Could today’s batters have survived against aggressive West Indies pacers?

The likes of Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding and later Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh made West Indies a pace menace in the 1970s and 80s. It was also the era when the Windies tasted the most success and conquered the cricket world. West Indies were one of the few sides which were renowned for their bowling more than batting at the time.

Cricket has become more batting-friendly in the current age. Larger bats, smaller ground dimensions, and flatter pitches have titled the game in favour of batters than bowlers. Amid of all of this, a compelling question is whether the current generation would have been able to face the ruthless pace attack of the previous generation.

One parameter which has seen the biggest shift is the manner in which pitches were prepared. In the older times, the pitches were would present considerable seam movement for the pacers. In sharp contrast to the 70s and 80s, pitches now are rolled thoroughly in order to eliminate any unpredictable behaviour.

Another point to take into consideration is the protective equipment, or rather, the lack of it. The gear during the earlier days was basic and provided minimal shielding. Chest and elbow pads were in their infancy while grills of helmets did not provide enough coverage. This used to play a role in the batters' psyche and the manner they approached batting.