Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Frank Worrell XI vs Richie Benaud XI

 29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970

A dream contest between the great players of the post Second World War era and the 1950s and 1960s would be one between teams led by two of the most charismatic captains, Frank Worrell and Richie Benaud. The effort has been to include the West Indies players in Worrell’s side, and the Australians in Benaud’s lineup. Don Bradman has been kept out of this ambit as he was essentially a player of the late 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

What is immediately noticeable is that there were not too many top-class opening batsmen in this period but a plethora of accomplished middle-order players who would vie for places in teams of this nature. Len Hutton is an automatic choice, and placed in Worrell’s team with Conrad Hunte as his partner. One is inclined to select Bobby Simpson in Benaud’s squad, with a toss-up between his left-handed compatriots Arthur Morris and Bill Lawry. The former gets the vote for his grace and charm.

In the middle-order would be the three Ws, Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott and Worrell himself. Worrell could turn his left-arm over with his pace as well as spin. On the other side one would pick Ken Barrington, Neil Harvey and Graeme Pollock. The allrounders spots are obvious, Gary Sobers and Keith Miller respectively. There is a bonus pair of spinning allrounders, the left-armer Vinoo Mankad who batted right-handed, and leg-spinner Benaud. The two top wicketkeepers of the time were Godfrey Evans and Wally Grout.

There is then a stirring face-off between speed merchants Freddie Trueman and Brian Statham with Ray Lindwall, who could wield the willow as well, and Keith Miller, already chosen as allrounder. Alec Bedser would back up the Aussie pair. The off-spinner’s spots go to Lance Gibbs and Jim Laker.

What an exciting contest this would be!

Frank Worrell XI                             

Len Hutton                                        

Conrad Hunte                                    

Everton Weekes                                 

Clyde Walcott                                    

Frank Worrell                                     

Gary Sobers                                       

Vinoo Mankad                                   

Godfrey Evans                                   

Freddie Trueman                                

Brian Statham                                    

Lance Gibbs                                       

Richie Benaud XI

Arthur Morris

Bobby Simpson

Ken Barrington

Neil Harvey

Graeme Pollock

Keith Miller

Richie Benaud

Wally Grout

Ray Lindwall

Alec Bedser

Jim Laker

The figures of these players during this period are:

Batsmen

Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256, Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35

Neil Harvey (Australia), Tests 79, Highest Score 205, Runs 6149, Average 48.41, Hundreds 21, Fifties 24

Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30

Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score 207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19

Bobby Simpson (Australia), Tests 52, Highest Score 311, Runs 4131, Average 48.60, Hundreds 8, Fifties 24

Frank Worrell (West Indies), Tests 51, Highest Score 261, Runs 3860, Average 49.48, Hundreds 9, Fifties 22
Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14

Arthur Morris (Australia), Tests 46, Highest Score 206, Runs 3533, Average 46.48, Hundreds 12, Fifties 12

Conrad Hunte (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 260, Runs 3245, Average 45.06, Hundreds 8, Fifties 13

Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11

Allrounders

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, 100s 21, 50s 26, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 193, Average 34.59, 5WI 6, 10WM –, Quotient 1.70

Keith Miller (Australia), Right-hand bat, Right-arm fast, Tests 55, Highest Score 147, Runs 2958, Average 36.97, 100s 7, 50s 13, Best bowling 7/60, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, 5WI 7, 10WM 1, Quotient 1.60

Vinoo Mankad (India), Tests 44, Highest Score 231, Runs 2109, Average 31.47, 100s 5, 50s 6, Best bowling 8/52, Wickets 162, Average 32.32, 5WI 8, 10WM 2, Quotient 0.97

Ray Lindwall (Australia), Tests 61, Highest Score 118, Runs 1502, Average 21.15, 100s 2, 50s 5, Best bowling 7/38, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, 5WI 12, 10WM –, Quotient 0.91

Richie Benaud (Australia), Tests 63, Highest Score 122, Runs 2201, Average 24.45, 100s 3, 50s 9, Best bowling 7/72, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, 5WI 16, 10WM 1, Quotient 0.90

Wicketkeepers

Godfrey Evans (England), Tests 91, Dismissals 219, Catches 173, Stumpings 46, Highest Score 104, Runs 2439, Average 20.49, 100s 2, 50s 8

