old Trafford, the West Indies were hardly troubled, passing Sri Lanka’s meagre total of 86 for the loss of a single wicket, while the strong Pakistani lineup succumbed to Australia by 73 runs.
At Edgbaston, home ground of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, it’s sunny and warm for the first ever Pakistan and West Indies One Day International. It’s virtually a do-or-die game for the Pakistanis. A loss to the West Indies, coupled with a highly probable Australian win over the Sri Lankans, and their tournament is over. Pakistan are forced to make two changes to their team; Captain Asif Iqbal is in hospital recovering from an operation, and Imran Khan has to return to Oxford for exams. The newcomer, Javed Miandad (‘Baby’ as his teammates nicknamed him), making his international debut on the eve of his 18th birthday, and medium pace bowler Pervez Mir are drafted into the final XI. The West Indies replace Lance Gibbs with Gordon Greenidge.
Pakistan’s stand-in Captain Majid Khan wins the toss and elects to take the first knock in the ideal conditions. Despite the early loss of Sadiq Mohammed to a catch at first slip off of Bernard
Julien, it’s all Pakistan in the early going. Majid and Zaheer Abbas, then county professionals with Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, respectively, and very au fait with the English pitches make light work of the familiar West Indies pace attack which comprises county rivals Andy Roberts (Hampshire), Julien (Kent), Keith Boyce (Essex) and Vanburn Holder (Worcestershire). It’s left to the two part-time spinners, Captain Clive Lloyd (Lancashire) and Viv Richards (Somerset) to pry the two maestros loose when they are seemingly well set. Lloyd induces an edge from Majid (60) to Murray, whilst Richards traps Zaheer lbw for 31.
Sadiq’s brother, Mushtaq (55), and Wasim Raja (58), continue to apply the pressure on the West Indies, who uncharacteristically are ragged in the field, missing chances, fumbling and overthrowing. After Roberts clean bowls the heavy hitting Raja, Pakistan muster just another 17 runs. Debutant Miandad is run out for 24 off 32 balls, as Pakistan finishes with the substantial score of 266 for seven wickets in 60 overs. One has to bear in mind that these were the early days of one day cricket and any total over 250 was considered mammoth.
The West Indies are quickly in deep trouble as Safraz Nawaz, Northamptonshire’s medium fast bowler, one of the early pioneers of reverse swing who possessed the uncanny ability to seam the ball both ways, dismisses the top of the order. Greenidge and Alvin Kallicharran are induced to nudge gleefully accepted catches to wicket-keeper Wasim Bari. Roy Fredericks is lbw on the back foot. West Indies are reeling at 36 for 3, as Pakistan flags are jubilantly waved by their many supporters. Rohan Kanhai, the last-minute replacement in the squad for Gary Sobers, and Lloyd steady the innings for a bit. Naseer Malik gets Kanhai (24) to play on to the stumps, breaking the 48-run fourth wicket partnership. Fifteen runs later, Richards’ top-edged hook falls into the safe hands of Abbas at long-leg, and the West Indies’ ship is listing heavily at 99 for five. Lloyd, leading by example, engages Julien in several mid-pitch chats. At tea time, the scoreboard reads 114 for five, another 153 runs required. A daunting task.
Just as the tide is turning the West Indies way, Julien gracefully flicks Asif Masood off his toes, only for Miandad at forward square-leg to pull it down from just above his head. It’s 145 for six, as vice-captain Murray joins Lloyd. In the next over, the 33rd of the West Indies innings, Miandad, who was selected in the 14-member squad as an all-rounder, snatches the prized wicket of Lloyd, who plays inside a googly, and is given out, caught at the wicket. As Lloyd walks away, obviously surprised with Umpire’s Langley’s decision, the BBC TV commentator observes, “The Pakistan players are absolutely delighted….That surely must be the end of things for the West Indies now, with their captain dismissed for 53…”. Fifteen runs later, Boyce, swinging wildly at Malik, is comprehensively bowled. “The eighth wicket has gone down, the West Indies surely now cannot win …,” laments the BBC TV broadcaster.
It appears to be all over bar the shouting, the West Indies are 166 for eight as Holder walks to the middle. Murray has extensive cricket experience in England, having represented Cambridge University (1965-66), Nottinghamshire (1966-69), and is in his fourth (and final) season with Warwickshire. His fellow countymates, Kanhai and Kallicharran had failed to capitalise on their home field advantage, and now, the burden of delivering an improbable West Indies victory rests squarely on his shoulders. His two remaining team members, Holder and Roberts, while not rabbits, are not considered accomplished batsmen. With lots of overs still to come, Murray and Holder set about diligently applying themselves, a trait apparently forgotten by the earlier batsmen. Murray leads the way, scoring freely while driving on both sides of the wicket, as Holder holds the fort at the other end.
Lloyd’s accountant, Gordon Andrews, an Englishman, arrives at the West Indies dressing room bearing a case of pale ale, whereupon he announces, “Clive we have just put a bet on you and the team will win.” The bookmakers in the ground, standard feature at English cricket grounds in those days, were offering the very attractive odds of 66 to 1 for a West Indies victory upon the fall of their eighth or ninth wicket.
