Close, Wadekar top 2010 class of inductees

By Stan Walker

When the Cricket Hall of Fame holds its induction ceremony this year, former Test captains Brian Close of England and Ajit Wadekar of India will top the class of inductees. They will be joined by six local individuals, Clifford Hinds, Hugh Pitter, Ballista MeLeish and Ivor Stephens of New York, Paul Williams of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Akthar Masood Syed of Illinois, who will be honored for making outstanding contributions to the sport in the U.S.

Close, who captained his county Yorkshire and his country England, holds the record of being the youngest player ever to represent England. He was known for his courage of batting against fast bowling and for his fearless fielding at short leg. As a batsman he could defend with great obduracy, but could attack thrillingly, although not always wisely. Although he lost favor with the England selectors in the 1961 Old Trafford Test against Australia, he returned to take England to the brink of victory in the 1963 Test at Lord’s against the West Indies.

An aggressive left-handed batsman who became slightly bogged down by responsibility, Wadekar’s name will forever be linked with 1971 when he led the Indian team to historic triumphs in the West Indies and England. A tower of strength to the Indian batting, he was one of the best No. 3 batsmen in the history of Indian cricket.

Hinds, a pioneer of the sport in New York, who has served with the United States of America Cricket Association for many years, has helped to develop many aspects of the sport in the state. He was among 100 persons worldwide (five in the U.S.) who were awarded a medal of honor from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for making significant contributions to the game in the U.S.

Syed, a shy and quietly spoken man with a long list of achievements in cricket, was also one of the recipients of the ICC Medal of Honor. A long time player, selector and administrator to the game, the retired physiotherapist who dearly loves the game, has helped to change it for the better in the U.S. Born in Delhi, India, Syed who now lives in Glendale Heights, a Chicago suburb, has helped organize free youth clinics in various suburbs, secured fields for local cricket clinics in the area and had a hand in forming eight leagues in the Central East region of the U.S.

A respectable left-arm spinner and China man bowler, Pitter who is considered one of the main stakeholders of the game in New York because of his dedication to the promotion of the game, has played in many championships. Known throughout the Metropolitan Cricket League, which he has been associated with from 1967 as the “Archive,” Pitter has received numerous awards over the years for his tireless work on and off the field.

An all round dedicated player and leader, McLeish who has received numerous awards for his sportsmanship, leadership, humanitarian, outstanding services and contributions, has also assisted the New York region’s women’s cricket committee. He received a citation from the New York State Assembly and a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives for his contributions to his community.

One of the founders of the United States of America Cricket Umpires Association, Stephens, who began his career in Jamaica, had the opportunity to officiate in a Rest of the World vs. Pakistan match, which was played at Downing Stadium, Randall’s Island, New York. A well qualified umpire, for several years Stephens has conducted pre-season seminars for umpires in the Metropolitan Cricket League in New York.

Over the years Williams has been a strong supporter and promoter of the sport throughout the state. One of the early presidents of the Connecticut Cricket League, he is presently actively involved with the Southern Connecticut Cricket League, which is making a good name for the state.

Gayle aims to help bring back joy and happiness to Windies fans

By Stan Walker

Admitting that batting is the biggest downfall of his team, West Indies cricket captain Christopher Gayle promised to work towards performing at the best of his ability to help bring back joy, happiness and smiles on the faces of Windies fans, even if he is relieved of the captaincy.

He made the remark in response to a question that was thrown out to him at a reception held at the Sportmen’s Athletic Club Friday, August 13, to welcome him to the city of Hartford.

At the reception Gayle who was in Hartford as the guest of Sportmen’s and the Cricket Hall of Fame, was presented with a certificate of appreciation from Sportmen’s president, Shirley Mathews, who declared him an honorary member of the club.

Chris Gayle receives certificate
from president Shirley Matthews

Councilwoman rjo Winch followed with a proclamation, from the city’s mayor Pedro Segarra, in which Friday, August 13 was declared “Christopher Gayle’s Day in the City of Hartford.” Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson who assisted Winch in the presentation, said that “We are truly honored to have you in our city. We always watch and cheer you on whenever you are playing and will assure you that the West Indians in Hartford are behind you 100 percent.”

Gayle was also presented with another proclamation by Councilman Kenneth Kennedy on behalf of governor Jody Rell, in which she said is a testimony of his outstanding talent and excellent skills in the game. Kevin Hussein from the Connecticut Cricket League presented him with plaque in recognition of his achievements and contributions to West Indies cricket.

At a brief visit to the Hall of Fame, Gayle was given a miniature bat to record each century he scores from now on and to return it to the institution when the total runs scored in that manner reaches 1,000.