Wally Grout (Australia) Tests 51, Dismissals 187, Catches 163, Stumpings 24, Highest Score 74, Runs 890, Average 15.08, 50s 3

Bowlers

Fred Trueman (England), Tests 67, Balls 15178, Wickets 307, Average 21.57, BBI 8/31, BBM 12/119, 5WI 17, 10WM 3

Brian Statham (England), Tests 70, Balls 16056, Wickets 252, Average 24.84, BBI 7/39, BBM 11/97, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Alec Bedser (England), Tests 51, Balls 15918, Wickets 236, Average 24.89, BBI 7/44, BBM 14/99, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Lance Gibbs (West Indies), Tests 50, Balls 17229, Wickets 209, Average 27.54, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Jim Laker (England), Tests 46, Balls 12027, Wickets 193, Average 21.24, BBI 10/53, BBM 19/90, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Full Test Career

Len Hutton (England 1937-55), Tests 79, Highest Score 364, Runs 6971, Average 56.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 33

Bobby Simpson (Australia 1957-78), Tests 62, Highest Score 311, Runs 4869, Average 46.81, Hundreds 10, Fifties 27

Gary Sobers (West Indies 1954-74), Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, 100s 26, 50s 30, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 235, Average 34.03, 5WI 6, 10WM –, Quotient 1.69

Lance Gibbs (West Indies 1958-76), Tests 79, Balls 27115, Wickets 309, Average 29.09, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 18, 10WM 2

And look at the list of world-class players who could not make it to these teams:

Batsmen                                                                                

Colin Cowdrey (England), Tests 104, Highest Score 182, Runs 7228, Average 46.33, Hundreds 22, Fifties 37

Denis Compton (England), Tests 70, Highest Score 278, Runs 5339, Average 49.89, Hundreds 15, Fifties 26

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies), Tests 61, Highest Score 256, Runs 5056, Average 48.15, Hundreds 12, Fifties 22

Bill Lawry (Australia), Tests 62, Highest Score 210, Runs 4910, Average 47.66, Hundreds 13, Fifties 24

Tom Graveney (England), Tests 79, Highest Score 258, Runs 4882, Average 44.38, Hundreds 11, Fifties 20

Peter May (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 285*, Runs 4537, Average 46.77, Hundreds 13, Fifties 22

Ted Dexter (England), Tests 62, Highest Score 205, Runs 4502, Average 47.89, 100s 9, 50s 27

Lindsay Hassett (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 198*, Runs 2874, Average 49.55, Hundreds 10, Fifties 10

Seymour Nurse (West Indies) Tests 29, Highest Score 258, Runs 2523, Average 47.60, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242, Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Vijay Hazare (India), Tests 30, Highest Score 164*, Runs 2192, Average 47.65, Hundreds 7, Fifties 9

Bob Cowper (Australia), Tests 27, Highest Score 307, Runs 2061, Average 46.84, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10

Allrounders

Trevor Goddard (South Africa), Tests 41, Highest Score 112, Runs 2516, Average 34.46, 100s 1, 50s 18, Best bowling 6/53, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, 5WI 5, 10WM –, Quotient 1.31

Alan Davidson (Australia), Tests 44, Highest Score 80, Runs 1328, Average 24.59, 100s -, 50s 5, Best bowling 7/93, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, 5WI 14, 10WM 2, Quotient 1.19

Trevor Bailey (England), Tests 61, Highest Score 134*, Runs 2290, Average 29.74, 100s 1, 50s 10, Best bowling 7/34, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, 5WI 5, 10WM 1, Quotient 1.01

Wicketkeepers

Johnny Waite (South Africa), Tests 50, Dismissals 141, Catches 124, Stumpings 17, Highest Score 134, Runs 2405, Average 30.44, 100s 4, 50s 16

Jim Parks (England), Tests 46, Dismissals 112, Catches 101 (2 more catches as fielder), Stumpings 11, Highest Score 108 not out, Runs 1962, Average 32.16, 100s 2, 50s 9