As the West Indies score keeps ticking along, Majid decides to play his trump card and recalls Safraz to the attack. After adding 37 priceless runs with Murray, Holder, while executing a powerful drive, is brilliantly caught by Pervez, who makes a fine right handed catch above his head at cover. Holder’s contribution is 16 precious runs. The die is now cast. It’s 203 for nine wickets, as Roberts arrives. Safraz has only two balls remaining in his 12-over quota, after which the West Indies still have 14 overs. The target is 64.
Edgbaston is one of the largest Test arenas in England and the fielders have a lot of ground to cover. Roberts, who presents a solid defensive bat while punishing any loose ball, and Murray, calm as ever, exercising restraint, keep the improbable dream alive. As the partnership grows so does their confidence. With the score on 232, Murray (41) flicks Masood through deep mid-wicket, two fielders give chase, it’s a long boundary, one stops the ball, the other gathers it for the return, as the batsmen turn for the fourth run. Roberts scrambling, bat down, beats the throw. Murray then cracks Masood through the covers. Four more! The outnumbered West Indies’ supporters are loving it, and roar their approval. The impossible is becoming the probable. The green and white flags are no longer fluttering in the wind.
Last two overs. The West Indies require 10 runs as the Pakistani fieldsmen spread out on the expansive ground. Roberts, facing Pervez’s ninth over of gentle medium pace, clouts a delivery straight over the bowler’s head. It’s in the gap, no one out there to stop it. Four more! Brimming with confidence Roberts takes a single off the last ball. Five to win. Majid has a difficult decision. Safraz, Masood and Miandad have fulfilled their quotas. Who to give the ball to? Mushtaq who has bowled two overs for seven runs? Inexplicably, Majid tosses the ball to Wasim Raja, the leg spinner who hasn’t bowled a ball all day.
Roberts swings and misses the second delivery, the ball hits his pad, scuttles out on the leg side, the batsmen take off for a leg bye. The ever alert Bari darts for it, whirls and throws at the non-striker’s end. Roberts is well short of his ground. The ball misses the stumps! Raja fails to gather it. Overthrown! The pair garner a second leg bye. With the field back, Roberts tucks the third ball behind square, Zaheer fields, the batsmen are going for two. Zaheer throws a laser to the far end. Murray is safely home, as Raja prevents another overthrow. Scores tied! Three balls to go. Pandemonium at Edgbaston. The West Indies’ fans are waving, jumping and dancing everywhere. The field moves to prevent the single to no avail, as Roberts calmly pushes the 48th delivery of his innings on the onside, Murray is sprinting hard, Roberts even harder for his 24th run. The West Indies have won! The impossible has become a reality.
Now the race is really on. Roberts, brandishing his bat, charges off to the pavilion like a thoroughbred racehorse approaching the finish line, as the delirious West Indies’ supporters surge onto the field. Murray swivels at the far end of the pitch. He can’t beat the invading mob. Despite the best efforts of a British bobby, Murray is hoisted shoulder high. His innings of 61 not out, a true gem, is his best ever in the Maroon colours. Murray’s poise and leadership against immense odds, along with the fighting spirit displayed by Roberts and Holder, has delivered one of the most improbable victories in the annals of West Indies cricket history.
The drama is not finished. Tom Graveney, the Man of the Match adjudicator, inexplicably awards the prize to Safraz Nawaz, who captured four wickets. As the story is told, upon the fall of the ninth West Indies’ wicket, Graveney joined some friends at the bar. When questioned about his mystifying decision, he reportedly responded humorously, “Shouldn’t the Man of the Match go to a member of the winning side?”
Forty-one years later at the book launch, Murray reflected,”You know Ian, in the West Indies dressing room afterwards there was some tension. Some players had already given up hope and had packed up…”
It’s only fitting that Murray and Roberts should have the final words on that most memorable of victories.
Roberts: “I definitely batted better in other matches, but it’s definitely my most favourite innings for the West Indies. A couple of years after that [1977], both Deryck and I held up the same Pakistan team in Trinidad for about four hours although we didn’t save the game. I always enjoyed batting with Deryck as a lower order batsman. You see, I say lower-order because I was better than just a tail-ender.
“We [Deryck and I] had some outstanding partnerships, similarly with Clive Lloyd. I always valued my wicket equally as my main skill of taking wickets.”
Murray: “That victory was a turning point for West Indies in general. History before that indicated that West Indies didn’t win close games. So there was the question mark whether West Indies could clinch a tense victory. The team was well aware of this history and the win propelled us going forward in that World Cup with the mindset that under any circumstances, we could get a positive result. I remember telling my wife after the Pakistan win, we were going to win the World Cup and I wasn’t going to bat again and I was almost perfectly correct. I only batted again briefly in the final.”
Trivia question: Who else on the 1975 West Indies World Cup squad also played for Warwickshire?
