The Berbice Cricket Board 75th Anniversary Magazine

The Berbice Cricket Board 75th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine

CELEBRATING

YEARS of CRICKET DECADE to DECADE 1939 - 2014

Celebrating 75 Years of Cricket

CONTENTS 2. Acknowledgement 4.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport - Dr. Frank Anthony Message

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Berbice Cricket Club Message

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HISTORY of Berbice Cricket

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25 Facts About Berbice Cricket

10. Rohan Kanhai’s Batting will be cherished forever 16. ROMAIN ETWAROO Berbice Captain 1973 – 1981 17. B.C.B. Tribute to Retired Players Programme 18. CARL EVAN MOORE a shining beacon in a dark stormy night...

19. DEVENDRA BISHOO Excelling in all three formats of cricket

21. Gizmos and Gadgets presents prizes to Rose Hall Cricket team 25. A Glimpse of the History of Port Mourant Cricket 26. ALVIN KALLICHARRAN Timing and Exemplary Footwork were the Hallmarks of his Batting 29. Some Outstanding Administrators of Berbice Cricket 1939 – 2014 32. One Day International Cricket Matches at ALBION 33. Special Events Committee 2007 – 2014 34. B.C.B. Executive Body – Golden Jubilee Anniversary 35. FLASH BACK! - A Moment in Time 36

B.C.B. Life Membership Programme

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Contributors: Berbice Cricket Board, Sean Devers, Romain Etwaroo and Clifton Ross

Acknowledgement

The Berbice Cricket Board would like to extend gratitude to the following persons and companies.

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A. Ally & Sons Agriparts Machinery & Service Albion Cricket club Alfred Mentore Amerally Sawmill Arjune Chicken Outlet Avenash Ramzan Bakewell Bank of Nova Scotia Banks D.I.H Limited Basil Butcher Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association Berbice River Bridge Company Beverley Harper, Ansa Mc Al Trading Bissoondyal Singh Bobby Deonarine Bobcat of Berbice Bush Lot United Cricket Club Calvin Roberts Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce Chetram’s Catering Service CIDI City Bias Stitching Company Claude David Clinton Ross Conrad Plummer, CK Associates Corbin Media Group Inc. Demerara Bank Demerara Distillers Limited Deonarine Shane Diamond Fire & General Insurance DTV-8 E-Networks Elizabeth Styles Faizal Jafferally Feroze Barakat Franklyn Wilson Food for the Poor (Guy) Inc G. Singh & Sons G.T.M Group of Companies

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Gizmos& Gadgets Golden Arrow Sports Bar Guyana Beverage Company Guyana Chronicle Guyana Defence Force Guyana Lottery Company Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) Guyana Police Force Guyana Power & Light Guyana Sugar Corporation Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Guyana Times Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies Impressions Imran Hamid Jameel Mohamed Jumbo Jet Sales Justice Cecil Kennard Kaieteur News Khemraj Ramjattan MP Kris Jagdeo LRTVS-CH 10 Mayor & Town Council - New Amsterdam Metro Office Supplies Minister Frank Anthony Minister Irfan Ally Minister Jennifer Westford Minister Leslie Ramsammy Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports Minister of Tourism Ministry of Public Service Mohamed Raffik Mortimer George Motie Phanisnarine Murseline Bacchus Namilco (National Milling Company) National AIDS Programme Secretariat National Communication Network

79. Neal & Massy Group of Companies 80. New GPC (Guy) Inc 81. Office of the President 82. Office of the Prime Minister 83. P & P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Ltd. 84. Permaul Armogan 85. Peter Lewis 86. Port Mourant Cricket Club 87. President Donald Ramotar 88. Rajiv Bisnauth 89. Ramesh Sunich 90. Regional Democratic Council, Region # 5 91. Regional Democratic Council, Region # 6 92. Republic Bank (Guy) Ltd. 93. Roger Harper 94. Romain Etwaroo 95. Ronald Williams, Apex Insurance Brokers Inc. 96. Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club 97. Sanjay Prittipaul 98. Sean Devers 99. Sentinel Security 100. Shabeer Baksh 101. Shan Razack 102. St. Francis Youth club 103. Stabroek News 104. Stephan Sookram 105. Sterling Products Limited 106. Survival Supermarket 107. Tenelec Inc 108. Troy Cadogan, Ansa McAl Trading 109. TVG 110. Upper Corentyne Cricket Association 111. Universal DVD 112. Vibert Beeraspat 113. Watsan Catering 114. Young Warriors Cricket Club

75th Anniversary (1939-2014)

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MESSAGE

I

would like to congratulate the Berbice Cricket Club on this memorable achievement. Seventy five years is a very long time and there is no doubt that great and significant achievements and challenges overcome by sheer determination, commitment and dedication to cricket.

The BCC is one of the oldest cricket clubs in Guyana and is one of the most notable having produced some of Guyana’s most distinguished cricketers Basil Butcher, Rohan Kanhai, and Derek and Alvin Kallicharan.

Today, the BCC has players representing Guyana at the national and international levels. These include male and female cricketers namely Assad Fudadin, Veerasammy Permaul, Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt, and Subrina Munroe who are making Guyana proud in the West Indian cricket teams.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony

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The presence of these players in the West Indies Cricket teams indicates that Guyana still has what it takes to produce well-grounded cricketers.

I am pleased that the Club has been paying a lot of attention on the consistent development of cricket through educational programmes. Sports education is becoming a very important aspect of sport development as it paves the way for improved skills and abilities.

Development is evidently on the raise in Berbice, and this was made even clearer with the commissioning of the floodlights at the Albion Cricket Ground. This venture sets the stage for greater things to come in cricket as players are no longer restricted to day-time games but are now able to participate in more cricket matches under floodlight.

Again, congratulations on your 75th anniversary.

MESSAGE continued today with players like Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Veerasammy Permaul and Devindra Bishoo vying for places on the West Indies team.

The future seems bright with rich emerging talents like Shimron Hetmyer, Ashkay Homraj, Sharaz Ramcharran, Balchan Baldeo, Brandon Prashad, Phaffiana Millington and Steve Deonarine emerging.

The Berbice Cricket Board would continue to work beyond the call of duty to make sure that every cricketing talent in Berbice fulfills his/her potential.

Berbice Cricket Club

T

he Berbice Cricket Board is very proud to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee and even prouder of its achievements over the last seventy five years. The journey since 1939 has not always been smooth sailing but the Berbice Cricket Board has achieved much due to the commitment of every single executive who have served over the years.

The President and Executives of the Berbice Cricket Board would like to express gratitude to all the cricket clubs in Berbice who worked hard everyday to play a part in the development of our cricket. Special thanks to the countless lists of club executives who worked on a voluntary basis to make a difference. Your efforts were much appreciated by the Board. We would also like to salute the support we have received from our donors and official sponsors whose contributions have enabled the Berbice Cricket Board to organise cricket at all levels. Special mention must be made of Mr. Bobby Deonarine and Mr. Tom Gruntzel of Washington, U.S.A, for his contribution to Berbice Cricket.

As we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee, may God continue to bless Berbice Cricket and may all of us continue to work together for the development of the game.

The rich tradition of John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Roy Fredericks and Alvin Kallicharran

BERBICE CRICKET BOARD Lot 7 – 1 Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Guyana.

Telephone No: (592) 333-2375 Email: ros_han2001@yahoo.com.

75th Anniversary (1939-2014)

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HISTORY of Berbice Cricket

Events in 1954 changed the course of Berbice cricket

E

vents in the year 1954 not only brought about a complete transformation of the game of cricket, but they were to change the course of history in Berbice cricket in particular.

I refer to Bookers, who acquired the services of the late Sir Clyde Walcott as Cricket Coach and provided community centers and other related sporting amenities including cricket grounds on the sugar estates. Duncan Mc Gregor

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Stuart’s leadership and austerity as President of the Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC). The victory by Berbice over Demerara in Essequibo in the 1954 InterCounty finals was undoubtedly the greatest impact and turning point which brought about a new dimension for cricket in the Ancient County. Moreso it brought about a significant breakthrough for cricketers in the rural communities. The victory was a blessing in disguise, and according to the late Duncan Mc Gregor Stuart, “we have at long last put and end to domination by one county”.

What the then British Guiana Cricket Board of Control (BGCBC) had tried to avoid for the past decade was forcibly brought to their notice. And it was with some reluctance that widened their scope of operations.

It was common knowledge then that Georgetown had provided the country with her inter-clinical cricket teams year after year and although strenuous efforts were made to get officials interested in the unlimited talent available in the country district, nothing much was done about it. For a very long time the legacy remains whereby the Guyana Cricket Board of Control (GCBC) control’s Georgetown cricket. Berbice had always been the backwaters; British Guiana players were always selected from the Georgetown clubs. ‘Berbice was favored with a representative, now and then…’ But the organizing of an inter-county tournament in 1954 meant that the brilliant backwoods men would no longer languish in anonymity, sustained by mere village adulation however, exuberant.

Many years later, Berbice icon the elegant Basil Butcher had spoken of what gave the boys from Port Mourant the chance. He writes: “The revival in Guyanese cricket in recent years has been the direct consequence of the organizing, a dozen years ago of annual representative matches between the counties-Berbice, Demerara and the Cinderella County, Essequibo. For the first time it became virtually impossible for a young player of real promise to go unnoticed. Rohan Kanhai, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray nor I would have ever reached Test cricket under the old system. All four of us won a place at the national level as a result of playing in the Inter-county tournament”. Berbice gained four places in the British Guiana side which met Jamaica in the Quadrangular Cricket tournament at Bourda in 1956. The Berbice trio created history with individual 100’s; Rohan Kanhai 129, Basil Butcher 154 not out and Joe Solomon 114 not out.

Right arm leg spinner Ivan Madray, the other member of the Berbice clam made a great impression with four wickets for 168. Near the twilight of his illustrious career, Sonny “Sugar Boy” Baijnauth became the fifth Berbician to be included in the match against Barbados.

Kanhai made his second successive century, a rip roaring 195, and so too did Joe Solomon with 108. It was the brilliant batting of the Berbice trio which inspired the calypsonian King Fighter to sing:

“Dem Berbicians bad, bad, bad.

Dey hitting the ball as though they mad Dem Berbicians don’t make sport.

Selectors take a note…!”

Madray once again proved a thorn in the flesh with four for 68. It was a great start for Kanhai and company as it was a case where these rose from relative obscurity to fame.

The legend of Rohan Kanhai was already in the making, and the boys would shout 195! Someone would interject: “195 run out!” And still Berbice was pressing further claims with Sonny Moonsammy, Leslie Amsterdam and to a lesser extent medium-pacer Saranga Baichu. Years later, Leslie Amsterdam blossomed into a class of a batsman and made his presence felt in the 1964 Quadrangular series with a classy 100 against Jamaica at Bourda.