Bowlers

Graham McKenzie (Australia) 1961-70, Tests 57, Balls 16797, Wickets 239, Average 29.19, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Wesley Hall (West Indies) 1958-69, Tests 48, Balls 10421, Wickets 192, Average 26.38, BBI 7/69, BBM 11/126, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Tony Lock (England) 1952-68, Tests 49, Balls 13147, Wickets 174, Average 25.58, BBI 7/35, BBM 11/48, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Hugh Tayfield (South Africa) 1949-60, Tests 37, Balls 13568, Wickets 170, Average 25.91, BBI 9/113, BBM 13/165, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Bill Johnston (Australia) 1947-55, Tests 40, Balls 11048, Wickets 160, Average 23.91, BBI 6/44, BBM 9/183, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies) 1950-61, Tests 43, Balls 13939, Wickets 158, Average 28.98, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/152, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Subhash Gupte (India) 1951-61, Tests 36, Balls 11284, Wickets 149, Average 29.55, BBI 9/102, BBM 10/223, 5WI 12, 10WM 1

Full Test Career

Colin Cowdrey, span 1954-75, Tests 114, Highest Score 182, Runs 7624, Average 44.06, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Rohan Kanhai, span 1957-74, Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Denis Compton, span 1937-57, Tests 78, Highest Score 278, Runs 5807, Average 50.06, Hundreds 17, Fifties 28

Doug Walters, span 1965-81, Tests 74, Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33

Bill Lawry, span 1961-71, Tests 67, Highest Score 210, Runs 5234, Average 47.15, Hundreds 13, Fifties 27

Lindsay Hassett, span 1938-53, Tests 43, Highest Score 198*, Runs 3073, Average 46.56, Hundreds 10, Fifties 11

Graham McKenzie, span 1961-71, Tests 60, Balls 17681, Wickets 246, Average 29.78, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Top Batsmen

 Even though he played just 15 Tests over three series in two years at the age of 38 to 40 after the War, the name Bradman keeps cropping up even when talking about an era that spanned more than two decades after his retirement. He hit up nearly 2000 runs in this time, 1903 to be precise, at an astounding average of 105.72, even higher than in his prime, with 8 hundreds and 5 fifties. But then The Don essentially belongs to the era between the Wars, and in any case he is on a pedestal far higher than any other batsman…..past, present or future.

 

Gary Sobers

Len Hutton

The 3 Ws.....(from left) Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott

Colin Cowdrey

Ken Barrington

Graeme Pollock

Doug Walters

So then let us confine ourselves to other great batsmen, more human in stature. There were seven batsmen in this period after the Second World War and in the 1950s and 1960s, ending in the banishment of South Africa, for reasons other than cricket. We saw the emergence of more and more brilliant batsmen from the West Indies, and from South Africa, some of whom could not, sadly, see their careers in full bloom. England’s Colin Cowdrey scored the most runs, the only one to top 7000, at 7228, closely followed by compatriot Ken Barrington and the inimitable West Indies allrounder Gary Sobers with 6808 and 6776. Australian left-hander Neil Harvey completed the 6000 runs club. Two English batsmen synonymous with each other, top-class opener Len Hutton and the debonair Denis Compton, along with the exquisite little West Indies strokeplayer Rohan Kanhai aggregated above 5000.

Turning to averages among batsmen who scored 2000 runs and more, the South African left-hander Graeme Pollock was on top at 60.97 for his 2256 runs in 23 Tests. The Australian star batsman Doug Walters was next at 59.21 for his 2250 runs in 25 Tests. They were followed by Gary Sobers and Ken Barrington at 58.92 and 58.67 respectively. Two of the famous Caribbean Ws, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott finished at 58.61 and 56.68. Len Hutton completed the list of averages of 50 at 54.62.

In the 45-plus category there are some very illustrious names, Denis Compton, Lindsay Hassett, Frank Worrell, Bobby Simpson, Neil Harvey, Rohan Kanhai, Ted Dexter, Bill Lawry, Vijay Hazare, Seymour Nurse, Bob Cowper, Peter May, Conrad Hunte, Arthur Morris, Colin Cowdrey, John Edrich, Eddie Barlow and Norman O’Neill.