Responding to a question about himself and his players’ inability to stay long at the crease, he said that there are times when we are playing against a team that we want to beat so badly that a sort of anxiety inside of you lead you to want to destroy them. “This is a sport in which you can go either up or down. No matter how talented you are, you are inclined to fail more often than you succeed. The downward trend is happening too often to us, so whenever you get a chance to succeed, you must always try to do your best,” he said.

“Concentration is a problem. You can get distracted from many things. Sometimes we tend to focus on playing too much of an attacking game and that causes us to lose proper concentration.,” he stated.

“We also need better communication between each other. When you are able to reach in your 20s or 30s in a quick time, a bit of encouragement from your partner or some other member of the team urging you to calm down can be of great help. I believe that I am now more matured and will be inclined to do better in the future,” he said.

“The fastest bowlers that I have played against are Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan and Brett Lee of Australia.” He related an experience that he had facing Akhtar in which he said that he was very surprised to see how quickly the ball had ended up in the wicket-keeper’s gloves after it had passed him.

He had some good feelings about the new academy which was established recently by the West Indies Cricket Board. “It is a good thing. It is something which is needed in the Caribbean that I believe should help the youngsters that are coming up,” he said.”

Golden Age Award

At this year’s annual Induction Ceremony, the Cricket Hall of Fame will be introducing a “Golden Age Award,” which is set to honor pioneers of the sport of cricket in the U.S. and Canada.

The first recipient will be Frederick James Heather, who will be recognized for a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the sport in Canada.

Heather, who was born in England on January 27, 1890, where he began his cricketing career, migrated to Canada in 1921, and took his love of the game with him.

On his arrival in Canada he shared his passion for the game with all Canadians, and did not only introduce his cricketing skills, but eventually played a big role in the growth and development of the game in his new homeland.

Upon retiring as a player, he embarked on a career as an umpire. In addition to umpiring, he made some strong contributions towards the future success of the sport by participating in numerous roles, which included secretary and player for two clubs, a founding member and first secretary-treasurer of the Toronto District Cricket Umpire’s Association, and the first secretary of the Canadian Umpire’s Control Board.

He won a Toronto Championship and competed for the Canadian Championship. Heather began umpiring in 1929 and was Canada's longest serving umpire when he retired. He was appointed to many international assignments including the Australian Good Will Tour and the inaugural First Class Status match ever held in Canada against the M.C.C.

Heather also started a school for cricket umpires. As principal of the school, he set a curriculum to ensure a high standard of officials for the future of Canadian cricket matches. He was instrumental in starting a junior cricket league in Toronto which resulted in the forming of 18 junior cricket clubs in 1931 that provided cricket for as much as 300 junior players each season.

The Canadian cricket community lost a legend when he died February 22, 1976, in Toronto. During his lifetime, he contributed to the building of Canada through cricket and his story is one to be celebrated and remembered.

West Indians started cricket in Hartford

On May 23-24 of this year (2010), an historic two-match series was staged between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Lauderhill, Florida. It was cited in a report in the cricinfo website as a part of a big dream by U.S. cricket authorities to try to get Americans interested in the game.

The playing of the game in the U.S. dates back to the 18th century, but since this happens to be a country where baseball is the game of the people, initiating the masses into the sport is going to be a massive task, the article said. Although the American interest in the game died out at the time of the Civil War, it could be a while yet before it catches on again.

Despite these sentiments, since the 1940s Hartford, Connecticut, which at one time had two of the best fields in the northeast region, if not throughout the U.S., has remained one of the mainstays of the game in the country.

It was started here by the first West Indians who made it to the Greater Hartford area. These men did not come as sports ambassadors. They came to work on the various farms and fields that were flourishing in this region in those days. Found to be very ambitious and hard working, the men brought not only their energies to sweat and toil in the fields but also their love of the game which was very popular in their homelands.

Boredom set in when they found themselves with nothing to do with their spare time. Not familiar with the local sports, some of them began playing the game of cricket on makeshift plots at the camps where they resided.

At first, gears were hard to come by but they improvised by making their own bats and balls and engaged in a popular version of the game known in the islands as “catchy shooby.”

Shortly after the word got out that they had started to play the game on the farms, with the help of one of the managers they were able to secure some gears and began to play matches between the various camps. Most of the matches at this time were played at the Bradley Field camp in Windsor, Connecticut.

In1947, two pioneers of the game in Hartford, Jamaicans Reginald Leslie and Noel Elliott, decided that the time had come to get the game started in the city, and began to recruit players from the camps in the area. They donated many hours and funds to get the game off on the right track, but because they had very little gears, no real playing fields and very few spectators, they found it somewhat difficult.

