So who are the West Indies fast bowlers these days?It is a fair question, right? The Windies are touring New Zealand in December and January and the first test is in Dunedin.
But when you think about their attack, it is names like Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Andy Roberts, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh which quickly spring to mind. A chill immediately follows, then relief because they have all long since retired.
Roberts, Garner, Holding and Croft were all here for that acrimonious series in 1980.
Garner, nicknamed Big Bird because of his 2m-plus frame, got frightening bounce from good-length deliveries and he also had a devastating yorker.
Croft was all aggression in that series and had an ugly confrontation with umpire Fred Goodall during the second test in Christchurch.
And who will ever forget Holding kicking the stumps out of the ground when his appeal for caught behind against John Parker at Carisbrook was turned down?The current crop of fast bowlers might not inspire the same sort of fear but do not let that fool you.
The West Indies has won its last six tests, including two against New Zealand, and appears to be a team on the rise.
The likes of Kemar Roach, Tino Best, Ravi Rampaul and Shannon Gabriel ought to keep the New Zealand batting line-up on its toes.
Roach poses the greatest threat. He is short for a fast bowler but he is brisk and is closing in on 100 test wickets.
He had a good test series against New Zealand last year, taking 12 wickets at an average of 18.25 and rising to 10th in the world rankings. He has dipped to 14th since.
Best (32) is getting on in years but he made an impact in the second test against New Zealand, snapping up four wickets in the match.
Gabriel did not play in that series but he has taken 10 wickets in three tests since replacing Rampaul, who was forced out of the side with a neck injury.
Rampaul moves the ball both ways, is quick and has plenty of stamina. He has not reached his potential at international level but is an honest performer.
All-rounder Darren Sammy has 77 test scalps and is also pretty useful.
