Famous Cricketers No 94 - Alfred Lewis Valentine

fine piece of out-cricket gave Conrad Hunte and Joseph Solomon their memorable opportunities to run out the last two batsmen (Wally Grout and Ian Mekiff). After retiring from first-class cricket, Valentine served for some years as cricket coach to the Sugar Labour Welfare Board in Jamaica. He then played briefly in the Birmingham League in the United Kingdom before emigrating to the United States, where he lived in relative obscurity until his death on 11 May 2004. It is almost immoral for one of the greatest left-arm spin bowlers in cricket’s history still to be waiting, more than 50 years after his magical deeds in England, for some kind of public recognition. Surely it is time that the Jamaican government, the Jamaican Cricket Association, the West Indies Cricket Board, the Centre for Cricket Research in Barbados, or some other institution, commissioned a full-fledged biography of him. 1949/50 Valentine made his first-class début in January 1950 when, at the age of 19 years 271 days, he was selected to represent Jamaica against Trinidad at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. Batting first, Jamaica collapsed for 155 against the brilliant bowling of Sonny Ramadhin (5/39), Prior Jones (3/48) and Wilfred Ferguson (2/67). Trinidad replied with 581/2 declared when Jeffrey Stollmeyer (261) Kenny Trestrail (161*) and Andy Ganteaume (147) all made centuries. The visitors then could muster only 230 in their second innings when Ferguson (7/67) and Ramadhin (3/67) proved irresistible. Although he took no wickets for 111 runs, Valentine was easily the steadiest bowler for his side. His 39 overs included 7 maidens. In the second match of the tournament, Valentine took 2/79 from 39.2 overs. His first victim was Gerry Gomez whom he caught and bowled at 99 when Trinidad scored 373. This game ended in a draw. Valentine’s score of 12 runs in his second innings long remained his highest in first-class cricket. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 1. Jamaica v Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, January 25, 26, 27, 28, 30 (Trinidad won by an innings and 196 runs) c S.C.Guillen b S.Ramadhin 6 155 39 7 111 0 581-2d c D.St E.Atkinson b W.Ferguson 12 230 2. Jamaica v Trinidad, Port-of-Spain, February 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 (Match drawn) run out 5 204 39.2 9 79 2 G.E.Gomez c and b 373 1 W.Ferguson c S.R.Goodridge did not bat - 276-4d - - - - 22/3 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Other matches 2 3 0 23 12 7.66 - - 1 Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i 10m Other matches (6-ball) 78.2 16 190 2 2-79 95.00 - - 1950 - West Indians in England Although Valentine had played in only two first-class matches and taken only two wickets at prohibitive cost, he was chosen for the tour of England largely at the prompting of Gerry Gomez and Jeffrey Stollmeyer who had been very impressed by his unerring accuracy and his uncanny ability to spin the ball more vigorously than others. He amply justified the selectors’ faith in him by capturing 123 wickets in 21 matches this summer. In the four Tests, he was easily the most successful bowler on either side, claiming 33 wickets at 20.42 runs apiece. He bowled magnificently at Old Trafford, Lord’s and The Oval and was deservedly chosen one of Wisden ’s ‘Five Cricketers of the Year’. He was one of the most important reasons why the West Indies won the Test series 3-1. At the start of the season, Valentine had some difficulty adjusting to the cold and wet conditions. He began somewhat 9