Top Rungetters

(minimum 2000 runs)

Colin Cowdrey (England), Tests 104, Highest Score 182, Runs 7228, Average 46.33, Hundreds 22, Fifties 37

Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256, Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, Hundreds 21, Fifties 26

Neil Harvey (Australia), Tests 79, Highest Score 205, Runs 6149, Average 48.41, Hundreds 21, Fifties 24

Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30

Denis Compton (England), Tests 70, Highest Score 278, Runs 5339, Average 49.89, Hundreds 15, Fifties 26

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies), Tests 61, Highest Score 256, Runs 5056, Average 48.15, Hundreds 12, Fifties 22

Bill Lawry (Australia), Tests 62, Highest Score 210, Runs 4910, Average 47.66, Hundreds 13, Fifties 24

Tom Graveney (England), Tests 79, Highest Score 258, Runs 4882, Average 44.38, Hundreds 11, Fifties 20

Peter May (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 285*, Runs 4537, Average 46.77, Hundreds 13, Fifties 22

Ted Dexter (England), Tests 62, Highest Score 205, Runs 4502, Average 47.89, Hundreds 9, Fifties 27

Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score 207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19

Bobby Simpson (Australia), Tests 52, Highest Score 311, Runs 4131, Average 48.60, Hundreds 8, Fifties 24

Hanif Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 55, Highest Score 337, Runs 3915, Average 43.98, Hundreds 12, Fifties 15

Frank Worrell (West Indies), Tests 51, Highest Score 261, Runs 3860, Average 49.48, Hundreds 9, Fifties 22

Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14

Polly Umrigar (India), Tests 59, Highest Score 223, Runs 3631, Average 42.22, Hundreds 12, Fifties 14

Arthur Morris (Australia), Tests 46, Highest Score 206, Runs 3533, Average 46.48, Hundreds 12, Fifties 12

John Reid (New Zealand), Tests 58, Highest Score 142, Runs 3428, Average 33.28, Hundreds 6, Fifties 22

Conrad Hunte (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 260, Runs 3245, Average 45.06, Hundreds 8, Fifties 13

Vijay Manjrekar (India), Tests 55, Highest Score 189*, Runs 3208, Average 39.12, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Colin McDonald (Australia), Tests 47, Highest Score 170, Runs 3107, Average 39.32, Hundreds 5, Fifties 17

Basil Butcher (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 209*, Runs 3104, Average 43.11, Hundreds 7, Fifties 16

Chandu Borde (India), Tests 55, Highest Score 177*, Runs 3061, Average 35.59, Hundreds 5, Fifties 18

Keith Miller (Australia), Tests 55, Highest Score 147, Runs 2958, Average 36.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 13

Lindsay Hassett (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 198*, Runs 2874, Average 49.55, Hundreds 10, Fifties 10

Saeed Ahmed (Pakistan), Tests 38, Highest Score 172, Runs 2833, Average 41.66, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15

Norman O’Neill (Australia), Tests 42, Highest Score 181, Runs 2779, Average 45.55, Hundreds 6, Fifties 15

Bert Sutcliffe (New Zealand), Tests 42, Highest Score 230*, Runs 2727, Average 40.10, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15

John Edrich (England), Tests 40, Highest Score 310*, Runs 2711, Average 45.94, Hundreds 8, Fifties 10

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 41, Highest Score 246*, Runs 2609, Average 42.77, Hundreds 8, Fifties 10

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (India), Tests 39, Highest Score 203*, Runs 2552, Average 36.98, Hundreds 6, Fifties 14

Cyril Washbrook (England), Tests 36, Highest Score 195, Runs 2552, Average 43.25, Hundreds 6, Fifties 12

Seymour Nurse (West Indies) Tests 29, Highest Score 258, Runs 2523, Average 47.60, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10

Eddie Barlow (South Africa), Tests 30, Highest Score 210, Runs 2516, Average 45.74, Hundreds 6, Fifties 15

Trevor Goddard (South Africa), Tests 41, Highest Score 112, Runs 2516, Average 34.46, Hundreds 1, Fifties 18

Pankaj Roy (India), Tests 43, Highest Score 173, Runs 2442, Average 32.56, Hundreds 5, Fifties 9

Jackie McGlew (South Africa), Tests 34, Highest Score 255*, Runs 2440, Average 42.06, Hundreds 7, Fifties 10

Godfrey Evans (England), Tests 91, Highest Score 104, Runs 2439, Average 20.49, Hundreds 2, Fifties 8

Johnny Waite (South Africa), Tests 50, Highest Score 134, Runs 2405, Average 30.44, Hundreds 4, Fifties 16

