Sonny Ramadhin
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 West Indies (WI) |
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| Batting style | Right-hand bat | |
| Bowling type | Right-arm off break | |
| Tests | First-class | |
| Matches | 43 | 184 |
| Runs scored | 361 | 1092 |
| Batting average | 8.20 | 8.66 |
| 100s/50s | -/- | -/- |
| Top score | 44 | 44 |
| Balls bowled | 13939 | 44937 |
| Wickets | 158 | 758 |
| Bowling average | 28.98 | 20.24 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 10 | 51 |
| 10 wickets in match | 1 | 15 |
| Best bowling | 7/49 | 8/15 |
| Catches/stumpings | 9/- | 38/- |
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Test debut: June 8, 1950 |
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Sonny Ramadhin (born May 1, 1929) was a West Indian cricketer, and a dominant bowler of the 1950s. He was the first (of many) West Indian cricketers of Indian origin, and was one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1951.
[edit] Biography and career
Ramadhin was born in Esperance Village, Trinidad and Tobago in 1929. His birth certificate had no first name, simply the descriptive "Boy". This easily turned into Sonny, giving rise to his "official" name. He was introduced to cricket at the Canadian Mission School in Duncan Village, Trinidad but did not bowl while in school. He later played for the Palmiste Club and the Trinidad Leaseholds team where he showed remarkable bowling prowess. His trials for the West Indian team were two first-class matches bowling for Trinidad versus Jamaica where he took 12 wickets at an average of 19.25 [2], [3]. This amazing performance led to his selection for the 1950 tour to England at the age of 20.
His debut series was in 1950 England. He and fellow spinner Alf Valentine dominated the English batting, taking 59 wickets between them. West Indies won this series by three matches to one; this was their first series victory in England. When England returned to the West Indies in early 1954, Ramadhin took 13 wickets in the first two Tests and was instrumental in West Indies' victory.
The 1950 triumph by the West Indies led Lord Beginner to write a the first in a deluge of calypsos celebrating West Indian cricketers, giving rise to calypso cricket.
Though a wrist-spinner, his leg-break hardly turned; hence the description of him as an "off-spinner".
He has lived in England since coming over to play league cricket in the 1950's. In 1964 and 65 he played for Lancashire, terminating his contract abrubtly when he lost form. [1]From 1968 until 1972, he represented Lincolnshire in the Minor Counties Championship.
[edit] References
- ^ Cricketer 1965
