The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians do a wonderful job looking after the world of cricket statistics, with one of their services being the “Famous Cricketers Series”, which provided a match by match statistical coverage of a players’ first-class (and where appropriate) List A career. Of course, in the days of the internet such a book becomes superfluous but this series was once the only possibility of having a players’ full statistics at hand.

Number 52 in the series covers Malcolm Marshall, the sadly departed West Indian fast bowler. After a short tribute and biographical introduction to Marshall by Hampshire scorer Vic Isaacs, the book settles into producing
Marshall’s batting and bowling performances for each match (Marshall made his first-class debut for Barbados against Jamaica at Bridgetown, Barbados, taking 6/77 and 1/20, and scoring a duck in his only innings), through his Test career and his career in England. Then, it starts with his List A career through to the end.

Until a full biography is produced of one of the most fearsome fast bowlers of all time, this little tome is the best we have of Marshall’s life and career. ( )