Born 24th October 1967, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Ian Raphael Bishop played 43 Tests, taking 161 wickets at 24.27. A towering fast bowler, capable of finding substantial away-swing, Bishop was a fundamental part of the dominating pace attack which saw Windies dominate Test cricket for much of the 1980’s and 90’s.
He announced himself on the international scene in his second ever Test, at the Kensington Oval against India, in 1989, when he took 6-87 in the first innings. Amongst others, he claimed the wickets of Mohammad Azharuddin and Kapil Dev - an impressive way to step up to Test cricket.
Consistent injury problems plagued Bishop’s career, back issues twice seriously threatening his career at the top level. Reconstruction of his action, moving from a classical side-on set-up to a more side-on motion, allowed him to return to the Test side and deliver his personal best Test performance. His best bowling performance came against Australia in Perth, in 1993. He took 6-40 in an emphatic innings and 25 run victory for the touring side, with Australia blown away for 119 and 178 by Bishop and Courtney Walsh’s wicked combination of pace and swing. His final Test was in March 1998, against England.
Bishop is now familiar to many as a television commentator, his iconic calling of the 2016 World T20 Final, where the Windies came through to a dramatic last over victory, is one of the most well-known pieces of commentary the game has seen.
1967-10-24, Belmont, Port of Spain
Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies A, West Indians, Marylebone Cricket Club, West Indies Board President's XI, Derbyshire, West Indies Under-23s, West Indies Board XI, West Indies