This was the opening of the flood gate which saw the emergence of Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan, Seu Shivnarine and Clayton Lambert. Sonny Moonsammy, on the other hand, appears to have been a victim of injustice, for despite his brilliant showing both with the bat and his fielding at cover, was never able to gain the selectors’ nod.

Berbice was often considered an obscure cricketing entity, relegated to the seller and deemed incapable of really producing anyone of Test match caliber. Over the years they had put a lie to that belief and have produced well over a dozen Test players in the process. John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Ivan Madray, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan, Seu Shivnarine, Clayton Lambert-who remained a “one Test Wonder” for nearly seven years until he finally came into his own with a century in both Test and One-Day International against England.

Mahendra Nagamootoo, Narsingh Deonarine and Sewnarine Chattergoon.

Even so, it was extremely difficult in the earlier days for the boys from the rural areas to get on the national side.

Come to think of it, British Guiana first played first-class cricket in 1865 against Barbados at Garrison Savannah, Barbados, and it was not until in 1949, some 79 years later and 48 matches, that a player from the Ancient County was selected to represent the country. He was the big, barrel-chested John Trim, a pace bowler who played in four Test matches for the West Indies. A right-arm fastmedium bowler, he gained his First Test Match honors on the strength of a good performance for British Guiana, for whom he made his debut in 1944, against G.O.Allen’s M.C.C. Team in 1947-48 when at Bourda, Georgetown he earned analyses of four wickets for 68 runs and five for 36. He toured India in 1948 and Australia in 1951. In all he took 18 test wickets, average 16.16.

It was not until nine years later and 20 matches, in 1953 that a batsman from Berbice represented the country.

Opening batsman Charles Paul, the uncle of Roy Fredericks from Blairmont has the distinct honor of doing so against the Australian touring side at Bourda. Paul was unable to take the field for some time. His ailing father had died the previous day and he had to make a speedy dash to Blairmont to attend the funeral. He returned however, to take his place on the field and the sacrifice was greatly appreciated by the crowd. Under the circumstances, one can very well understand Paul getting 19 runs, leg before to Hill. It didn’t take long this time, just a matter of two years, for two of the finest batsmen in the West Indies, nay, world cricket, Rohan Kanhai and Basil Butcher to emerge. Kanhai gave the world a stroke which has not been duplicated by anyone till date: the falling hook.

Kanhai would be lying on the ground as the hooked ball went to the fence. Kanhai’s falling hook shot has not found a single disciple worthy of emulating it. There was also the dependable and Mr. Consistent Joe Solomon.

A most remarkable act about the batsmen is that Kanhai, Butcher, Solomon and Kallicharran are all from Port Mourant on the Corentyne Coast. Fredericks came from Blairmont, Shivnarine from Albion and Baichan from Rose Hall Estate. They are all sugar plantations.

Lambert is from the town of New Amsterdam. The game of cricket flowered in such communities because it was one of the few means whereby isolated rural townships

“One thing for sure, is that Berbice will continue to churn out players who will keep knocking at the door, be it Youth, National or Test level”

75th Anniversary (1939-2014)

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HISTORY of Berbice Cricket asserted their identity in their county and in the wider context of Guyanese society. In Port Mourant, a town whose population was 99 per cent Indians in the 1950s, cricket was clearly a means whereby a powerful sense of ethnic identity found expression in the community of a turbulent Guyana.

Many may disagree with me that Bookers have paved the way for the recognition of these players from Berbice.

Or should I say the then British Guiana Sugar Producers Association (BGSPA). Hither to unrecognized, the prowess of Berbicians at cricket received a fillip and publicity with the advent of the country’s best batsman Robert Christiani at Port Mourant Estate and the coming to British Guiana, one of the Three Ws, big burly Clyde Walcott as Cricket Coach. These famous cricketers changed the old order of things and the cricketing talent in Berbice caught the limelight.

It is a known fact that the services of Clyde Leopold Walcott had been retained to help push cricket on the sugar estates. Walcott’s expert coaching raised the standard of cricket in the county to such heights that young men from the Ancient County played a major part in our winning the 1956 Quadrangular Cricket tournament, the 1961 International Series and the 1964 Inter-territorial series. For this full marks must be given to Clyde Walcott who had undeniably left his impression upon the local scene.

Had Duncan McGregor Stuart been alive today he would have been 123 years old. He died on January 9, 1968 at the age of 82. I will always remember the grand “Old Man” for the sound leadership and untiring efforts he gave towards the promotion of cricket in the Ancient County.

What is perhaps most vivid in my mind is ‘Uncle Duncan’ as he was familiarly called, in khaki short pants throwing

his big straw hat in the air at the fall of a Demerara wicket.

He took a personal interest in the sunshine game, and was elected president of the Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC). It his first year in office, Berbice triumphed over Demerara in the Inter-county finals played in Essequibo, and I dare say that was the turning point in Berbice cricket. I wonder if I’ll ever see a picture of Duncan Stuart whenever I visit the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), office in Charlotte St, New Amsterdam.

It was in the Cinderella County that the mystery bowler, left-arm spinner Joe Ramdat dubbed the “Cobra” created havoc against the Demerarians with six for 25 in the first innings, and equally devastating in the second with seven for 13 to secure match-figures of 13 for 38, which is still the best effort by any bowler in the Inter-county tournament. In 2002, Berbice and West Indies right-arm leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo secured the best figures ever recorded since Inter-county cricket began in 1954. Nagamootoo’s nine for 31 against Demerara is a new record in the forty-eight-year-old tournament which, overhauled the previous best of seven for 13 by left-arm spinner Joe Ramdat in Demerara’s second innings in the 1954 inaugural match at Onderneeming, Essequibo. However, Ramdat’s sterling performance of 13 for 38 (match-figures), still remains unbeaten to this day. Nagamootoo could only muster up two wickets in the second innings to give him a tally of 11 wickets in the match.

One thing for sure, is that Berbice will continue to churn out players who will keep knocking at the door, be it youth, national or Test level. Cricket at the youth level is well structured and this augers well for the future. They should be able to upkeep the rich tradition of Berbice cricket. (SR).

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Berbice Cricket Board

Facts about Berbice Cricket (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24)

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The Berbice Cricket Board was founded in 1939 John Trim was the first Berbician to play Test Cricket in 1948 Berbice has produced 17 Test Cricketers The first Berbicians to play a One Day International Match were Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran and Rohan Kanhai – 05-09-1973 vs England Most Test appearance – 79 – Rohan Kanhai Most Test Runs – 6227 – Rohan Kanhai Most Test Centuries – 15 – Rohan Kanhai Most First Class Centuries – 87 – Alvin Kallicharran Most First Class Fifties – 160 – Alvin Kallicharran Most Test Cricketers produced by a Berbice club – 7 – Port Mourant Cricket Club Oldest Berbician to play Test Cricket – John Trim Youngest Berbician to play Test Cricket – Brandon Bess Most First Class Runs – 32,650 – Alvin Kallicharran Most First Class Catches – 323 – Alvin Kallicharran Most First Class Matches Played – 505 – Alvin Kallicharran Most Test Wickets Taken – 39 (up to February 2012) Devindra Bishoo Best Test Bowling Figure 5 for 34 – Basil Butcher Most Regional Wickets - Mahendra Nagamootoo - 331 Most First Class Wickets – 370 – Mahendra Nagamootoo Highest Test Score -256 – vs India – Rohan Kanhai Highest First Class Score – 263 Not Out – Clayton Lambert Best First Class Bowling Figure – 7/76 – Mahendra Nagamootoo Albion was the venue for the first ODI to play in the Caribbean – 1977 vs Pakistan Berbicians to score Test Centuries – Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Soloman, Roy Fredericks, Alvi Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan and Clayton Lambert Berbicians to score Double Centuries in Tests: Rohan Kanhai 256 and Basil Butcher 209 not out

75th Anniversary (1939-2014)

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Rohan Kanhai’s

Batting will be cherished forever It

would be difficult to imagine a more entertaining batsman than Rohan Bholalall Kanhai. Quick of eye and foot, he times the ball almost perfectly when executing a wide variety of strokes, some of which border upon the audacious and at his best he can master the most formidable bowlers, with a savage yet essentially civilized assault, but he also possess the skill, the defense and the

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Berbice Cricket Board

concentration to make a five hour Test century.

There is always some eastern flavoring in his batting, especially in his more delicate strokes, like a late cut of a surgeon performing a highly skilled operation.

Born on Boxing Day, December 26, 1930 on a sugar estate at Port Mourant, in what was then British Guiana, to which colony his grand parents emigrated from India, he is slightly built and stands only 5’ 7”.

Throughout Rohan Kanhai’s career, whether at county or Test level, he was in the midst of great players, and it speaks volumes for his own ability that he sparkled as brightly as the gems around him.

Like most cricket inhabitants of the West Indies, he took to cricket as a matter of course at an early age. At the age of eight, he was in the team at the local Roman Catholic School as wicket-keeper and batsman.

In common with all school boys in that part of the world (British Guiana), he played without gloves and pads and wondered why West Indian batsmen were less addicted to pad play than players of other countries.

During his four years at school, he made tons of runs for the school and captained in his last season without putting together a century. Though receiving no coaching, he advanced steadily, hitting his first three figures innings for Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) at sweet sixteen. Through studying the methods of leading players in 1954, he graduated into county matches, so attracting the attention of the colonial authorities.

He appeared for Everest Cricket Club (ECC), then East Indian Cricket Club (EICC), under Dr. Ali Shaw in the Case Cup competition-symbol of first class cricket supremacy in Georgetown. He gained a big place on the British Guiana (BG) team in 1954 at age nineteen in the match against Ian Johnson’s Australian touring team, scoring 51 and 27.

“After making the team as a batsman, I shocked paceman Keith Miller by clouting 51 runs, cross-bat and all…something Keith Miller did not enjoy at all,” Kanhai recalls.

“Keith Miller…got a bit upset at the way a green, raw 19-year-old country lad was making a fool of the cricket manuals during the Aussies triumphant tour of the West Indies back in 1955. Miller was bowling his big out swingers and I was clouting them regularly to the square

leg boundary. Nobody told me I shouldn’t do it-that I was committing a batsman’s biggest sin by hitting across the ball. Big Keith was completely flummoxed. He knew the answer to every trick in the book, but I wasn’t playing by the rules. The madder he got the more I innocently pulled him to the fence. I piled up a fair old 51. I was a relatively new boy in the British Guiana (BG) side that tackled the Aussies at Bourda that day. At a party after the match, Basil Butcher, Ivan Madray and I were together and Miller came up to me with a rueful grin, wagged an accruing finger and said, ‘The next time you play a shot like that, kid, I’ll put a kick in your ass.’ Perhaps I should have taken his warning but I feel it was a pity to change when I was getting a few runs. And I haven’t change, you know!” That was Kanhai’s first first-class match. But such was the spirit of the man-absolute fearlessness, a virile native premonition that his untutored craft, his raw abandon, offered infinitely greater possibilities for acquiring beauty, giving joy, and enhancing experience, than the wooden unimaginative, security obsessed prodding’s of many post-War English batsmen. Kanhai’s art was an extension of his temperament-mercurial, volatile perhaps, but never dull!

