Everton Weekes: The cricket legend in the West Indies is dying at the age of 95
He was one of the “three WSs” – along with Frank Worrel and Clyde Walcott – who put Barbados and West Indies cricket on the map in the 1950s.
Cricket West Indies paid tribute to Weekes, tweeting, “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of the icon. Legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of the icon. Legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes.
Weekes made his test debut at the age of just 22, during a 1947-48 English Caribbean tour.
In the same year, it became the first machine gun to achieve five test centuries in a row by insertion – a record that stands to this day.
The record could have been six consecutive centuries had it not been for 90 years in Madras.
Weekes ’relatively diminished rarity prevented him from dominating the opponent’s bowling attacks.
Weekes was predicted to continue performing and delivering for the West West India, and he really did.
He ended his international playing career in 1958 by collecting 4,455 test runs for an average of 58.61 and 15 centuries. Weekes ’average remains among the top 10 career averages for a player with more than 4,000 runs.
Race and barriers
Weekes was born in a world still full of systemic and social racism.
Even after his famous playing career was faced with discrimination because of Weekes.
On the day of the trip, Weekes joined his white teammates for a drink at the Gwelo bar, but upon arrival he was individually told, “Come out, you know where your bar is.”
Weekes and former West Indies teammate Rohan Kanhai threatened to leave the tour, but remained after an apology from government officials.
Discrimination did not stop there and, although Weekes was said to be a benevolent and quiet person, he was not afraid to resist racism.
Although officials denied it at the time, the game against the local side of Gwel – now known as Gweru in Zimbabwe – was moved from ground in the white area to substandard ground in the black area due to Weekes and Kanhai’s presence on the touring side.
The white local approached the great Bayan before the game and barked, “Tell you there … Weekes, I know you’re going to give us a first-class show, right?” as long as he waves his finger.
Then the 42-year-old replied, “Well, since this is a second-class place, it’s going to be a second-rate show.”
Weekes deliberately outscored his first ball and left, not waiting to see if he was caught.
Today
Weekes suffered a heart attack in June last year, but became famous for having his 95th birthday in February this year.
It has been announced that both England and the West Indies will label the T-shirt series with the Black Lives Matter logo.
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