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GuyanaChronicle ChronicleNew New York York Edition EditionWeek-ending Week-ending June June 23, 23, 2017 2017 Guyana
Rohan Kanhai and Lance Gibbs did us proud
The "Bholalall" scored separate hundred in each innings; Gibbs achieved the rare feat of a hat-trick in Test cricket
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f the West Indies cricket tour of Australia in 1960/61 was dramatic and entertaining, it was not just that the quality of play was superb; it was the sportsmanship that was rigorously tested, and mutually admired. No wonder the tour produced the (then) unique result of a tied Test in the first match at Brisbane, and also contrived to evoke a spontaneous outpouring of people on the streets at Melbourne to bid goodbye to the tourists as they were about to depart from Australia at the end of the tour.
In Tony Cozier’s piece, ‘Reflecting on a rich past’ he wrote: “on the eve of their departure, someone had the idea to stage a motorcade for the popular losers through the streets of Melbourne. Nearly 100,000 turned out-and this was at a time when Australia still observed a whites-only immigration policy. It was a highly significant chapter in West Indian cricket history, the first time they were led on tour by a Black captain, Frank Worrell. The captaincy of the cricket team was a post previously preserved for the three per cent White elite, and Worrell was only appointed after a hard-fought campaign. There were those waiting for him to fail to say ‘we told you so’. That the opposite was the case was an enormous fillip to the people’s self-esteem. The second and third Test matches were almost as absorbing as the first. So was the fourth, although it is nowadays almost forgotten, except for the crucial incident in the final session of play on the final day. So much so, but how many of you remember the outstanding performances by the two Guyanese heroes; Rohan Kanhai and Lance Gibbs? As a matter of fact, by virtue of their outstanding performances they were considered then as the best in the world. Rohan Kanhai became the first West Indian to score a hundred in each innings of a Test match in Australia. As for Gibbs, who achieved the rare feat of a hat-trick in Test cricket. It is the only hat-trick in an Adelaide Test. There was a big question mark against Gibbs’ name when he arrived in Australia. True, he had done reasonably well at home in his first series against Pakistan. But since then he had a lean time in India and Pakistan, and had not played at all in the series against England. Generally, he was regarded as a sort of second-string bowler, as one who would do a lot of work in the state matches and so allow the famous Sonny Ramadhin to be at his best in the Tests. Thus, more than a few eyebrows were raised when Frank Worrell told the press before a ball was bowled in the series: “Gibbs can well prove the sensation of our tour.” Worrell, of course, proved to be correct but it didn’t look so for the first four matches when Gibbs, like the other West Indian bowlers was hit all over the place. Nor did it look like anything more than wishful thinking, when Gibbs pulled a muscle before the first Test and, consequently could not be considered for that or the second. But then came the third Test. Ramadhin was dropped — a sensation in itself! Gibbs took his place, and the Guyanese icon, bowling in tandem with Alf Valentine, almost collected a hat-trick, as he took three wickets in four balls and propelled the visitors to a comprehensive win. He followed up this feat with a most astonishing one — a hat-trick in a Test in Australia since 1903-04 and the second West Indian to do so. According to Gibbs: “I can remember that quite clearly. It sticks out as one of my
better performances. I had two for about 60 at the time and I first dismissed Ken Mackay lbw and then Wally Grout was caught by Sobers at short-leg and a fellow by the name of Frank Mission was coming out to bat, so we had the fielders crowd round him, as we put the pressure on, but he was expecting me to get up in the air with an off-spinner, but I bowled a real quick delivery and before he could have brought the bat down, he was bowled, in any language, that was sensational! Gibbs followed this with four wickets for 74 runs in Australia’s first innings in the final match at Melbourne, after playing in three Test matches, he found himself heading the bowling averages with 19 wickets at 20.28 each. In Rohan Kanhai, West Indies had one of the true originals of modern batting. Small and perfectly balanced, Kanhai had all the conventional shots, plus many inventions of his own — particularly a sweep hook on the
Rohan ‘Bholalall’ Kanhai in action
leg side into which he would put all his weight and after fell over in the follow through. From his first Test in 1957, he played 61 international matches without a break and, although the range of his shots and exciting attacking play made him appear an impetuous batsman, he was in fact extremely consistent and rarely threw his wicket away when there was a big score to be made. When the fourth Test opened at Adelaide Oval, both teams had won one match each, and it was evident that whichever side won the fourth Test would have the advantage of setting the tactical agenda for the fifth and final Test: the fourth Test could therefore be decisive in the rubber. Immediately before this Test, the West Indies showed excellent form in annihilating a weak South Australian County Eleven by an innings and 215 runs. Sobers and Joe Solomon, for instance, scored a century partnership in only thirty-nine minutes. The Australians, on the other hand, seemed less buoyant: because of illness and injury, they had to leave out three of their most reliable players — Davidson, Meckiff and Harvey. The match opened on a scorching, hot day, and Hunte (6) went early, lbw to Hoare: 12 for one. Kanhai and Cammie Smith scored quickly until Smith (28) was caught and bowled by Benaud only to be followed by Sobers (1) being bowled by Benaud: 91 for
