Famous Cricketers No 73 - Sonny Ramadhin

were minimal. Although he headed his team’s first-class bowling averages with 24 wickets at 26.29 runs each, he played only in two Tests, claiming 3 very expensive wickets. He was replaced by Lance Gibbs, the young right-arm spinner from British Guiana, who was much more effective. Gibbs then embarked on a stellar career that yielded more than 300 Test wickets, and that was the end of the line for Ramadhin, who played his final Test at Melbourne in January 1961. His last Test wicket was that of Ken Mackay, whom he clean bowled for 74. It was his 158th, a mark no West Indian had ever reached before. Ramadhin’s record remained intact until Wes Hall surpassed it in 1966. It stood as the best by a West Indian spin bowler until Lance Gibbs eclipsed it in 1968. Ramadhin’s greatest moment on this tour came against Victoria at Melbourne in November when he captured 10/102 to establish against that state a West Indian record that still stands triumphantly after more than 40 years. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 137. West Indians v Western Australia, Perth, October 28, 29, 31, November 1 (Western Australia won by 94 runs) run out 13 97 5 0 14 1 R.B.Simpson c G.St A.Sobers 140 c B.L.Buggins b G.D.McKenzie 15 393 36.4 6 90 2 B.K.Shepherd c J.S.Solomon 444-5d H.K.Joynt c J.L.Hendriks 138. West Indians v Australian XI, Perth, November 4, 5, 7, 8 (Match drawn) c and b F.M.Misson 3 289-9d 11 4 28 3 R.N.Harvey c C.C.Hunte 194 K.N.Slater b B.N.Jarman b did not bat - 339-6d 4 0 18 0 384-8 139. West Indians v Victoria, Melbourne, November 18, 19, 21, 22 (West Indians won by an innings and 171 runs) b R.A.Gaunt 2 493 14.7 1 37 5 J.H.Shaw c C.C.Hunte 118 I.R.Huntington c J.L.Hendriks L.V.Maddocks b L.F.Kline b R.A.Gaunt st J.L.Hendriks 15 1 65 5 C.C.McDonald lbw 204 J.H.Shaw b I.R.Huntington c A.L.Valentine J.Potter c C.C.Hunte I.W.Quick c W.W.Hall 140. West Indians v New South Wales, Sydney, November 25, 27, 28 (New South Wales won by an innings and 119 runs) c G.F.Rorke b J.W.Martin 4 111 19 0 96 0 429-6d not out 16 199 141. WEST INDIES v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane, December 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 (Match Tied) c R.N.Harvey b A.K.Davidson 12 453 15 1 60 1 R.B.Simpson b 505 c R.N.Harvey b R.B.Simpson 6 284 17 3 57 1 K.D.Mackay b 232 142. West Indians v New South Wales, Sydney, December 23, 24, 26 (New South Wales won by an innings and 97 runs) c I.D.Craig b J.W.Martin 15 163 28 1 145 5 R.N.Harvey b 468 A.K.Davidson b R.Benaud st J.L.Hendriks J.W.Martin c J.L.Hendriks D.A.Ford c S.M.Nurse c B.C.Booth b R.Benaud 4 208 143. WEST INDIES v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne, December 30, 31, January 2, 3 (Australia won by seven wickets) b A.K.Davidson 0 181 5 0 21 1 K.D.Mackay b 348 st A.T.W.Grout b R.Benaud 3 233 - - - - 70-3 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Test matches 2 4 0 21 12 5.25 - - - Other matches 5 8 1 72 16* 10.28 - - - Tour 7 12 1 93 16* 8.45 - - - Career 143 141 43 863 44 8.80 - - 31 33