Thence forward, he did not look back. In 1956, he distinguished himself by hitting 129 from the Jamaican bowling and 195 against Barbados in the Quadrangular cricket tournament, following with innings of 62 and 90 in the first two trials played to help in the selection of the party to tour England in the summer of 1957.

Like other West Indian batsmen that year, he did not produce the best form in England where he aggregate in the five Tests amounted to 206 runs. Kanhai opened the batting and kept wicket in his first three matches. Yet, he had top-scores twice, which proved that the promise he had shown in the preceding inter-colonial series was very much alive. No batsman topped 40 in the averages.

Collie Smith was first with 28.88.

C.L.R. James, perhaps the finest of all professional writers on cricket saw the whole series. This is how he assessed Kanhai’s performance, “West Indies were scrambling for openers and much of this responsibility was thrown on Kanhai. He bore it without disgrace, with spasms of alternate toughness and brilliance, which we later learned were fundamentals of his character.”

Although in 1957 it was the failure of the Three Ws; Weekes, Worrell and Walcott to repeat the victorious cavalry charge of 1950, through such burdens fell on Sobers, Kanhai and Collie Smith.

Rohan Kanhai (150) and Gary Sobers (152) walk out to the middle after tea, on their way to a 250run partnership in the fifth Test, against England at Bourda on 28 March 1968.

Credit: http://www.guyana-cricket.com

‘And how the gods look From within this little man Power, Grace, Majesty in Collective divinity’ …a fragment from ‘Heaven’ MacDonald Dash on Kanhai (1963) But the future batsman was there to be discerned.

This is what Lord Constantine said in the summer of 1964: “There is Kanhai. You know at times he goes crazy.

Some batsmen play brilliantly sometimes, at ordinary times they go ahead as usual. That on (nodding at Kanhai) is different from all of them. On certain days before he goes into the wicket he makes up his mind to let them have it. And once he is in that mood nothing can stop him. Some of his colleagues in the pavilion,

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 11

Rohan Kanhai’s Batting will be cherished forever who have played with him for years, see strokes which they have never seen before, from him or anyone else.

He carries on that way for 60, 70 or 100 runs and then he comes back with a great innings behind him.”

Kanhai had found his way into new regions Bradman never knew. It was not only the technical skill and strategic generalship that made the innings the most that I have seen. There was more to it to be seen as well as felt. Bradman was a ruthless executioner of bowlers.

All through the demanding innings Kanhai grinned a grin that could be seen a mile away.

In the first three Tests with England, he kept wicket in preference to Alexander in order to strengthen the batting; but since he has seldom figured behind the stumps, preferring to concentrate upon run getting.

In the next three English summers, Kanhai played for Aberdeen in the Scottish League, in 1961 he assisted Milnow and in 1962 Blackpool, both in the Lancashire League.

Between these professional engagements, he appeared regularly for the West Indies. He figure in all five home Tests with Pakistan in 1958. He played five times against India and three times against Pakistan in 1958-59 hitting 256, his most cherished performance, mastering Gupte of course, at Calcutta and getting the better of Fazal Mahmood at Lahore with a classic 217. During that tour he scored 1,518 runs made at an exceptional average of 53.35.

In 1959-60, he played in all five Tests against England, batting six hours, eighteen minutes for 110 in a vain effort to save the match at Port-of-Spain. He struck the off-spinner David Allen for a six and a four in one over.

The writer/commentator E.W.Swanton commented, “I will swear that on each occasion the force of the blow caused Kanhai to leave the ground on both feet.”

Dennis Compton captured the right mixture of awestruck wonder and genuine delight which Kanhai evoked with a particular stroke in even its earliest stages, before he perfected it into a spectacle that crowds waited to see whether he strode to the crease.

A year later, Kanhai participated in the epic tour to Australia where in five Tests he hit 505 runs, average 50.30 scoring 117 (in just over two hours), and 115 in the drawn third Test at Adelaide.

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“On certain days before he goes into the wicket he makes up his mind to let them have it. And once he is in that mood nothing can stop him”

‘The triumphant fall’: Kanhai swing himself off his feet

With the aid of 252 against Victoria he headed the West Indies batting figures for first-class matches with an aggregate 1,093-a record for the West Indies batsman in Australia and an average of 62.24. In the West Indies at 70.71 an innings and in England the next year scored 497 in the five Tests.

By 1968, Rohan reached the crossroads of his career.

There were many who felt he had finished at the highest level but he was out to prove them all wrong with an outstanding series against England in the Caribbean, a renaissance which proved to be as complete as Tom Graveney’s. Nothing was more impressive than the way he withstood a barrage of speed in the West Indies first innings at Sabina Park, Jamaica on a pitch where the ball behaved unpredictably. His technique in stopping the shooter and his impressive manner in which he accepted the physical battering was both an exhibition of batting, skill and courage.

This Kanhai comeback was largely due to a gradual change in outlook because the ability was always there.

Originally, his character, like his batting was inclined to

flashes of impetuosity but he grew up. This enabled him to rethink and control the occasional outburst both on and off the field. A wiser, tolerant and more generous person emerged to delight cricket lovers everywhere.

For his success, Kanhai says he owes a tremendous amount to Frankie Worrell, whose advice has helped him to an incalculable degree since he set foot on his first class cricket. He recalls with amusement, however, how he got his first trial for British Guiana (BG).

Four players (Kanhai, Basil Butcher, left-arm spinner Joe “Cobra” Ramdat, and the late Ivan Madray) were available to fill the last two spaces and it was decided to settle the problem by drawing two names from a hat.

Kanhai was unsuccessful, but the following morning he was called up to play, for one of the players, Joe Ramdat had twisted an ankle.

Mr. Duncan Stuart, President of the Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC), and one who had done extremely well for the promotion and upliftment of cricket in the Ancient County, knocked at Kanhai’s door to inform him that the “Cobra” Joe Ramdat had twisted an ankle. “Would you go to Georgetown? He wanted to know. “I would have walked the whole 90 miles if he had asked me to.”

The most difficult decision of his life, he says, was when he pulled a hamstrung muscle before the second Test at Melbourne in 1960-61. The doctor said he spent a sleepless night bemoaning his misfortune. Next morning, he approached Frank Worrell, the skipper and said that if the captain was willing he would turn out. Worrell decided to take the chance, and Kanhai obliged with a dashing 84 and 25. A knee injury troubled him for much of the tour to England and a specialist advised him that he would be taking a calculated risk if he appeared at the First Test at The Oval. It was suggested that if he wished to put his limbs right, then an immediate operation would be advisable. Again, Kanhai decided to play on, he hit 30 and 77 in seventy minutes which helped materially in a victory for the West Indies by eight wickets.

His sequence of sixty-one Test was broken only because he had to return to England for a cartilage operation.

He was immensely valuable to Warwickshire for ten years scoring 1,000 runs ten times, his aggregate being 1,894 runs (57.39); in 1970 and in 1972 he scored eight centuries to equal the county record. In 1968 at Trent Bridge against Nottinghamshire he added 402 with

Billy Ibadulla, a record for the Warwickshire’s fourth wicket (Kanhai made 253), and in 1974 put on a world record second-wicket stand of 465 with burly John Jameson against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston, his own contribution being 213 not out.

The final accolade to a wonderful career occurred in 1973, when the graying, much heavier, but still very active senator of West Indies cricket was invited to captain the West Indies against Australia. He led the West Indies for thirteen matches in three series.

Rohan Kanhai was the second Guyanese to do the honors after Maurius “Pacheco” Fernandes who had the distinction of being the first West Indian captain to lead his side to victory in a Test match against England at Bourda, in Georgetown in 1930.

Read the wisdom of that supreme mind, C.L.R. James: “Kanhai is the best I have ever seen. A stroke player of unparalleled genius, he is my post war, Headley, daring, dashing and debonair, dangerous and still defiant. Kanhai is the most complete batsman in modern times. He was equally competent in both spin and pace and could hit any bowler out of sight in the twinkling of an eye. Like Sobers, he is authentically West Indian in his manner of play and is a reference point when one talks about a West Indian batsman ship.

According to CLR “a great West Indian cricketer in his play should embody some essence of the vagueness which passes from the history of the West Indies. If like remarkable and individual contemporary batsman, then that should not make him less than West Indian. “You see what you are looking for, and in Kanhai’s batting what I have found is a unique pointer in the West Indies quest for identity, for ways of expressing our potential bursting at the seams.”

Perhaps the best expression of Kanhai’s genius came from Butcher in 1965. We were playing the Australians then, right in the Caribbean, and Butcher was having such a fine season that visiting writers declared that he (Butcher) must be counted then as among the four best batsmen in the world.

By comparison Kanhai had been having a lean time.

And, at a party during that time among cricketers and writers, Butcher was asked to give an assessment of Kanhai and remember that Frankie Worrell put Butcher at 4, to separate the genius at 3, and the brilliant Garry Sobers at 5. Butcher’s reply: “I often thought that I could

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 13

Rohan Kanhai’s Batting will be cherished forever bat as good as Sobers, but I never consider myself in Kanhai’s class…many strokes that Kanhai plays easily and naturally are which would be even risk.” That’s a fine note to end on.

One-day cricket was in its infancy as Kanhai’s career drew to a close, and he only played in seven Oneday Internationals. However, he went out on a high, appearing in the first World Cup Final at Lord’s in 1975 against Australia. He scored 55 in putting on a vital 149 with Clive Lloyd for the fourth wicket after West Indies had been struggling at 50-3. The West Indies went on to win by 17 runs.

An exciting, volatile right handed batsman, who hit the ball off the front foot as anyone of his time, there were few sights in cricket than watching Rohan Kanhai’s display the audacity of a true batting machine. His memories will be cherished forever. He scored 6,227 runs in 79 Tests between 1957 and 1975, at an average of 47.53. He crafted fifteen centuries and twenty-eight half centuries.

L-r: Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharan, and Dr. Cheddi Jagan

Together we will ensure that our baby is healthy!

We promise to ...

Get early prenatal care and go to every appointment.

Avoid alcohol, tobacco and other harmful substances during pregnancy.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet and take vitamins and iron supplements.

Use safe sexual practices during pregnancy.

You and your partner should get tested for HIV. Inform the midwife or doctor if you are HIV positive.