by SHAN RAZACK
three. Skipper Worrell and Kanhai scored at back until about 5.30 p.m when West Indies breakneck speed, adding 107 runs before were 432 for six, before declaring and giving Kanhai (117) was caught at slip off Benaud: Australia 35 minutes to bat before close of 198 for four. It was a vintage innings, all play. He had left his opponents 460 runs to power, daring and speedy reflexes, and it was make in 395 minutes, an astute gamble that thanks mainly to Kanhai that West Indies he was well on his way to winning that very ended the day on 348 for seven, and finished day when McDonald (2), Favell (4) and the second day 393 all out. Worrell in his Simpson (3) were all back in the pavilion and usual consistent way contributed 71, Nurse the Australian score only 31. 49, and Alexander 63 not out. Benaud took On the final day, since the wicket was five wickets for 96 runs in 27 overs and Kline lifeless and of no use to Hall, it was Sobers, no wickets for 109 runs in 21 overs. It gives Gibbs and Valentine who carried the attack to some idea of how fast the West Indies made runs, the two main Australian bowlers conceded nearly four runs per over. In their reply, Australia lost Favell (1) at 9 and O’Neil (11) at 45. McDonald and Simpson steadied things with a stand of 74 before McDonald (71) was caught by Hunte off Gibbs: 119 for three. Then Simpson and Burge took the score to 213 when Burge (45) was bowled by Sobers. At the end of play, Australia had reached 221 for four, with Simpson on 85 and Benaud on 1. When play resumed the next day, Simpson fell for his Lancelot Richard Gibbs at nets overnight score early on the third day; but skipper Benaud rallied his troops by the Australians of whom O’Neil and Burge scoring a gallant 77, seeing his team through fought back most stoutly with a brave stand to a total of 336, only 27 behind the of 82. Runs were no matter. Survival was all, West Indies. and the air itself became heavy with concenIt was a splendid recovery, consid- tration, tension and desperation as, bit by bit ering that Australia were 221 for five wicket by wicket, the battle swung inexorably when Simpson was dismissed. Sobers towards the West Indies. took three for 64 in 24 overs and Gibbs After O’Neil was caught and bowled by five for 97 in 35.6 overs — it was 8- Sobers for 65 and Benaud dismissed in an balls an over then. Gibbs achieved the identical manner for 17, the score was 144 for rare feat of a hat-trick in Test cricket six. At tea, following an invaluable 42 from when he had Mackay lbw, Grout caught Grout, the total had moved to 203 for seven. by Sobers, and Mission clean bowled in At that stage, mere bowlers —Hoare, Mission consecutive deliveries. It is the only hat- and Kline remained. Of these, Mission (1) trick in an Adelaide Test. was caught by Solomon off Worrell, and Cammie Smith — Pat Legall’s Hoare (0) was bowled by Worrell; 207 for bunny at Bourda — roared ahead like nine. Now Mackay and Kline, Australia’s last an out-of-control fire engine, when West In- pair, stood between West Indies victory. dies second innings started. In just about one Surely they could not survive for long! This hour he scored 46 blistering runs, including thought was evidently in the minds of the 10 fours. When he was caught by Hoare off West Indies players, when, with almost an Mackay with the score at 66, he had set the hour’s play remaining. Mackay pushed fortone of dash and daring. The tone perfectly ward to Worrell and Sobers caught the ball. suited Kanhai, who went even faster than Sobers and other West Indies players, certain Smith, so that when stumps were drawn on Mackay was out, began to walk off the field. the fourth day, West Indies were 150 for one But Mackay stood his ground; and umpire wicket with Kanhai 59 not out, and Hunte 44 Egar’s finger did not budge. not out, although Hunte had started batting alThis was the crucial incident mentioned most one hour before his dashing partner. earlier; it changed the course of the match, Kanhai continued his fierce onslaught on and it turned out, the fate of the entire rubber. the fifth day, calling his partner for such sharp Try as they might, the West Indies bowlers singles that Hunte had to caution him. It was could not dislodge Mackay and Kline who in vain, however. For when he was on 99, on blocked, pushed, padded and defended for the verge of a separate hundred in each in- one hundred minutes until the game was nings of the same Test match, he called for an- drawn with the Australian score at 273 for other impossible single and caused poor nine: Mackay 62 not out and Kline 15 not out. Hunte to be run out for 79 after a dazzling From an Australian point of view, Mackay partnership that had realized 163 breathtaking and Kline were heroes. Today, it scarcely runs. seems possible that so much could have hapKanhai showed remorse by staying for pened in one match: one hundred in each innearly an hour on 103. He seemed to recover; nings by Kanhai, Gibbs’ hat-trick, Benaud’s but briefly; for he was soon lbw to Benaud for 200th Test wicket (not to mention his heroic 115 — the bowler’s 200th Test wicket. Kan- 77 not out in the first innings), Alexander’s 63 hai is the first West Indian to score a separate and 87 unbeaten in both innings, and hundred in each innings of a Test match in Mackay’s defiant 62 not out. For Australians Australia. His first hundred lasted 126 min- the last ditch heroism of Mackay and Kline utes, and his second 150 minutes. By tea on must stand out. But what probably stands out the fifth day West Indies had reached 360 with for most West Indians is the catch that the Alexander on 45 and Worrell 40. Worrell held record books tell us Sobers never took.