A genuine fast bowler with one of the smoothest actions of all, Michael Anthony Holding took 249 wickets in only 60 Test matches and 142 scalps in 102 one-dayers for the West Indies.
In his teens he was a fine sprinter in Jamaica. And his innate talent of the track enabled him to develop a silky and silent run-up before slamming down the ball at an estimated 97 mph to a bewitched batsman at the other end.
Umpires who had the experience of officiating a match while the silent cyclone from the shore of Caribbean sea wrecking havoc admitted afterwards that they could not even hear the sound of his approach until he crossed them for the final assault. It eventually earned him a famous nickname - 'whispering death'.
He was capable of terrorising batsmen with his steep bounce, intimidating pace, and invariably stunned them generating movement even on a docile wicket.
As for the job of getting opening batsmen out, to him, India proved most obliging. In the three Test series he played, Holding dislodged Gavaskar on 11occasions and Gaekward on eight.
Holding, who turned into a popular television commentator after his retirement from cricket in 1987, took the art of fast bowling to new heights with his unprecedented blend of skill, dexterity, devastation, and technical perfection.
The famous West Indian has come to Dhaka as a member of the six-man WorldTel commentary team.
Although his hairline is greying, the famous rhythmic silence is still prominent when the 44-year-old walks. And at the top floor of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday, passers-by startled to look up hearing the baritone voice of Holding while having a friendly bout with The Daily Star Sport.
The Daily Star Sport: You're supposed to arrive in Dhaka on the 20th. Any special reason for the delay?
Michael Holding: No. I was doing the Test match (between) Australia and Pakistan in Peshawar. I'm very much on schedule.
DSS: So you witnessed the much talked-about decision of Mark Taylor for no going after the world record (375) of Brian Lara. What would you have done if you were Taylor?
MH: I would have batted on. If I were the captain of that team I would've instructed him to bat on. But, I don't feel sorry for him, and he made his own decision and he's a big man.
DSS: This is your first visit to Bangladesh. How do you feel being here?
MH: Yes it's my first visit. I haven't seen a lot yet. The stadium looks very impressive. You know I've been not there in the middle. I understand it's wet and people should not walk.
DSS: Do you've any idea about Bangladesh cricket?
MH: No. Don't know anything about Bangladesh cricket.
DSS: We sure you know that Gordon (Greenidge) is here and now coaching Bangladesh?
MH: Yes, I know that. But I haven't met him yet.
DSS: In your view what prospects do the West Indies have in the tournament?
MH: Well that's difficult. Their first game is against Pakistan, and that's not an easy team to beat. The structure of the meet is that if you lose your first game you go home. So it's a bit difficult to really predict who is going to win or who is going to do well. A one-day game is pretty much a lottery, especially under these conditions.
DSS: What are your thoughts on the tournament format?
MH: Well, this is a one-off situation. Because the ICC wanted to get the competition.. showpiece going. They didn't have really much of a choice because of the schedules going around the world now. A lot of teams are playing a lot of cricket.
DSS: Tony Cozier (renowned commentator and writer from Barbados) depicted a dismal picture of Jamaican cricket recently. Is it true that the youngsters are more inclined to games other than cricket?
MH: My comment (on the article) is that it's over- exaggerated. I think, as any country or islands develops you will find young people there exploring other avenues. Traditionally cricket was the game to play in the Caribbean. But suddenly with the advent of satellite television, kids are seeing other sports. They will certainly want to experiment and try other things that they're seeing. And that's typical of any country.
DSS: You were a proud member of the invincible team of seventies and eighties. But since then the West Indians have been wandering in the wilderness. Do you predict a renaissance in West Indies cricket soon?
MH: Yes, I'm hopeful of that. Sure, I would think that we haven't done too badly at all. We've slipped but as you see we still can beat most teams in the world. And, I think within four or five years we will be back on top again.
DSS: Unlike your days, there is lots of money lately in cricket. Players seem to be more engrossed in counting notes instead of playing quality cricket. Do you think that money motivates them rather than cricket in general?
MH: Well, if you're talking about the financial aspects of cricket, if you compare cricket with any other professional sport, cricket is last, dead last, distant last... So there is no financial incentive there if turn about other sport.
DSS: Which team do you tip as the favourite for the Will International Cup?
MH: I don't know. I don't have a favourite.