For more information Ministry of Health

14

Berbice Cricket Board

National AIDS Programme Secretariat

Supported by the Global Fund

call:

223-7138/9

The wicket keepers pose with the coaches after the Wicket Keepers Coaching Clinic

Albion Cricket Club- One of Berbice top cricket teams

Former BCB President, Malcolm Peters, honours Jason Holder of Barbados

Tribute to Retired Cricketers Programme

BCB Cricket Academy Top Students- 2012

BCB Batting Clinic

Training of Coaches Programme

Republic Bank Inter Zone Under-17 Tournament

Banks DIH Ltd sponsors Lights Beer 3-Day Inter Zone Tournament

Cricket gears for clubs in Berbice

Honouring Bobby Deonarine and Tom of Tenelec Inc.

2010 BCB Educational Awards Scheme

Annual Awards Ceremony 2011

Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets First Division Team

Donation of stumps to Upper Corentyne Cricket Association

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 15

I

was born on December 16th, 1946 at Port Mourant.

From 1959 to 1964, I attended Berbice High School in New Amsterdam Berbice. I represented Berbice High School in cricket from 1961 to 1964 and made a few centuries against B.E.I. After high school I taught at Belvedere Government Secondary School and one year later at the age of 18, I represented Berbice in an intercounty game against Essequibo in which I scored 106 runs.

In 1967 I was awarded a US government scholarship to study in the United States. I studied at Southern Illinois University and graduated with Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences in 1970. I returned home and taught at Central Corentyne Government Secondary, McKenzie High School and Comprehensive Secondary High School.

In 1971, I scored three centuries in my first three games in the Dawson Cup. This earned me a place in the Berbice cricket team led by Basil Butcher. I continued to play for Berbice until 1981. I played 13 years for Berbice, 9 of which were as the captain of the team. I took over the captaincy of the Berbice team from Alvin Kallicharran in 1973 against Demerara in the President’s Cup. During my captaincy the Berbice team won the Jones Cup in 1976, 1977 and 1980.

ROMAIN ETWAROO Berbice Captain 1973 – 1981

by Romain Etwaroo

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Berbice Cricket Board

As captain of the Berbice team I played against a number of teams which included Barbados which was led by the Sir Garfield Sobers, Pakistan Airlines lead by Hannif Mohamed, Hyderabad Blues led by Nawahab Pataudi, and teams from St Croix and Suriname.

I first played for Guyana Cricket team in 1973 and played until 1978. I scored two Shell Shield centuries, for I was not extremely talented however my success was due to hard work, discipline and dedication to the game. I knew what my limitations were and played within those limitations.

I must thank the Berbice Cricket Board, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Amsterdam, Mr. George, Mr. Hannif and Mr. Omwrow for putting their faith in me, an unproven captain to lead the Berbice team. Before leaving Guyana for the USA in 1986 I served both as a Berbice and Guyana selector. I want to offer my sincere thanks to the players who made major and immense contributions to the Berbice Cricket team’s victories. I must offer my thanks to players who made major contributions to the Berbice team victories. Over the years many different cricketers excelled at different time, among them R. Dooanauth, Kamal Singh, Hubern Evans, R. Solomon, D. Kallicharran, Leslaine Lambert, W. Benjamin, S. Ganouri, A. Ramcharitar, Tyronne Etwaroo, R. Ramnarace, and L. Munilall. However there was a group that was with me throughout my time as

captain and these cricketers were Leonard Baichan, S. Shivnarine, M. Pydana, K. Cameron, V. Johashen and Reginald Etwaroo. Their contributions to Berbice cricket were invaluable.

I must say thanks to my late mother, Rachael Etwaroo for keeping us all in line and insisting on academics and to my late father Thomas Etwaroo, who passed away when I was 18 years old, for giving me the freedom to play the game and follow my little dream. To my brothers; Ranji, Randolph, and Tyronne Ranjit and to my sisters, Francina and Mercia for always being there for each other. To my wife Sarujnie for being the rock upon which our immediate family is built. To my children Seeronie Rosanna and Richard, and my grandchildren; Rachel (8) and Samuel (2) – Thank you for making it all worthwhile.

BERBICE CRICKET BOARD Tribute to Retired Players Programme The Berbice Cricket Board under its Tribute to Heroes programme each year, honours outstanding former cricketers who played at the first and second division levels. Those honoured over the years were selected based on performance on the cricket field, status as a role model for youths and personal discipline.

Some of my proudest moments in cricket are 1) First inter-county game in 1965 in which I made 106 runs against Essequibo at Bourda, 2) First game for Guyana against Combine Island in 1973 which was led by Rohan Kanhai), 3) Scoring 302 runs in a Dawson Cup in 1973 against Skeldon Cricket Club, 4) My first Shell Shield century in 1974 versus Barbados, 5) Captain of the Berbice which won the Jones Cup after a 13 year drought against Demerara.

I would also like to take the time to say thank you to Mr. Hilbert Foster for affording me this opportunity to write this brief article of my time as captain of the Berbice Cricket team.

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Adrian Amsterdam – Blairmont Leonard Baichan – Rose Hall, Canje Sydney Jackman – Upper Corentyne Edmond Gravesande – West Berbice Moses Samlall – Blairmont Moses Jaipaul – Bermine Jaipersaud Hardeo – Mount Sanai Inderpaul Mohan – RHTYSC/Chesney Lawerence Bahabeer – Police Godfrey Mendonca – Kildonan Raymond Haniff – RHTYSC Randolph Latcha – Port Mourant Rampersaud Ramcharitar – Albion Patrick Haynes – Kildonan Micheal Hyles – Upper Corentyne Sohan Rabindranauth – Rose Hall, Canje Winston Benjamin – Bermine George Paddy – RHTYSC Desmond Fraser – RHTYSC Jude Ramkissoon – Sisters/East Bank Jaikarran Balchand – West Berbice/Bushlot Mahadeo Latchmanen – Chesney Hemant Jagdeo – Upper Corentyne Milton Pydana – West Indies ODI Player Bobby Deonarine – Overseas Donor Oscar Ramjeet – Former Secretary Sam Suchit - PMCC

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 17

Stanford T/20 win, was the best night of my life says Carl Moore

M

any take positions for personal gain but Carl Evan Moore stands out like a shining beacon in a dark stormy night for his selfless contribution to youth development through cricket.

John F Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States said, ‘Ask not what your Country can do for you but what can you do for your Country’ and Moore, a 62 year-old Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) executive from Berbice exemplifies those words.

CARL EVAN MOORE

a shining beacon in a dark stormy night...

By Sean Devers 18

Berbice Cricket Board

Long before he became a Millionaire on Sunday August 13, 2006 when Guyana won the inaugural Stanford Regional 20/20 cricket tournament, Moore was using his own money and soliciting donations to keep the youths in his area occupied with cricket and away from crime, drugs and other social ills.

In fact, Moore (who single-handedly keeps the 5 teams from Tucber Park functioning) nearly lost his house due to financing the Tucber Park teams and players after taking over the club in 1998. His son Julian, who represented Guyana at the under-15 level in 2000 (he now Berbice Head Coach and a National Junior selector) had just joined Tucber Park and being there was an influencing factor for his father’s involvement.

For a man who never played cricket at any level but spent the last 30 years involved in the sport as an administrator, his story is inspiring.

Moore was elected Assistant Treasurer of the BCB in 1984. In 1993 he quite his job as Assistant Town Clerk at the Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam and worked full time with the BCB for a small monthly stipend. His countless hours spent at the BCB Office and cricket grounds, even as his family life suffered, emphasized an almost fanatical commitment to local cricket development.

Imagine the pressure on Moore to make his wife, whom he eloped with in 1977 and who is not a cricket fan understand why he spends so much time and money on

cricket, especially when he can afford to live comfortable away from a game which is presently causing more distress than joy for West Indians.

The Stanford millions provides his family with things they once only dreamed of but his wife still ponders why Moore is unable to spend more time at home instead of running around the Caribbean (as Manager of the Guyana youth and later senior teams), ensuring his Tucber Park youths are practicing in the afternoons or journeying to Georgetown for Guyana Cricket Board meetings.

A humble individual, Moore still rides his bicycle (he has a car which his son drives) collecting scores to do reports for the media. He served as Senior Team Manager from 2003-2007. Moore was to my mind the most efficient and best Competitions Committee Chairman when he served the GCB in that capacity. He was replaced when Politics began to contaminate the Board.

With the help of donations and his own money, Moore, the Chairman of the BCB Competitions Committee helps to finance the studies and up-keep of many youths in New Amsterdam, sometimes unknowing to his wife.

“I hope she does not read this part,” Moore said with a laugh, adding that seeing young talent blossom and knowing that he might have saved a life through sports, keeps him going.

He keeps the sponsors of Berbcie cricket happy by faxing his hand-written stories (which he writes late at night) to the Media.

Moore’s story proves that once you do good God inevitably rewards you. Even when funds were low and life was a struggle providing for a wife and 2 little boys, Moore would spend ‘more than he had’ on ‘a bag of buns and some home made drink’ for his young team or passage for them to get to the ground for a match, never once thinking that cricket would make him a millionaire.

“Winning the Stanford 20/20 was the best night of my life…I cried openly with the boys… these were tears of joy. The money changed my whole life and I can’t describe the pride I felt in being a part of something special…something historic for Guyana. I think the Stanford victory, at a time when crime was on a high and people were losing hope in many aspects of life, brought Guyanese together in a big way. I believe everyone in Guyana who had access to a TV watched that final and when we got home the feeling of national unity and pride was unforgettable,” Moore remembered.

After receiving the Stanford windfall many, not genuinely interested in the game, would have forsaken cricket to enjoy their personal life, especially at a time when Moore sadly admits that ‘the game is not what it used to be’.

Why do I keep doing this? I don’t know…I guess the satisfaction is seeing the young players not only play for Berbice or Guyana but become better people. When I see that…even with one of them…. I know I have not been wasting my time. I am getting old and I can no longer stay up late at nights to do reports for the papers…I try to do them in the morning or during the day….and I know that I cannot continue to do this forever. It’s becoming taxing but I grew up poor and I want these youths to have a chance at a better life. Cricket is their talent, they need someone to help them,” Moore reasoned.

Moore says if you did not grow up poor it would be hard to understand what it feels like to know that you don’t have to wonder where your next meal is coming from or how will the bills be paid.

“The 20/20 win has allowed me to be really thankful to cricketer and the hard work all of the players put in to make it happen. I am now comfortable and contented financially….that’s a great feeling to have…..and this allows me to put more effort on our youth teams.

Working with youngsters gives you a chance groom them….to mold them….and then see the difference you make,” Moore said.

“As Manager of the senior team it is more about getting them to work together as a team and trying to focus on the mental aspects of their cricket. I enjoy being able to rub shoulders with the Chanderpauls and Sarwans and making a contribution to Guyana’s cricket,” the former National team Manager added.

