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(Part nine.) Leader supreme.
Clive Lloyd is automatically associated with the West Indies’ unprecedented period of dominance of world cricket: the era of invincibility in Test series from 1980 to 1995, via the fearsome foursomes and an array of world-class batsmen, including himself.
However, the big Guyanese left-hander had already left an indelible mark on the game by his own personal achievements years before.
So, when the first World Cup came around in 1975, he was at the peak of his batting powers. And, as a relatively new leader of the regional side, well-poised to make an impact at the two-week event.
It is therefore appropriate, having paid tribute to the absent Garry Sobers and the evergreen Rohan Kanhai in the last two editions of this countdown, that we place Lloyd’s career in context.
(via The Cricketer.)
There are now 42 days to go before the 50th anniversary of West Indies’ triumph over Australia in the final at Lord’s, which was Lloyd’s first major crowning moment of a glittering career as he was named Man of the Match for a scintillating hundred and lifted the trophy to the acclaim of thousands at the ground and, especially, the millions back home in the Caribbean.
For those who had followed his career to that point, it really should have been no surprise that Lloyd rose to the occasion, having already displayed a penchant for grand entrances.
Making his Test debut in Mumbai on the 1966/67 tour of India, he belted 82 in the first innings and an unbeaten 78 in the second, partnering skipper Sobers in taking the West Indies to a six-wicket win.
(via ICC.)
Facing England for the first time as a Test player, he stroked his maiden Test century, 118, in the first innings at the Queen’s Park Oval in 1968. Later that year, in his first encounter with the Australians, he compiled 129 in the second innings at Brisbane to play a key role in the visitors’ only victory of an ultimately disappointing series.
And then, having replaced Kanhai as West Indies captain following the drawn 1974 home series against England, he marked his captaincy debut with a blazing 163 in the second innings at Bengaluru to get his team off to a winning start in India.
An enthralling five-match duel would culminate in a Test-best unbeaten monumental 242, which took his team to victory and clinched the series 3-2.
(via Wisden.)
Not bad for someone who, just two years earlier, appeared to be cast in the wilderness before Guyana prime minister Forbes Burnham got him out of a club contract in Australia and back in the West Indies side in 1973—just in time for him to hammer 178 against the Aussies in front of an adoring audience at Bourda.
Truly, a man for the moment.
Next: Roy Fredericks – bring on the pace!
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Fazeer Mohammed is a journalist/broadcaster with almost 40 years’ experience across a range of media.
His interest in cricket, and particularly its history, started at home via his father’s small collection of autobiographies and magazines, offering perspectives and context which have informed his commentary and analysis on contemporary issues in the game.
