Wayne Daniel: The 'Diamond' of West Indies Fast Bowling

Wayne Daniel was a powerful right-arm fast bowler from Barbados who made his Test debut in 1976 and was part of the extraordinary generation of West Indian pace bowlers that dominated world cricket during the 1970s and 1980s. Known as 'Diamond' for his consistent high quality, Daniel was unfortunate to emerge at the same time as Roberts, Holding, Marshall and Garner — any one of whom would have been the automatic selection for most other national sides. Daniel played only 10 Tests, taking 36 wickets at an average of 25.27, but his relative scarcity of Test appearances reflected the depth of the West Indian pace attack rather than any limitation of his ability. Daniel's primary legacy was in county cricket, where he played for Middlesex from 1977 to 1988 and took over 700 first-class wickets for the county at an average under 23. He was a Middlesex stalwart through their championship-winning years of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Middlesex Career and English County Cricket

Daniel's Middlesex career spanned over a decade and he became one of the county's most celebrated overseas players. Playing alongside Mike Brearley, John Emburey, Phil Edmonds and later Mike Gatting, Daniel provided the pace that county's spin attack needed to win the County Championship. His 700+ county wickets at below 23 represent an exceptional county bowling career that matched, statistically, the finest county bowlers of the era.

Relationship with the West Indies Pace Attack

Daniel's limited Test career reflects the extraordinary depth of West Indian pace bowling in this era — he was Test-quality and would have played many more than 10 Tests had he been from any other country. The West Indies selection committee had to choose between Daniel, Croft, Marshall, Holding, Roberts, Garner and others — a selection problem that was itself a demonstration of West Indian cricket's extraordinary strength in this period.