Trevor Bailey (England), Tests 61, Highest Score 134*, Runs 2290, Average 29.74, Hundreds 1, Fifties 10

Peter Burge (Australia), Tests 42, Highest Score 181, Runs 2290, Average 38.16, Hundreds 4, Fifties 12

Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242, Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Richie Benaud (Australia), Tests 63, Highest Score 122, Runs 2201, Average 24.45, Hundreds 3, Fifties 9

Vijay Hazare (India), Tests 30, Highest Score 164*, Runs 2192, Average 47.65, Hundreds 7, Fifties 9

Graham Dowling (New Zealand), Tests 35, Highest Score 239, Runs 2163, Average 32.28, Hundreds 3, Fifties 10

Ian Redpath (Australia), Tests 37, Highest Score 132, Runs 2159, Average 37.22, Hundreds 1, Fifties 16

Mike Smith (England), Tests 47, Highest Score 121, Runs 2138, Average 32.39, Hundreds 3, Fifties 11

Bill Edrich (England), Tests 30, Highest Score 191, Runs 2133, Average 43.53, Hundreds 5, Fifties 13

Roy McLean (South Africa), Tests 40, Highest Score 142, Runs 2120, Average 30.28, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10

Vinoo Mankad (India), Tests 44, Highest Score 231, Runs 2109, Average 31.47, Hundreds 5, Fifties 6

Imtiaz Ahmed (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score 209, Runs 2079, Average 29.28, Hundreds 3, Fifties 11

Bob Cowper (Australia), Tests 27, Highest Score 307, Runs 2061, Average 46.84, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10

Peter Richardson (England), Tests 34, Highest Score 126, Runs 2061, Average 37.47, Hundreds 5, Fifties 9

Jeff Stollmeyer (West Indies), Tests 29, Highest Score 160, Runs 2066, Average 44.04, Hundreds 4, Fifties 10

ML Jaisimha (India), Tests 36, Highest Score 129, Runs 2013, Average 32.46, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12

Highest Averages

(minimum 2000 runs with average of 50 and above)

Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242, Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, Hundreds 21, Fifties 26

Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256, Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35

Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score 207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19

Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14

Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30

Highest Averages

(less than 2000 runs but above 1000 runs with average of 50 and above)

Don Bradman (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 234, Runs 1903, Average 105.72, Hundreds 8, Fifties 5

Bruce Mitchell (South Africa), Tests 10, Highest Score 189*, Runs 1072, Average 59.55, Hundreds 3, Fifties 6

Dudley Nourse (South Africa), Tests 20, Highest Score 208, Runs 1863, Average 56.45, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10

Eric Rowan (South Africa), Tests 14, Highest Score 236, Runs 1238, Average 51.58, Hundreds 3, Fifties 7

Highest Averages

(less than 1000 runs but above 500 runs with average of 50 and above)

Barry Richards (South Africa), Tests 4, Highest Score 140, Runs 508, Average 72.57, Hundreds 2, Fifties 2

Sidney Barnes (Australia), Tests 12, Highest Score 234, Runs 998, Average 66.53, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5

Alan Melville (South Africa), Tests 6, Highest Score 189, Runs 608, Average 55.27, Hundreds 3, Fifties 1

Full Test career figures of some of these top batsmen whose careers spanned other periods as well:

Don Bradman, span 1928-48, Tests 52, Highest Score 334, Runs 6996, Average 99.94, Hundreds 29, Fifties 13

Sidney Barnes 1938-48, Tests 13, Highest Score 234, Runs 1072, Average 63.05, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5

Gary Sobers, span 1957-74, Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30

Len Hutton, span 1937-55, Tests 79, Highest Score 364, Runs 6971, Average 56.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 33

Dudley Nourse, span 1935-51, Tests 34, Highest Score 231, Runs 2960, Average 53.81, Hundreds 9, Fifties 14

Alan Melville, span 1938-49, Tests 11, Highest Score 189, Runs 894, Average 52.58, Hundreds 4, Fifties 3

Denis Compton, span 1937-57, Tests 78, Highest Score 278, Runs 5807, Average 50.06, Hundreds 17, Fifties 28

Bruce Mitchell, span 1929-49, Tests 42, Highest Score 189*, Runs 3471, Average 48.88, Hundreds 8, Fifties 21