It’s very difficult -even for a millionaire- to sustain a cricket club. Moore says that while the youth players sometimes help with their traveling expenses to attend matches, he would never ask them (many are poor) to pay subscriptions. The Club has the use of the Berbice High School ground but have to pay for its maintenance while lunches and balls on match days cost money.

“If you ask some of the boys for $200 for a match you might never see them again and that talent would be lost. I tell the boys that what I am doing is not for me but to see them play for Berbice and Guyana. I can’t describe the feeling I get when I see that happen and how frustrating it is when you see talented youngsters not willing to work hard or train on their own,” Moore said.

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 19

CARL EVAN MOORE a shining beacon...

Moore worked as a Clerk at the N/A Town Council and was later promoted to Cashier, Senior Clerk, Accountant, Treasurer and Acting Town Clerk from 1986-1993 when he quite after being overlooked for the appointment of Town Clerk.

He worked briefly in Insurance in 1994 but Moore said he was never really interested in looking for a job since cricket took up the bulk of his time.

“As you could imagine, my wife was not too pleased with my decision to make cricket my priority since I was only getting a small stipend from the Board. I must have been half crazy at that time but cricket has repaid me.

Cricket administrator Carl Moore (right) honoured for his contribution to cricket development.

Photo Source: http://www.guyanatimesgy. com/2014/09/02/bcb-honours-past-test-players

While Moore was afforded the opportunity of traveling the Caribbean as Guyana team Manager and earned a reasonable salary from that job, he says he most enjoys the role he plays in local competitions.

“I believe that apart from Coaches, competitions play the biggest role developing players since the more cricket you play the more experienced you become. I believe that is a major reason why Essequibo struggle although there are many talented players there. If there is not more cricket…. especially 2- innings matches…. things will not improve,” Moore opined. Although it was 20/20 cricket which brought him fortune he is not a big fan of that type of the game for the young players developmental and says those now learning the art of batting and especially spin bowling should be allowed to play two-innings cricket.

Moore, who has one brother from his mother’s side and 10 siblings from his father’s side, grew up in New Amsterdam but moved to Georgetown in 1965 when his mother (a mid-wife) was transferred to the City. He spent 8 months in G/Town and attended the Tutorial High School for 6 months before re-locating to Bush Lot Village, Corentyne when his mother was again transferred.

In 1977, a 25-year-old Moore met his wife and eloped to New Amsterdam to get married after serving as a Maths, English and History Teacher at the Corentyne Comprehensive School.

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Berbice Cricket Board

Moore says he was always a big cricket fan and in 1984 Moore got involved with cricket through the late Leslie Amsterdam.

“We worked together at the Town Council and since Leslie was a Guyana selector and West Indies team Manager at that time and I loved cricket, we had lots of arguments about cricket. He told me he would pull me into the Board but I did not take him seriously until I heard of my appointment as Assistant Treasurer on the News.

Moore has been a BCB official since then and became Competition Committee Chairman in the early 2000s after serving as Assistant Secretary in 1987. He was the BCB Secretary from 1992-2007.

Moore informed that after Guyana’s 20/20 victory he told the BCB that he would no longer accept the stipend which could be used for something else and explained that he got involved in writing cricket reports in 1987 after one of the major sponsors complained about the lack of publicity for their competition.

“I contacted (the late) Nicola Cave (Hunt) from Chronicle and she was very helpful. I soon began doing the stories myself. In those days the Georgetown Media did not cover cricket in Berbice so I had to make sure the news got out. It’s a lot of work since we have more cricket here (Berbcie) than anywhere else in Guyana but I love what I do. It can be very frustrating and disappointing when you write out all the scores and then nothing appears in the papers. I do this for the youngsters and the sponsors since I don’t get paid for it,” Moore revealed.

The affable and hard working Moore was considered the backbone of the BCB and got involved at the GCB level from attending meetings as a Berbcie delegate in the days when the Demerara clubs controlled Guyana’s cricket.

After the constitution was changed in 1991 to allow

more voting power to clubs in Berbice and Essequibo, Moore was elected as Competitions Committee Head when Larry Ganpatsingh migrated.

Moore is pleased with the number of players from his club to represent Guyana at junior level and he is especially proud of pacer Jeremy Gordon who is still the only player from Tucber Park to graduate to first-class level.

He is however disappointed that the club’s Women’s team, which produced present National female player Tremaine Smartt, is no longer functioning due to the lack of female club cricket. He is hopeful that Women’s club cricket will be re-introduced if the women’s version of the game is to develop locally.

“Julian is soon to get his level 2 Coaching certificate and Tremaine is a level 1 Coach so now we have 2 qualified coaches in the club to help the kids,” Moore informed.

Until recently Moore usually awoke at 05:15 and on weekends goes to the BHS ground with his team around 06:00hrs to prepare the pitch before organizing lunch and balls for the game if Tucber Park is hosting.

Very approachable and passionate about cricket, Moore says the decline in Guyana and West Indies cricket has

a lot to do with the changing attitudes of the young generation and the lack of commitment to discipline, hard work and the understanding of what it means to represent your county or country. He feels money is now a bigger influence than pride and says the absence of the older players at clubs, contribute to the problem.

He says the cricket board is also not faultless with some officials more interested in position than the work they do.

“Although the boys (Michael and Julian) are both big now, I try to spend time with the family” said Moore, who is an avid collector of old movies and a ‘big’ reader.

He actually bought a Movie guide book in Jamaica a few years ago with 17,000 of the world’s best movies and hopes to eventually own all of them.

While he is careful not to exhaust his Stanford money on cricket, helping the youngsters develop is in his blood and his job is not yet done.

In an age where selfishness and self preservation are becoming normal characteristics of most people, Carl Moore is one of the most genuine people I have ever met.

Ms. Divya Sieudarsan, giving prizes to members of the Rose Hall Cricket team, on behalf of Gizmos and Gadgets.

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 21

DEVENDRA BISHOO

Excelling in all three formats of cricket

by Clifton Ross

O

ne would think after being dropped in the middle of a first-class cricket tournament due to below par form simply means that the expiration of one’s career is more or less near, but not Devendra Bishoo. Not this hungry, determined cricketer who endured the highs and lows of International cricket and despite those obstacles managed to claw his way back to the top of his game and carve his name in Regional cricket’s history books when he snared figures of 15 for 149, the best ever by a Guyanese bowler.

Ending the 2014 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional 4-day tournament with 28 wickets from 5 matches with an average of 18.39 and an economy rate of 2.56 also recording his second 10-wicket haul along with capturing 200 first-class wickets are measurements of a dominant force with the red cricket ball. From pretty ordinary performances, some good some bad, it is mere guts and self-belief which

22

Berbice Cricket Board

leads an individual to yield figures of such supremacy.

Touted as a youngster with heaps of talent and variation due to his ability to attack batsmen with his leg-spin, Bishoo first began to write his name in the major league cricket books during the 2010 Caribbean T20 tournament where he captured 10 wickets from 4 matches with a stingy average of 8.20 which earned him the Man-of-the-series award.

West Indies 7-run win.

A solid performer in the first-class arena, Bishoo stamped his authority with a 7-wicket haul against the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) where he grabbed 5 for 29 in the first innings and 2 for 18 in the second innings. He captured his first of two 10-wicket hauls in a match, when he picked up 10 wickets against Barbados playing on his home ground of Albion.

Following a dismal from the Aussie tour, this onetime new face of West Indies leg-spin who bamboozled the world’s best batsmen soon found himself fighting to keep his place in the side after selectors decided to have him endure a West Indies ‘A’ team stint in order to regain his buoyancy, as spinner.

Bishoo went on to represent Guyana Amazon Conquers in the Champions League T20 competition, capturing 5 wickets with a best of 3/29 against the popular Mumbai Indians team where he accounted for the dismissals of Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, current Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan and India and IPL batsman Saurabh Tiwary.

Bishoo’s boyhood dream of donning the maroon colors finally came to past when an unfortunate injury to West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo occurred during the 2011 ICC World Cup in India where he was called up as a replacement.

Making his international debut against the English, the right-arm bowler quickly acclimatized to the subcontinent conditions and soon grabbed his golden opportunity, picking up 3-34 from his 10 overs and once again showing his uncanny knack for removing big name players as he sent the trio of Jonathan Trott, Eoin Morgan and Luke Wright packing.

His 4-17 against Pakistan in his debut T20 international showed his rapid adaptation to the various formats of cricket, especially against good oppositions which soon saw him rocket into the Test side the same year.

Making taking wickets a habit on his debut, Bishoo snared 4-68 against the Pakistanis at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, playing a pivotal role in

After excelling in all three formats of cricket, Bishoo was named the 2011 ICC Emerging Player, however, during the series against Australia the following year, Bishoo’s notoriety fell under the radar after he ended his lone Test in Australia with 1 wicket and conceded 125 runs.

A spin clinic facilitated by former Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq in 2013 aimed at perfecting the art of slow bowling saw Bishoo enjoying a productive stint as he moved forward in his quest to once again represent the West Indies.

He noted to Stabroek Sport reporter Clifton Ross, “I enjoyed the camp with Saqlain. I benefitted a lot from it. He told me to keep believing in myself and to be discipline,” adding that working with Mushtaq was a defining moment for his career and the legendary spinner instilled in him that hard work and belief is the key.

Following the clinic Bishoo returned to the local scene where he entered a stage of his life where he appeared more confident than ever. He first helped his county Berbice to retain the 4-day inter-county title, courtesy of his sterling performances with the ball where he accounted for a few 5-wicket haul as well as flexing his muscles with the bat.

An important cog in the team’s successful Regional NAGICO Super 50 tournament where they advanced to the semi-final stages, the still hungry Bishoo endured a relatively normal patch in the longer 4-day tournament before etching his name in the bowling books of the Caribbean.

Guyana’s poor performance in the 4-day saw them

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 23

EVENDRA BISHOO Excelling in all three formats of cricket finishing last on the points table and also saw the country’s best players including Bishoo being dropped and then eventually recycled as selectors searched for a winning combination. However the desire to lead ones team and one’s self to the top requires more heart than pride.

In the last round playing against familiar foes Trinidad and Tobago in Guyana’s backyard at the Providence National Stadium, the leg-break bowler was then recalled due to a few players contracting the flu bug, this time the 28 year-old conjured up his first batch of wizardry when he grabbed 9 for 78 in the first innings.

The second outing was as abundant as the first for Bishoo who then bagged 6 for 71 from 22.4 overs recording his 12th 5-wicket career haul to finish with a record 15 for 149, the best by any Guyanese bowler, trailing the likes of Barbados’ Ryan Hinds (15-102), St Kitts’ Deryck Parry (15-101) and Trinidad’s Rajendra Dhanraj (16-167) who were the other bowlers to achieve the feat of 15 wickets or more.

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Berbice Cricket Board

When Stabroek Sport’s Clifton Ross, who was privileged with signing the record breaking ball after the match, asked Bishoo his thoughts on defying the odds of his career, going through a tough period and effectively reestablishing himself as Guyana’s premier leg-spinner, the confident Berbician simply said, “You have to work hard. It has not been easy for me.

