Younger Joe delighted in hurling stones to knock off the mangoes from the tree that overhung into his yard – excellent observe for a future fielder. He performed for native sides however got here comparatively late to first-class cricket, making his British Guiana debut in opposition to Jamaica aged 26, scoring an unbeaten century. Two extra adopted, in opposition to Barbados and the Pakistan vacationers, making him the one cricketer to attain 100 in his first three first-class matches.
Joe Solomon of the West Indian cricket crew in 1963.Credit score: Getty
He performed his first Assessments on the 1958-59 tour of India and Pakistan; within the closing Check in opposition to India, in Delhi, he made an unbeaten ton, and his facet’s 3-0 collection victory led to questions being requested in Lok Sabha, the nation’s parliament.
In Australia in 1959-60, regardless of his historic piece of fielding magic, the hosts went on to win the collection 2-1 – within the second Check he was out hit wicket when his cap fell on the stumps – however the guests had been feted as heroes and handled to a tickertape parade in Melbourne on the conclusion of the tour.
In 1963 he was on the tour to England, whereas his closing collection was in opposition to Australia in 1965, although he carried on enjoying for British Guiana – the nation turned often known as Guyana when it turned unbiased in 1966 – till 1969. He had performed 27 Assessments, with a batting common of 34 (his first-class common was 41.54), in addition to taking 4 wickets together with his occasional leg spin (51 in all first-class cricket).
Along with working within the sugar trade, Solomon took on administrative roles with the Guyana and West Indies cricket boards, together with selector, and helped to mentor younger gamers from the sugar plantations.
In 1978, he was supervisor for West Indies’ tour to India; it was a demanding activity, as his facet had simply misplaced a lot of their finest gamers to Kerry Packer’s breakaway collection, however he got here away with a decent 1-0 defeat. Within the Nineteen Eighties he moved to New York.
In 1959, Joe Solomon married Betty Dharry, who predeceased him. Following his demise, Cammie Smith, aged 90, is now West Indies’ oldest surviving cricketer.
The Telegraph, London.
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