However, Lloyd Walford, a Jamaican living in Massachusetts, invited them to play in Boston, which at the time had three active teams. In Boston the men were hosted “in fine style,” given gears to play in and some to take back to Hartford to help with the promotion of the game.

Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, left, views exhibits at the Cricket Hall of Fame. At right, former Minister of state Delano Franklyn is presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from president Shirley Matthews.

Plans to induct Lawrence Rowe put on hold

By STAN WALKER

Former Jamaican and West Indies star batsman Lawrence Rowe is one of the top nominees for induction into the Cricket Hall of Fame this year. Besides George Headley, Rowe who now lives in Florida is regarded as one of the greatest cricket talents ever to come out of Jamaica and the West Indies. The 302 runs which he scored against England in 1974 is one of the greatest innings ever played by a West Indian in Test cricket, a large number of sports writers in the region have agreed.

Director of the Hall of Fame Michael Chambers said that he is very delighted with the nominations that have come in favoring Rowe, but because of some feedback that he is getting in relation to Rowe’s visit to South Africa with a West Indian rebel team during the apartheid days, he has decided to put his induction on hold.

“I would like to get an official notification from the Jamaican cricket authorities and political leadership that the ban that was placed against him has been lifted and that they have forgiven him for what many term just a mistake,” he said.

Chambers also had the opportunity to put the issue to former Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, and former Minister of State Delano Franklyn, who recently visited the Hall of Fame. While Patterson was in Hartford to be the keynote speaker at the West Indian Social Club’s 60th anniversary, Franklyn was here to promote his two latest books “Michael Manley, The Politics of Equality” and “Sprinting into History.”

Two ardent cricket fans, who said that they were impressed with the displays at the Hall of Fame, they were asked to give their feelings on the issue, and to offer any assistance that they could to help Chambers obtain the information that he is seeking from Jamaica.

Patterson who seemed to be very excited about the nominations that have come in for Rowe, promised that when he returns to Jamaica he will mention it to the president of the Jamaica Cricket Board and suggest to him that he formulate a discussion with the Minister of Sport on the matter and to submit a letter to the Hall of Fame as soon as the discussion is completed.

“Speaking personally, we were upset with Rowe at the time,” he said. “Then Prime Minister Michael Manley is a cricket man. We were very disappointed but we all make mistakes in life but there will come a time for forgiveness.”

He mentioned the situation which developed with another of the island’s sports hero, Merlyn Ottey, who took out citizenship in another country and ran for them in the Olympics. “It was decided afterwards to forgive her and restore her successes as a top athlete of Jamaica,” he said.

Franklyn, who said that Rowe happens to be one of the best batsmen that he has ever seen, supported the director in his decision and promised to do some research on the issue when he returns home. “I will inform you of my findings as soon as I am able to,” he said.

Former Gleaner sports writer Tony Becca, who was inducted into the institution in 2005, was also approached to give his views on the issue. Showering Rowe with high praises, he said, “I will support the induction of Rowe. There is no question about it; he is a great Jamaican and West Indies cricketer.

“It is true that he did go to South Africa, but all men make errors and all should be forgiven. I have been to South Africa three times, and I believe based on what I have heard and seen in South Africa that the visit of the Rebel West Indies team in 1983 and 1984 assisted in the breaking up of apartheid. As far as the Jamaican people are concerned they seem to have forgiven him. Every time he comes to Jamaica he is welcomed wherever he goes.”

Becca also said that Manley forgave him to the extent that before he (Manley) died, he was trying to get Rowe to come to Jamaica as a coach. Manley told me that himself. I believe that he should be seriously considered for and given the honor.”

Despite his decision, Chambers has indicated that regardless of the results of his request for the official statements from Jamaica, Rowe will definitely be among the top candidates for induction in next year’s class.

West Indians started cricket in Hartford

By STAN WALKER
At one time having two of the best fields in the northeast region, if not throughout the U.S., the city of Hartford has remained one of the mainstays of the game of cricket which began in this country more than 200 years ago. During the early days, however, the game was not played in these parts. However, with the arrival of a group of enterprising West Indians, it did not take long for the game to rear its head.
Standing, from left: Vincent Elliott, Luther Wright, Leslie Murray, Sidney Elliott, Freddie Elliott, Vincent Crockett and Ashley Bean. Kneeling: Ivan Redwood, Reginald Leslie (Captain), Desmond Blake, Noel Elliott (Vice Captain) and Ashley Williams

The first West Indians to make it to the Greater Hartford area did not come as sports ambassadors. They came to work on the various farms and fields that were flourishing in those times. Although very ambitious and hard-working, the men brought not only their sweat and toil in the fields but also their love of a game which was very popular in their homeland.

