Michael Anthony Holding (born 16 February 1954) is a Jamaican former cricketer and commentator who played for the West Indies cricket team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pace bowlers in the history of the game, he was nicknamed "Whispering Death" on account of his quiet, gliding run-up that belied the ferocity of his bowling.
| Full name | Michael Anthony Holding |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 February 1954 |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Role | Right-arm fast bowler |
| Nickname | Whispering Death |
| National team | West Indies |
| Domestic teams | Jamaica, Canterbury, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Tasmania |
| Major honour | 1979 Cricket World Cup winner |
Holding was a central figure in the West Indies fast-bowling tradition of the late 1970s and 1980s. His action was admired for its smoothness and pace, and he used his considerable height to extract steep bounce and movement off the pitch. Together with Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Colin Croft, Wayne Daniel, Malcolm Marshall and Sylvester Clarke, he formed part of the fearsome West Indian pace battery that dominated international cricket during that era.
Early in his Test career, in 1976, Holding set the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match by a West Indies bowler, taking 14 wickets for 149 runs (14/149). The record continues to stand.
He was a key member of the West Indies side that won the 1979 Cricket World Cup, finishing as the leading wicket-taker for his team in that tournament. He was also part of the West Indies squad that finished as runners-up at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
During his first-class career, Holding represented several teams across multiple cricketing nations:
After retiring from playing, Holding became a cricket commentator and was widely respected for his analysis. In September 2021, he announced his retirement from commentary.
Holding's combination of pace, accuracy and a graceful, almost silent approach to the crease made him one of the most admired fast bowlers of his generation. His role in the dominant West Indies sides of the late 1970s and early 1980s, along with his record-setting Test performance in 1976, secures his place in cricket history.