Doug Walters, span 1965-81, Tests 74, Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33

Geoff Boycott, span 1964-82, Tests 108, Highest Score 246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42

Rohan Kanhai, span 1957-74, Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Bill Lawry, span 1961-71, Tests 67, Highest Score 210, Runs 5234, Average 47.15, Hundreds 13, Fifties 27

Bobby Simpson, span 1957-78, Tests 62, Highest Score 311, Runs 4869, Average 46.81, Hundreds 10, Fifties 27

Colin Cowdrey, span 1954-75, Tests 114, Highest Score 182, Runs 7624, Average 44.06, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Eric Rowan, span 1935-51, Tests 26, Highest Score 236, Runs 1965, Average 43.66, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12

John Edrich, span 1963-76, Tests 77, Highest Score 310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24

Ian Redpath, span 1964-76, Tests 66, Highest Score 171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31

Saeed Ahmed, span 1958-72, Tests 41, Highest Score 172, Runs 2991, Average 40.41, Hundreds 5, Fifties 16

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, span 1961-75, Tests 46, Highest Score 203*, Runs 2793, Average 34.91, Hundreds 6, Fifties 16

ML Jaisimha, span 1959-71, Tests 39, Highest Score 129, Runs 2056, Average 30.68, Hundreds 3, Fifties 12

The big-hitting Clyde Walcott powered the legend of the great 3 Ws of West Indies cricket. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

Big and strong, Clyde Walcott was a savage hitter, renowned for his back-foot driving. C.L.R. James noted in his Beyond a Boundary: “For defence and power in putting away the length ball this is one of the greatest of all batsmen. Only Bradman can be mentioned in the same breath for commanding hooking of fast bowlers.”

Like Weekes, he revelled on the Indian tour of 1948-49, cracking 452 runs at an average of 75.33. His greatest run, however, was when Australia came calling in 1954-55. Walcott hit a century in each innings of not one, but two Tests - 126 and 110 at Port of Spain, and 155 and 110 at Kingston. No one else has achieved this feat in the same series. Before that he had scored 108 in another Test at Kingston. Not even Bradman had managed five hundreds in the same rubber. Walcott’s tally in that series was 827 at 82.70 per innings. This capped his consistent showing at home; during the previous two seasons he was a prolific scorer against England and India.

Along with Weekes, he feasted on the Indian bowling. Not to be left out, Worrell finally joined the party with his 237 at Kingston in 1952-53. Walcott eventually finished with 3798 runs at an average of 56.68 in 44 Tests, matching Weekes’ 15 tons, and his wicketkeeping abilities were a bonus.

One of the reasons why he retired in 1959 at the age of thirty-three was that, as the celebrated C.L.R. James noted in his Beyond a Boundary, he was frustrated at the continued appointment of only a white man as captain of the West Indies. So when his great mate Frank Worrell eventually led the West Indies shortly thereafter, the big hitter would have been a satisfied, if not totally contented, man. That feeling would have grown when Walcott himself went on to become president of the West Indies Cricket Board and chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).        

Overall, Worrell stood up to England, the best side for much of the 1950s before his own team turned the tables; Weekes was the scourge of India; and Walcott was awesome on home turf. Put together, they appeared in 143 Tests for the West Indies and amassed 12,113 runs at an average of 54.80, notching up 39 hundreds. For those times when much less Test cricket was played than at present, it was a phenomenal performance.

Few chapters in the game are as romantic and colourful. It was the three inimitable Ws, aided by the spin twins Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine who put Caribbean cricket on the high road to the summit that later outfits led by Gary Sobers, Clive Lloyd and Vivian Richards scaled in the next three decades. George Headley was, of course, the pioneer, and the enormously talented Learie Constantine with his fellow speedster Manny Martindale had shown early glimpses of the fearsome pace battery that was to follow.

But it was Worrell, Weekes and Walcott who set the trend for top-class West Indies line-ups of succeeding generations - Hunte, Kanhai, Butcher, Sobers and Nurse; Lloyd, Rowe and Kallicharran; Greenidge, Haynes and Richards; Richardson, Lara and Chanderpaul to carry forward the tradition. The Ws propelled West Indies cricket towards glory, and that is their true contribution

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

188 pages