After games I come home and do extra work on my bowling. After being dropped I didn’t think I was going to play back for the remainder of the tournament, but I rather it came late than never,” he said referring to the cluster of wickets he managed to capture in just one match.

Believing that his hard work will pay off in the future, Bishoo gave special thanks to persons who worked with and believed in him and extolled his 15 wickets as a good feeling and will now use his refined form and confidence in order to once again don the West Indian colors.

A Glimpse of the History of

Port Mourant Cricket

by Romain Etwaroo

I

n the observance of the 75th anniversary of the Berbice Cricket of Control, I was asked to write a brief article on the history of Port Mourant Cricket Club. I was also asked to write a brief synopsis of my stint as captain of the Berbice team (1973- 1981). Please note that the statements made here are from memory for I have very limited access to records. Some facts and figures were taken from Mortimer George’s book, “A time in our history – Berbice Cricket”.

It seemed that cricket was always played at Port Mourant for in 1948 John Trim was the first player from Port Mourant to represent the West Indies. In the mid 50s four players emerged from Port Mourant and their success at both the county and national levels propelled them into the West Indies team. If you are from that era, you’ll remember Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon and Ivan Madray. These men have made Port Mourant proud.

In the mid to late 50s the Port Mourant Community Center was built and this allowed the people of Port Mourant to play not only cricket but also volleyball, soccer and table tennis. At this time a girls’ club was also built and the building also housed a library. Both young and old has somewhere to go and something to do in the evenings and weekends.

The 60s was not very kind to us, for we thought that Port Mourant would automatically produce test players as it did in the previous decade; however this was not the case. Many played for Berbice and Guyana; among them were Basil Mohabir, Randolph Ramnarace, Isaace Surinarine, Charles Bissoon and Burlin Saheed. Many felt that Randolph Ramnarace should have played for the West Indies. His father, Rex Ramnarace, played a vital role in Port Mourant’s

history, for he captained the Berbice team and was a Guyana Selector.

The 1970s saw the reemergence of Port Mourant Cricket. During this time the Bristol Cup (45 overs) and the Rothman’s Cup (40 overs) were the two national limited over games played. Port Mourant played in seven finals, wining four and losing three.

Cecil Jagnandan lead the Port Mourant to the first two wins and I, Romain Etwaroo was captain of the team for the next two wins.

In 1972, Alvin Kalicharran became the 6th test player from Port Mourant. He scored a century in his first test innings at Borda against New Zealand. Alvin also scored a test century in his second test match in Trinidad against New Zealand.

Over the years, Port Mourant continued to produce both county and national players, among them were Gopie Beasmanie, R. Solomon, Derrick Kallicharran, Romain, Reginald and Tyronne Etwaroo, Deonarine Persaud, David Fingal, Arjune Nandu, Andre Percival, Randolph Latcha, Homchan Pooran, Zamal Khan and the Nagamotoo brothers, Mahendra and Vishal.

Port Mourant also produced a number of players who represented the West Indies youth team to name a few Gopie Beasmanie, Tyronne Etwaroo, Deonarine Persaud, Arjune Namdu, Raday Solomon, Andre Percival, Mahendra Nagamotto, Vishal Nagamotto, Zamal Khan and Homchand Pooran.

In 2000 Mahendra Nagamotto, nephew of Alvin Kallicharran became the 7th player from Port Mourant to represent the West Indies. His first match was against England.

Amidst some adversities a few individuals stuck with the Club, Manohar Pooran (Suchitt) held the boys together for in the mid 1900s the Port Mourant team won three consecutive Bristol cups. Deonarine Persaud captained the first of the three whereas Rajendra Sadeo captained the other two games.

Recently the Sugar Estates took over the running of the community center. Godfrey Persaud among others is trying to raise the standards of Port Mourant Cricket once again. This would be a difficult task but we can always hope that we can again return to the glorious days of 50s, 60s, 70s and 90s. They will need much help so I am asking all former Port Mourant players who are living in North America to support the players at home in any form they can, financial support will be a great start. In the late 1960s someone wrote, “Cricket is our nation’s game of games, born in our soil and soul”.

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 25

ALVIN KALLICHARRAN Timing and Exemplary Footwork were the Hallmarks of his Batting

By Sean Devers

O

ne of 17 Berbicians to wear the Maroon West Indies Cap in Test Cricket and one of seven from the famous Port Mourant club, Alvin Isaac Kallicharran proves that good things, in fact great things, come in small packages. Standing just 5′4″, Kallicharran’s strength, despite a diminutive size, was his magnificent timing and exemplary fo o t w o r k a s h e g l o r i o u s l y demonstrated by dishing out a sound beating on hostile Australian fast bowlers Dennis Lillie and Jeff Thompson in the 1975 World Cup. He plundered a merciless 78 with 14 fours and one six from only 83 deliveries and took on Lillie with several audacious hooks and pulls.

Alvin Kallicharran goes after Dennis Lillee during his 78, Australia v West Indies, The Oval, World Cup 1975, June 14, 1975

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Berbice Cricket Board

It was one of the most spectacular innings in World Cup history.

But to many, Kallicharran’s best Test innings was his elegant 158 against England in Trinidad in 1973-4. This fantastic exhibition of batting was controversially halted at 142 when he was run out by Tony Greig who threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end. Kallicharran was given out by Umpire Douglas Sang Hue only to be reinstated next morning.

The left-hander watched Bernard Julien defend the last ball of the first day before walking down the pitch towards the pavilion never having returned to his crease after backing up. But a protest the next day provided the Berbician, who, in 66 Tests scored 4,399 runs at an average of 44.43, a welcome reprieve.

Kallicharran was one of several gifted Guyanese stroke-players who followed in the footsteps of fellow Berbice greats Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon and Roy Fredericks, making his Test debut against New Zealand at Bourda in 1972. He scored an even 100 in his first appearance before reaching a three-figure score in his second Test. The dashing leftie went on to plunder thousands of runs for Guyana, the West Indies and his English County side Warwickshire. He went on to score 12 tons and 21 fifties at Test level between 1972 and 1981 with his masterful 187 against India in 1978 being his highest Test score. He was just 13 short of a maiden double century when Kapil Dev trapped him LBW. Kallicharan was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1973 and was a member of the 1975 and 1979 championship winning World Cup teams led by Clive Lloyd. However, when Kallicharran joined Lawrence Rowe’s ‘rebel’ West Indian team to South Africa in 1983, his international career was all but over.

Born in Paidama, Berbice on March 21, 1949, cricket runs in the Kallicharran’s family’s blood. His brother Derek played First-Class cricket for Guyana and Young West Indies and later the United States of America while his Nephews Mahendra Nagamootoo and Vishal Nagamootoo both played first class cricket for Guyana with Mahendra, who holds the record for most wickets at the Regional First-Class level and also took 12 wickets from five Tests for the West Indies. His son Rohan also played a bit of cricket in Birmingham league in England.

Alvin Kallicharran Kallicharran scored 826 runs in ODIs at an average 34.41 when he first appeared in West Indies regional cricket in 1966, in the first Guyana Under-19 team, which played matches in Dominica, Barbados and Guyana. His brother Stanley Kallicharran was also in that team.

Kallicharran had poise, balance, orthodoxy, a full array of shots on either side of the wicket and was at his happiest away from the softer seaming pitches in England despite his success with County side Warwickshire. He attempt to join Packer stalled when it was discovered he had contravened a contract with a Queensland radio station but instead took on the captaincy of a second string West Indies team in 1978 when Lloyd resigned over the Packer issue.

He was later involved in more controversy when he led an unofficial ‘rebel’ tour to South Africa in defiance of the Gleneagles Agreement and anti-apartheid protestors in that country who asserted that official sporting structures were discriminatory. Banned by the WICB for his involvement in the Rebel Tour he spent the rest of his career playing for Orange Free State and Transvaal in South African domestic cricket The now 65-year-old Kallicharran lives in London and is involved in promoting cricket among the youths around the country. In 2011 he registered to join Boris Johnson’s army of 8,000 Olympic tour guides, to be known as “London Ambassadors.” About his

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 27

Alvin Kallicharran ... involvement as a tour guide he said: “I have travelled the world playing cricket. I know how important it is when you arrive in a foreign country to be greeted by friendly, well-informed and helpful local people. It’s this experience I’d like to bring to the Olympics.”

His lifelong interest in track and field was reignited when he moved to Britain just ahead of a golden era for athletics. He counts Steve Cram and London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe among his sporting idols.

A British resident for nearly 40 years, Kallicharran first lived in Birmingham before moving to London where he now lives in Greenford with his wife Patsy, who has also applied to be a volunteer. “It’s nice to contribute something because this country has been good to me.

I feel very much a Londoner and when something big happens like the Olympics you want to share in the excitement.” The former Test star said at the time.

playing for Berbice and Guyana, and then for the West Indies. As the story was told, Uncle Hindu used to offer a lot of financial assistance to Alvin after seeing his talent from childhood as a batsman. When Kalli was to travel to Georgetown to represent Guyana in a game, he missed the bus from Port Mourant early in the morning. It was Uncle Hindu who drove him so he could partake in the game and ‘Kalli’ shone with the bat to move up the ranks.

Uncle Hindu showed up at a Warwickshire game unannounced and when Alvin saw him, he (Alvin) was shocked and moved to tears. As told to me, Alvin announced to his team mates that he “owes his big break in cricket to Uncle Hindu. Without this man, I would not have been a cricketer here today and if he had not driven me in his Land Rover to my game when I woke up late and missed the bus, the world would not have seen me. I am very grateful to Uncle Hindu”.

Kallicharran, who was in Pakistan recently as the coach for the international world XI, said in 2012 he would definitely consider the position of batting coach for the national team if the Pakistan cricket board (PCB) made an offer.

According to North American based Guyanese writer Vishnu Bisram, people in England described ‘Kalli’ as being simple and humble, deep into his religion and family life, and driven by a passion to promote cricket.

Stories were told of his expressions of gratitude to those who encouraged and motivated him to play cricket.

In particular, one story was told of ‘Kalli’ publicly praising Tain resident Inderjeet Ramjee (popularly called Uncle Hindu, the shopkeeper) after a game at Warwickshire for helping him with his big break in

Kallicharran executing his favourite sweep against Derek Underwood, West Indies v. England, 1976.

