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| Full name | Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1951-01-29)29 January 1951 (age 75) Urlings,Saint Mary,Antigua and Barbuda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Hit Man | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armfast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 149) | 6 March 1974 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 24 December 1983 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 15) | 7 June 1975 v Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 7 December 1983 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–1984 | Leeward Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–1981 | Combined Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973–1978 | Hampshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1984 | Leicestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source:CricketArchive,12 January 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sir Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts,KCN (born 29 January 1951) is a former Antiguanfirst-class cricketer who is considered the father of modernWest Indianfast bowling.[1][2] Roberts playedTest cricket for theWest Indies, twice taking sevenwickets in a Testinnings, and was a member of the team that won both the1975 Cricket World Cup and the1979 Cricket World Cup respectively, as well as finishing as runners-up at the1983 Cricket World Cup. Arriving inEngland in 1972, he played first-class cricket forHampshire County Cricket Club and then later forLeicestershire County Cricket Club.
Roberts was the first Antiguan to play Test cricket for the West Indies, thus leading the way for many of his famous countrymen includingViv Richards,Richie Richardson, andCurtly Ambrose. In 2009, Roberts was inducted into theICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[3]
Roberts formed part of the "quartet" of West Indian fast bowlers from the mid-70s to the early 80s (the others beingMichael Holding,Joel Garner, andColin Croft) that had such a devastating effect on opposition batsmen at both Test and One Day International level. He was also part of the West Indies team that won the first two Prudential World Cups inEngland in 1975 and 1979.[4][5][6][7]
By his own reckoning, the best spell Roberts ever delivered was during theHeadingley Test of the West Indies'1976 tour of England: "I only got three wickets, but in my mind there was a decision given against me. It was a leg-before decision againstPeter Willey, where he played right back onto his stumps to a fuller delivery. I would've bowled England out that afternoon if the umpire had given me the decision."[8] Despite an excellent record in Tests his international career was relatively short and ended in 1983.Imran Khan (former captain Pakistan national cricket team) once described a ball bowled to him by Andy Roberts as the fastest and most terrifying he had ever faced.
One of his trademarks was the use of two differentbouncers. One was delivered at a slower pace and was often dealt with quite easily by the batsman. However, this was a ploy by Roberts to lull the batsman into a false sense of security. Roberts would then deliver the second bouncer, pitching in a similar spot to the first, but delivered at far greater pace. The batsman would attempt to play this delivery in the same fashion as the first slower bouncer only to be surprised by the extra pace and bounce of the ball. Many batsmen were dismissed, and many more struck painful blows, by Roberts using this ploy.
Roberts was also the part of theWest Indies team which ended up as runners-up in the1983 ICC Cricket World Cup.[9][10]
John Snow believes that Roberts saw reduced effectiveness after being overbowled during 1974 by Hampshire and West Indies.[11]
Roberts' contribution toWest Indies cricket has continued since his retirement as a player. As an administrator overseeing the preparation of pitches, he helped prepare the pitches inAntigua on whichBrian Lara twice broke the world record for highest Test scores.
Roberts worked withBangladesh's fast bowlers in 2001 and again in 2005,[12] and also helped coach India's seam bowling all-rounderIrfan Pathan in 2006.[13] He joined theWest Indies Cricket Board selection panel in July 2006.[14] In 2008 he was one of 12 former West Indies cricketers who made up the 'Stanford Legends' who promoted theStanford 20/20.[15]
Roberts was appointed aKnight Commander of the Order of the Nation (KCN) by the Antiguan Barbudan government on 28 February 2014.[16]
In March 2025, Roberts publicly criticized theICC, alleging that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) exerted disproportionate influence over the global governing body. His remarks were made in the lead-up to the2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which was scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan. Roberts expressed concern over reports that India would play all of its matches in Dubai, rather than traveling within the host nation. He argued that such an arrangement was contrary to the principles of fair competition, stating, "At the Champions Trophy, India did not have to travel at all. How can a team not travel during a tournament? It is not fair, it's not cricket. There has to be a level playing field."[17]
Roberts also suggested that the ICC was increasingly accommodating to Indian interests, remarking, "To me, the ICC stands for the Indian Cricket Board. India dictates everything. If tomorrow, India says, 'listen there should be no no-balls and wides,' take my word, the ICC will find a way to satisfy India." He further cited the2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, alleging that India had prior knowledge of its semi-final venue, which he viewed as evidence of structural imbalance. According to Roberts, "Cricket ought not to be a one-country sport. It now looks like a one-nation competition and the playing field is not level."[18]
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