Legendary fast bowlers produced by Windies

#8 Patrick Patterson

Patrick Patterson

One of the most hostile bowlers to have played the game, Patterson joined the cricketing world with a bang in 1986, debuting at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, against England, claiming 7 wickets in a comfortable win for the hosts.

His claimed his best figures in Tests by taking 5 for 24 against India, bowling them out in just 30 overs. In the 1988 Boxing Day Test against Australia played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Patterson was furious when Steve Waugh bounced him frequently. At stumps, he entered the Aussie dressing room and proclaimed that he would 'kill' the batsmen on the pitch the next day. True to his word, Patterson claimed a spectacular five-wicket haul dismissing Aussies for a paltry 114 when they were chasing a target of 400 runs.

Over a short career spanning 7 seasons, Patterson took 93 wickets in 28 Tests at an impeccable strike rate of 51, though his attacking bowling and field-set up meant that his average was slightly on the higher side at 30.

Post-retirement, Patterson dwindled in obscurity for several years until Indian journalist Bharat Sundaresan found Patterson in Kingston, Jamaica after a number of years of trying to track him down. He has been battling with clinical depression and now lives separate from his family.