Famous Cricketers No 71 - J.D.C.Goddard

was callously bypassed, even though his own form, as he amply demonstrated against Australia at Barbados in 1955, was still quite good. As Gomez and Stollmeyer had both retired by 1957, there was no obvious ‘white’ choice to lead the expedition to England that summer. The West Indian public had rejected outright the choice of Denis Atkinson, and the only other alternative was the relatively green and untried Bruce Pairaudeau. Neither of these players could be assured of a place in the Test team (or of the respect of their more experienced colleagues). Hence Goddard, now obviously past his prime, had to be recalled at the age of 38. Two years previously, he had made his peace with the Board by agreeing to accompany a young squad to New Zealand in the capacity of player/manager. Appearing in 3 Tests on that tour, he had headed the batting averages with 147 runs when he lost his wicket only once in four visits to the crease. The West Indian failure in 1957 to repeat the triumphs of 1950 was promptly attributed, especially by disappointed Caribbean journalists back home, to Goddard’s inadequacies as a leader. In fact, however, the West Indian selectors had handicapped themselves from the start by refusing to include a recognized wicket-keeper in the squad. They also preferred to select the ageing Nyron Asgarali and Andy Ganteaume as opening batsmen rather than such young rising stars as Conrad Hunte and Cammie Smith. While the main fast bowlers, Roy Gilchrist and Wesley Hall, were as yet too green and inexperienced, the chief spinners, Ramadhin and Valentine, were already past their prime. A potent England, perhaps stronger than at any time before or since, could not then be withstood. Goddard’s team lost the series 3-0 but could easily have been white-washed had it not been for the captain himself, who held the fort valiantly at Edgbaston (batting resolutely for 40 minutes for 0 not out) and at Trent Bridge (where he scored a match-saving 61 in just under four hours of dogged defiance). The critics of Goddard’s leadership have also failed to examine his record as a captain of Barbados. He led that colony on 13 occasions and lost only once - in a very close tussle (by one wicket) - to the MCC in 1953/54. That solitary loss he almost transformed into a victory by some magnificent bowling on the last day, when he took 5/43 from 27 of the most searching overs. Requiring 196 to win, the visitors were reduced by Goddard, Atkinson and Sobers to 184/9 and were lucky to escape. Fred Trueman, with 9 not out, made his runs largely off the edge and Alan Moss, playing as if in the dark, eventually won the match with three leg byes off a ball from Atkinson that had beaten him conclusively and narrowly missed his off-stump. It is certainly worthy of note that Barbados, under Goddard, did not lose a single game in regional competition between 1946 and 1956. After retiring from first-class cricket, Goddard continued to serve the game in one administrative capacity and another. He remained an active member of the BCA Board of Management from 1952 to 1965, serving as its vice-president during the last six of those years. He helped to select teams to represent both Barbados and the West Indies in the early 1960s. He was honoured with an OBE in 1951 and had the satisfaction of seeing the BCA erect the John Goddard Gates at the Kensington Oval in April 1986. The BCA also honoured him posthumously during its centenary celebrations in 1992. He had died, with tragic suddenness on 26 August 1987 in London at the age of 68. He was visiting England that summer as a special guest of the MCC to attend its Bi-Centenary Match. Beyond the cricket boundary, John had served for many years as a company accountant and one of the directors of Goddard Enterprises Ltd. He had also taken a keen interest in horse-racing, owning a number of successful racehorses himself and giving staunch support to the Barbados Turf Club (BTC). 8