Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

165 SONNY RAMADHIN (1929-2022) S onny Ramadhin was best described as The Houdini of spin bowling. He played cricket for the West Indies between 1950 and 1961, a man of slim build, spinning a web of mystery, cap on, long sleeved shirt buttoned at the wrist... the original ‘doosra’ bowler and first player of East Indian descent to represent the West Indies. Along with Alf Valentine of Jamaica, he brought England to their cricketing knees in June 1950 at the famous Lord’s cricket ground. This victory brought in a new era, the coming of age, of West Indies cricket. Along with Valentine, Ramadhin is the subject in at least 3 calypsos recorded around that time: Victory Test Match/Cricket Lovely Cricket by Lord Beginner (“With those little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine”); Ramadhin on the Ball by King Radio (“We want Ramadhin on the ball”); Cricket Calypso by Lord Kitchener (“Ramadhin, you deserve a title, Sir Ramadhin, followed by a medal”). His match winning figures of 11 for 152 (5-66 and 6-86) in that famous victory at Lord’s in 1950, remains the best match analysis by a West Indian versus England at that venue. He bowled the highest number of balls bowled by one player in a Test, 774, West Indies versus England at Edgbaston 1957, including the highest in one innings of 588 with match figures of 31-16-49-7; 98-35- 179-2. He captured 10 wickets or more in a match (first-class) 15 times and claimed 5 or more in an innings 51 times. He was the first West Indian to take 150 wickets at the Test level. • 1951 Wisden Cricketer of the year • 1972 Humming Bird Gold Medal • 1985 Inductee WITCO Sports Hall of Fame • 1988 Featured on Trinidad & Tobago postage stamp • 1995 Chaconia Gold Medal • 2000 Millenium Award, Ministry of Sports • 2004 Annual “Sonny Ramadhin” lecture series started at UWI, Trinidad