After conquering the first two World Championship tournaments of cricket in 1975 and 1979, the national side of West Indies side became even more resilient in the 1980s. This was not simply because its rich batting order, but also because of its devastating lineup of pace bowlers. Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Colin Croft, Joel Garner, and Malcolm Marshall were popularly known as the horsemen of death due to their fierce line and length. These pace bowlers were known for routinely clocking their deliveries at 150 km/hr.
One of the most sought-after clashes in world cricket was the clash between West Indies and England. The two sides were indulged in competitive play for several years. The Windies fielders near the pitch would boost their pacers by saying, “Come on! Let him have some chin music.” Chin music here referred to those deliveries bowled by the Windies pacers which after pitching would rise till the level of the batter’s chin or throat.
It is an incredibly uphill task to face chin music. It is noteworthy to remember that chin music is not a solitary delivery. It refers to a flurry of deliveries that are consistently pitched as bouncers. Since it is a short length delivery that gradually rises, the batters either have to be quick on their feet to shuffle and hit a pull shot or must have the ability to safely leave the ball. Chin music is also a test of the bowler’s strength and fitness as it is not easy to consistently bowl with such pace and accuracy. The margin of error is so minimal that an attempted chin music might result in the ball going wayward for a wide or no ball and result in extra runs.
Modern day cricket has seen Mitchell Johnson be one of the proponents of chin music. Brett Lee, Lasith Malinga, and Fidel Edwards are a few other bowlers who have effectively employed chin music in international cricket.