It was in the 1940s when the first group of men arrived. Boredom set in when they found themselves with nothing to do with their spare time. Not familiar with the local sports, some of the men began playing the game of cricket on make-shift plots in the camps where they resided. At first, gears were hard to come by but they improvised by making their own bats and balls and engaged in a popular version of the game known in the islands as “catchy shooby.”

Shortly after word got out that they had started to play the game on the farms, with the help of one of the managers they were able to secure some gears and as a result began to play matches between the various farms. Most of the matches were played at the Bradley Field camp.

In1947, two pioneers of the game in Hartford, Jamaicans Reginald Leslie and Noel Elliott deciding that it was time to get the game started in Hartford, began recruiting players from the camps in the Greater Hartford area. They donated many hours and funds to get the game off on the right track, but because they had very little gears, no real playing fields and very few spectators, they found this somewhat difficult.

With the help of Lloyd Walford, a Jamaican living in Massachusetts, they were invited to play in Boston, which at the time had three active teams. In Boston, the men were hosted “in fine style,” given gears to play in and some to take back to Hartford to help with their game.

Shortly afterwards, a league started in Massachusetts and through Leslie’s drive the Hartford team was able to take part in the competition. With regular recruiting and increased interest, the team became so good that they beat all the teams in Massachusetts. They then went in search of new foes, their next opponent being the Canadians. This followed with them taking on a strong New York team led by another cricket stalwart of the region, James Gabriel.. This match was played at Colts Park.

The game and the team continued to progress in the area with the highlight was during the 1951 season when the team hosted a team from the British warship HMS Sniper, that had arrived at the New London base.

Around this same time, the West Indian Social Club started its own team, at the time the only one in the Hartford. Subsequently as the game developed and more West Indians started to arrive in the area, it became inevitable that more teams would be formed. This did not only materialize, but with the securing of the Keney Park field (Ridgefield Street), the local teams began to compete in a New York league. A Connecticut Cricket League was eventually started and today it has as many as 10 teams participating.

Leslie, who throughout the years held various posts including captain, manager and promoter of the original team is regarded by many as the person mainly responsible for getting the game started in Hartford. Elliott, revered as one of the best cricketers to come to Hartford, also held similar positions with the team before retiring from the game.

As it stands today, Hartford has six active teams and three very good fields. Although many may be of the opinion that the game is dying, cricket can be said to be still alive and well in the Hartford area.

Cricket Hall of Fame praised for maintaining high standards

     Well known New York’s cricket administrator, Mascelles Bailey, praised the Cricket Hall of Fame for its dedication and for maintaining high standards. “This is what can happen when we work together,” he said, following his induction into the 27-year-old institution, Saturday, September 20 at ceremonies held at the Marriott Hotel, Hartford, Connecticut.

     Bailey, a Financial Consultant and former president of the legendary Metropolitan Cricket League in New York, said that most of his spare time was dedicated to cricket and that he had decided to give whatever service he can to the sport in New York.              

       Roy Sweeney, right, introduces Mascelles Bailey at ceremony.

     “Our hearts are in the right place. The power of cricket unites us. We are all united in our cause towards cricket in the U.S.,” he said, while paying tribute to a number of individuals which included Roy Sweeney, Clifford Hinds, Hugh Pitter, John Aaron, Lloyd Scott and Lee Ramsay, whom he said played outstanding roles in the promotion of the sport in New York “

     He singled out Sweeney, as a tireless advocate for the sport at all levels whose dedication to cricket in the U.S. is unmatched. “He is a man who thinks big, one who is dedicated and visionary,” Bailey said. As president of the United States Cricket Promoters Association, Sweeney was responsible for bringing the full West Indies’ team to New York to play on more than one occasion. He was resolute in keeping the game of cricket alive in North America, pouring 40 years of experience in all aspects of the game into an organization which he designed to make a lasting impact on the sport with the simple objective to foster and promote cricket at its highest level in the U.S.

     Bailey also praised Hinds, a former officer of the USACA, for his outstanding work with the development of youth cricket in the U.S.

     “I live by a simple maxim to serve,” he said. “Each day I seize on every chance I get to serve. He who serves best is he who serves the most,” he said, declaring that no other sport engenders such great passion and following as that of cricket.

     “Keeping the game alive in New York is not an easy task,” he said, and paid tribute to the many women who help out each weekend at the parks. However, in my mind, he said that the individuals who show up first at the park for a game, who are also the last ones to leave, who will spend their own money, time and energy so that others can enjoy themselves to my mind are the true heroes of the game in the U.S.