Wicket keeper Knott is mesmerized by Kalli’s excellence

Batting and fielding averages Mat Tests 66 ODIs 31 First-class 505 List A 383

Inns 109 28 834 363

NO 10 4 86 36

Runs 4399 826 32650 11336

HS 187 78 243* 206

Ave 44.43 34.41 43.64 34.66

BF

SR

1329

62.15

100 12 0 87 15

50 21 6 160 71

6s 12

Econ 2.33 3.65

SR 4w 101.5 0 35.0 0

4.76

54.6

Ct 51 8 323 86

St 0 0 0 0

5w 0 0 1 1

10 0 0 0 0

Bowling averages Tests ODIs First-class List A

28

Mat 66 31 505 383

Inns 16 4

Balls 406 105 2294

Berbice Cricket Board

Runs 158 64 4030 1823

Wkts 4 3 84 42

BBI 2/16 2/10 5/45 6/32

BBM 2/16 2/10 6/32

Ave 39.50 21.33 47.97 43.40

0

Some Outstanding Administrators

2. Leslie Lennox Amsterdam

Born in Essequibo in 1934, he migrated to Blairmont, West Bank, Berbice at an early age.

He was first noticed as a talented left handed opening batsman captaining the Berbice Educational Institute Secondary School Team.

Leslie continues to distinguished himself representing Berbice County against the MCC in 1960 and E.W. Swanton team in 1961, encounters against Jamaica and Barbados at the Regional Level and against Demerara and Essequibo at the county levels where he captained Berbice in 1963. Playing against him as he captained Fort Canje Hospital Sports Club in the Senior Divisions competitions was always a challenge.

As an administrator of Berbice and Guyana cricket Leslie continued to display his genius performing in numerous key positions and giving service of an exceptionally high quality.

His positions were as follows:

BCB Vice President 1966, 1967 and 1968 BCB President – 1969 BCB 1st Vice President 1970 to 1986 BCB President 1987 to 1999 BCB Executive Member 1966 to 1999 Chairman of Selectors 1968 to 1998 Berbice Representative on Guyana Cricket Board 1968 to 1999 Vice President Guyana Cricket Board 1987 to 1999

of Berbice Cricket 1939 – 2014 Administrator’s Profile: 1. Duncan Mc Gregor Stuart

An officer of customs and excise and Caribbean cycling sprint champion, who distinguished himself as President of the Berbice Cricket Board of control for a number of years, serving during the late 1940’s to early 1950’s, then returning to serve from the middle 1950’s to the end of the decade, with both periods being when our #1 testite John Trim made his debut for the West Indies in 1948, followed by Rohan B. Kanhai, in 1957 and Ivan S. Madray, Basil Butcher and Joseph S. Soloman in 1958.

Stuart was popularly known as the president who would constantly get on his racer bicycle and travel along a treacherous road from New Amsterdam to Port Mourant to instruct our stars to immediately travel to Georgetown to participate in another important cricket match, he being compelled to get the message out, due to poor communication and commute.

His dedicated and inspired leadership and hard work during those early and most difficult times, truly elevated the organisation and the sport, to the extend that we had the phenomenon of Berbice county producing four test cricketers from Port Mourant Estate Cricket Club within a period of nineteen months, can we say that he and his administration were among those responsible? Yes, we can.

Leslie also served as Chairman of Selectors on the Guyana Cricket Board for a number of years and managed the West Indies Cricket team in the Caribbean in 1980.

His most tortured journey was a herculean effort during the later half of 1980, leading a team to fill the large chasm created due to the departure of key administrators and cricketers from the county mostly due to migration. His leadership was so highly exceptional that he was honoured by the Government of Guyana with the Golden arrow of Achievement.

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 29

Some Outstanding Administrators of Berbice Cricket 1939 – 2014 3. Victor Omrow

Born in Essequibo in 1938, he migrated to Georgetown where he represented Malteenos Sports Club in Senior Division Cricket under the leadership of Glendon Gibbs. He gained employment with weithing and Richters Spare Parts and Machinery Department as a salesman and was transferred during the early 1930’s as manager of the Berbice branch. Omrow joined the New Amsterdam Sports Club but soon changed to the Rose Hall Canje Welfare Center Cricket Club where he represented them in the Senior Division competition as a seam bowler and middle order batsman.

He served on the Berbice Cricket Board of Control as follows: Honorary Treasurer and Executive member 1965 and 1966.

Honorary Secretary and Executive member 1969 to 1975.

County Selector 1972 to 1975.

Berbice Representative on the Guyana Cricket Board 1969 to 1975.

County Selector 1972 to 1975.

Berbice Representative on the Guyana Cricket Board 1969 to 1975.

Representing Rose Hall Canje on the Berbice Cricket Board from 1965 to 1975, his service was dedicated and of an exceptionally high quality, crystallizing while performing as our Main Functionary Officer during the 1970 tour of Berbice by Garfield Sobers and his West Indies team, the 1971 Intikab Alam led.

Pakistan tour and numerous regional and Intercounty matches. He was also responsible for opening the first temporary Board Office in 1974.

Widely knowledgeable, and serving the organisation from 1965 to 1975, his service was long, dedicated, inspiring and of an exceptionally high quality. Indeed, he was a foundation layer.

4. Lennox Phillips

Lennox Phillips was born in Berbice in 1930. As a youth, he represented Youngsters Cricket Club in the Senior Division Davson Cup Competition.

A former Berbice Table Tennis Champion,

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Berbice Cricket Board

Lennox was also an outstanding football player and also represented Berbice at that sport.

In 1968 while serving as 1st Vice President of the Berbice Football Association, Lennox was approached by Berbice Cricket Board vice president Leslie Amsterdam and Ancel Hazel who invited him to serve on the board, and he accepted.

Employed as a manager of the Berbice Mining Enterprise, Lennox represented the Bermine Sports Club on the Berbice Cricket Board from 1968 to 1985, when he migrated to the United States of America.

While serving on the board, he held the following positions: 2nd Vice President and Executive member 1970 and 1971.

President and Executive member 1972 to 1985.

Berbice representative on the Guyana Cricket Board 1971 to 1985.

Vice President Guyana Cricket Board 1973 to 1985.

Acting President Guyana Cricket Board – part of 1978.

Berbice County Selector 1975 to 1985.

As the longest serving President, - 14 years – Phillips led the fight for increase representation, recognition, inclusion and respect for Berbice.

Starting with two representatives in 1968, Berbice had six in 1973, with the President being an automatic Vice President and the Selection Committee Chairman being an automatic selector on the Guyana Board. Regional Cricket last played in 1961 was returned to Berbice in 1972.

Phillips led a motivated team and with his union background, the liaison was good. His administration hosted the MCC when they opposed a Guyana 2nd XI at Rose Hall Canje, in 1974 and established a temporary Board Office. They also sent a Berbice County team to Suriname that year. Berbice hosted a Pakistan International Airlines team in 1975, sent a Berbice county team to St. Croix in 1978 and returned to Suriname in 1984. In addition to

hosting the first ODI ever played in the Caribbean at Albion in 1977, his administration hosted five more ODI matches there: 1979 World Series West Indies versus World series Australia, 1981 West Indies Versus England, 1983 West Indies versus India, 1984 West Indies versus Australia and 1985 West Indies versus New Zealand. In addition, Berbice hosted numerous Regional and county matches.

During his period as President, the Board made giant strides. Berbice became the dominant team at the county level and more of Berbice Players were being recognized and selected to the national teams. Berbice won the Intercounty President’s Cup in 1973 and the Jones Cup in 1976, 1977 and 1980. Making their test debut during this period were: Alvin I. Kallicharran 1972, Ganesh Dhanraj know as Leonard Baichan 1975, Sewdat Shivnarine 1978, Milton R. Pydanna – ODI only – 1980 and Leslaine Lambert West Indies A team 1981.

His service was efficient, long, dedicated and of an exceptionally high quality. Because of his achievements for Berbice Cricket, he is deeply loved and highly respected and appreciated by all. In 1985 he was the first president to be honoured with Life Membership on the Berbice Cricket Board.

U n d e r- 1 9 te a m w h i c h i n c l u d e d A l v i n Kallicharran. He managed numerous other Berbice County teams including the 1984 team to Suriname. He is the only member of the Berbice Cricket Board to have served in every effective position – President, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice President, Honorary Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.

He has performed as County Selector, Representative on the Guyana Cricket Board, Member of the Competitions Committee and every other committee ever formed.

An excellent contributor to any debate and always willing to serve, his service has been long, efficient dedicated and of an exceptionally high quality.

Migrating to the United States of America in 1989, he continued to serve and is responsible for the drafting of the last constitution. In 1986, he was the second President honoured by the Board with Life Membership.

5. Ancel Hazel

Born in Berbice in 1934, Ancel Hazel was a school teacher, headmaster and president of the Guyana Teacher’s Union.

He first came to notice as a young batsman and off spinner representing Berbice in the first Jones Cup Cricket Competition at Onderneeming, Essequibo in 1954.

Ancel continued playing and was appointed captain of Rose Hall Canje Welfare Center Cricket Club while also representing them on the Berbice Cricket Board. Because of his trememdous contribution he was appointed a special member during the 1980’s and proceeded to the presidency in 1986.

In 1966 Hazel managed Guyana’s first ever

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 31

One Day International Cricket Matches at

ALBION The matches played were: (A)

West Indies vs Pakistan West Indies won by four wickets.

Pakistan 176 for 7 in 45 overs – Asif Iqbal 59, Imran Khan 39, Colin Croft 3 for 50 and Joel Garner 3 for 27 West Indies 182 for 6 in 43.2 overs Roy Fredricks 44, Clive Lloyd 45 not out.

Safraz Nawoz 3 for 42

(B)

West Indies vs Australia (March 29th 1979) West Indies won by 6 wickets Captains: Deryck Murray (West Indies) Greg Campbell (Australia) Australia 209 for 7 off 50 overs. R.B. MC Cosker 89, Wayne Daniels 3 for 36 West Indies 212 for 4 off 44.2 overs Gordon Greenidge 95, I.V.A. Richards 53,

32

Berbice Cricket Board

“The famous Albion Cricket Ground created history when it hosted the first ever One Day International Cricket match in the Caribbean on the 16th March 1977. Clive Lloyd led the West Indies while all rounder Imran Khan captained Pakistan. The Albion Ground from 1977 to 1985 hosted six International matches, including a Kerry Packer World Series match between Australia and the West Indies. The West Indies won five of the matches and hosted one in 1983 against India.”

(C)

(D)

Len Pascoe 2 for 39 West Indies vs England (February 26th 1981) West Indies won by 6 wickets.

Captains: Clive Lloyd (West Indies) Ian Botham (England) England 137 all out in 47.2 overs – Mike Gattings 29, Ian Botham 27 and Peter Willey 21. Andy Roberts 2 for 17, Colin Croft 3 for 9 and Harry Bornes 3 for 30 West Indies 138 for 4 In 39.3 overs – Desmond Haynes 48, Everton Mattis 24, Harry Bornes 22 and Clive Lloyd 25. John Embarey 2 for 22 West Indies vs India (March 29th, 1983) India won by 27 runs.

Captains: Clive Lloyd (West Indies) Kapil Dev (India)

India 282 for 5 off 47 overs – Sunil Gavaskar 90, Kapil Dev 72 West Indies 255 for 9 – Vivian Richards 64, Farouk Bacchus 52 and Jeffrey Dujon 53.

Ravi Shastri 3 for 48, Kapil Dev 2 for 33, B.B. Sandhu 2 for 38 and Madan Hall 2 for 65.

(E)

West Indies vs Australia (February 29th, 1984) West Indies won by 8 wickets.

Captains: I.V. A. Richards Kein Hughes (Australia) Australia 231 for 5 off 50 overs Kepler Wessels 44, Stephen Smith 60, Greg Ritchie 46 and Dean Jones 43 not out. Larry Gomes 3 for 34.

Special Events Committee 2007 – 2014

T

he Berbice Cricket Board in February 2007 under the leadership of then President (ag) Keith Foster took a decision to establish a new committee, the Special Events Committee. Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club was selected as the Chairman, Angela Haniff as Secretary while the other members were Anil Beharry, Carl Moore, Winston Smith, Gregory Rambarran, Leslie Soloman and Romesh Munna.

The committee was mandated by the BCB to plan and organise events that would transform the image of Berbice Cricket and also to live the level of cricket on and off the field. Since 2007, the Special Events Committee has transformed the BCB into a progressive Non-governmental Organisation with activities under the sub-headings of sports, coaching, awards/honour, Pro-education, charity, anti-drugs, HIV/Aids, youth development, community development, public relations and social skill development.

Membership of the special events committee since

(F)

West Indies 233 for 2 off 48 overs, Desmond Haynes 133 not out, Richie Richardson 61.

West Indies vs New Zealand (April 14th, 1985) West Indies won by 129 Captains: I.V. A. Richards (West Indies) Geoff Howorth (New Zealand) West Indies – 259 for 5 from 50 overs – Desmond Haynes 145 not out, I.V. A. Richards 51 New Zealand 129 for 48.1 overs – Bruce Cairns 33. Joel Garner 2 for 16, E.A.E. Baptiste 2 for 18 Roger Harper 2 for 35 and Harry Gomes 2 for 6

2007 has consisted of Mr. Carl Moore, Anil Beharry, Angela Haniff, Winston Smith, Gregory Rambarran and Romesh Munna. Dozens of visionary programmes have been unveiled over the years and the work of the special events committee has been unmatched by any cricket board committee in Guyana and the entire Caribbean.

Among the programmes/activities undertaken by the committee are the Annual Cricket Academy, Berbice Educational Awards Scheme, Annual Review Magazine, Berbice Hall of Fame, Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to retired cricketers, Berbice all time teams, Junior and Elite Training Programmes, Mother and Father of the Year programme, Bill Board of Test Players and HIV/Aids march and rally.

The Berbice Cricket Board in 2009 also organised a month long celebration for its 70th anniversary. Over the years the BCB has also organised essays, spelling bee and debating competition for school children and has touched the lives of thousands of youths, the elderly and less fortunate through our charity programmes. For the first time in the history of Berbice cricket, the BCB assisted clubs on a massive scale with over 60 clubs receiving cricket balls, gears, scorebooks, educational materials, footwear, clothing and books for establishment of libraries. Young cricketers have also benefitted from numerous coaching programmes while the special events committee has also introduced the format of Inter-Zones tournaments at the Junior Level along with International Zones Tournaments for second divisions teams.

The Berbice cricket Board Special Events Committee has without the doubt transformed the face of Berbice Cricket by following a simple formula of hard work, dedication and a strong desire to make a positive difference.

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 33

BERBICE CRICKET BOARD Executive Body – Golden Jubilee Anniversary KEITH FOSTER

President

Occupation – Businessman/Former Teacher

Positions held in BCB: 1. Assistant Secretary 2. 1st Vice President 3. 2nd Vice President 4. 3rd Vice President 5. Chairman of competition committee 1996 – 2002

Club associated with: President of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club

Eldest son of West Indies Cricket Legend – Basil Butcher

ANIL BEHARRY

1st Vice President Occupation – Berbice Regional Manager, New Building Society

Term of Office – 2013 – 2014

Club: Secretary/Treasurer of Young Warriors Cricket Club

Other positions held in BCB/GCB: 1. Treasurer 1998 – 2012 2. Member of competition committee 3. Member of special events committee 4. Assistant treasurer – Guyana Cricket Board 2005 – 2008

Cricket Career: Berbice Senior Inter County Player 1994 – 1998

34

Berbice Cricket Board

HUBERN EVANS

2nd Vice President Occupation: Engineer: Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Term of Office: 2013/2014 Club: Vice President of Young Warriors Cricket Club

ANGELA HANIFF

Secretary

Occupation: Office Manager/Secretary

Term of Office: 2008/2014

Other positions held at BCB: 1. Manager – Female Team 2. Member – Competition Committee 3. Member – Special Events Committee 4. Appointed Executive member – 1998 5. Assistant Secretary BCB – 2002 to 2007

RAYMOND HANIFF

Assistant Secretary Occupation: Human Resource Manager – Guysuco

Term of Office: 2013/2014

Club: Rose Hall, Canje

Other positions held: 1. Head of Discipline Committee – 2014 2. Secretary of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club

Other positions held in GBC/BCB: 1. 3rd Vice President Berbice Cricket Board 2. Chairman – BCB Competition Committee – 1985 3. Chairman BCB Selection Committee – 1999 – 2000 4. National Selector – 2004 to 2010

Cricket Career: Berbice Senior Player

Guyana Senior Team 1977 – 1978

JULIAN CAMBRIDGE

3rd Vice President

Occupation – Head Teacher

Term of Office – 2013/2014

Club: West Berbice Cricket Association

Other positions: 1. Executive member –BCB 2. Member – Competition Committee 3. Manager – Berbice Cricket Teams 4. Selector – Junior and Senior level

Cricket Career: First and Second division cricketer for RHTYSC 1991 to 1998

SHAMEER BAKSH

Dhieranidranauth Somwaru

Treasurer

Occupation: Businessman

Term of office: 2013/2014

Club: President of Blairmont Cricket Club

Cricket Career: First Division Captain of Blairmont Cricket Club

Carl Moore

Chairman of Competition

Occupation: Retired

Term of office: 2003 to 2014

Club: Tuckber Park/Bermine Cricket Club

Other positions held at BCB/GCB: 1. Secretary – BCB 1991 – 2007 2. Chairman of Competition Committee – GCB 3. Manager of Guyana Senior Cricket Team 4. Assistant Treasurer – BCB – 1984 -1986 5. Assistant Secretary – BCB – 1986 – 1991

Chairman of Senior Selection Committee

Term of office: 2013/2014

Occupation: Head Teacher

Club: Chesney Cricket Club

Positions held: 1. Regional First Class Umpire 2. International Umpire 3. President – Guyana Umpire Association 4. Member of Berbice Umpires Association

Leslie Soloman

Chairman of Junior Selection Committee

Occupation: Taxi Operator

Term of office: 2009 to 2014

Club: Rose Hall, Canje

Other positions held: 1. Member of competition committee 2. Member of special events committee 3. Manager – Junior cricket team 4. Senior selector

Nephew of West Indies Cricket Legend Joe Soloman.

FLASH BACK!

Guyana’s Glory!

Vishal Nagamootoo, the Guyana skipper, lifts the Nortel Under 19 Youth Cricket Tournament Trophy, 1996

Members of the Berbice Secondary School team being presented to Major Ivor Smith, Chairman of the National Sports Council at the YMCA ground, Thomas Lands during their match against the”Y” in 1996.

Picture shows Mr. Smith greeting Alex Joseph of the Berbice Secondary School team. The Major is flanked on his right by Mr Shan Razack, Manager of the side, on his left by Mr Rex Ramnarace Coach/Adviser

75th Anniversary (1939-2014) 35

BERBICE CRICKET BOARD

Life Membership Programme Life Members:

The Berbice Cricket Board at its Annual General Meeting in December 1985 introduced a Life Membership programme in recognition of those who exemplified good team work and outstanding service the BCB wish to foster. Any awardee under the Life Membership programme would have to serve the BCB for a minimum of ten years and provide dedicated service of an exceptionally high quality.

The first inductee was immediate past president of the BCB Lennox Phillips. The full list of life members comprise of Lennox Phillips, Ancel Hazel, Mortimer George, Roy Baijnauth and Malcom Peters.

1. Lennox Phillips

2. Ancel Hazel

representative on Guyana Board for 13 years 1971 to 1983. Honorary Secretary for 8 years, 1976 to 1983. Honorary Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer for 4 years, 1968 to 1971. Berbice county selector for 11 years, 1973 to 1983.

Managed Berbice county teams to Suriname in 1974 and to St. Croix in 1978. Has served on the Board since 1964, Honoured with Hero Award in 2008. Also Life Member of the Young Warriors Cricket Club. Few members on the board may have served in as many positions at the same time.

Club: Bermine Year: 1985 Former Berbice Executive for 16 years, 1970 to 1985, acted as Guyana Board President, 1979.

President of Berbice Board and Vice President of Guyana Board for 14 years, 1972 to 1985.

Second Vice President of Berbice Board, 1970 and 1971. Berbice representative on Guyana Board for 15 years, 1971 to 1985. Berbice county selector for 11 years, 1975 to 1985, known as longest serving president.

Club: Unattached Year: 1986 Former Executive member of Berbice Board and Vice President of Guyana Board, President of Berbice Board in 1986. Served as Berbice Board Representative on Guyana Board.

Berbice Board 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice President, County Selector, Honorary Secretary, Honorary assistant Secretary, Honorary Treasurer.

Berbice Team Manager to Suriname in 1984.

Was the manager of the first Guyana Under-19 team in 1966 and manager Guyana Under-19 team in 1982. No member of the Board is known to have served in as many positions over a period which was in excess of 40 years.

Represented Berbice in first Inter- County finals against Demerara in 1954.

3. Mortimer George

Club: Police Year: 1987 Served as Executive Member of Berbice Board and Chairman/Secretary of competitions committee for 16 years, 1968 to 1983. Berbice

36

Berbice Cricket Board

4. Roy Baijnauth

Club: Skeldon Year: 2009 Served as President of Berbice Cricket Board 2000 to 2003. Also served as Executive Member, 1st Vice President, and Berbice Representative of the Guyana Cricket Board.

Captained Skeldon Cricket Board in 1st Division competitions in Berbice and has completed 14 years as mayor of Corriverton.

5. Malcolm Peters

Club: Bermine Year: 2009 Served as President of Berbice Cricket Board 2004 to 2007, has been associated with the board since the 1980’s. Also served as Chairman of Competitions Committee, 1st Vice President, Executive Member and Berbice Representative on the Guyana Cricket Board honoured with Berbice Board Hero Award in 2008.