Andy Ganteaume

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = West Indian
country = West Indies
country abbrev = WI
name = Andy Ganteaume
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style = N/A (wicket-keeper - WK)
tests = 1
test runs = 112
test bat avg = 112.00
test 100s/50s = 1/0
test top score = 112
test balls = 0
test wickets = N/A
test bowl avg = N/A
test 5s = N/A
test 10s = N/A
test best bowling = N/A
test catches/stumpings = 0/0
FCs = 50
FC runs = 2,785
FC bat avg = 34.81
FC 100s/50s = 5/17
FC top score = 159
FC balls = 48
FC wickets = 0
FC bowl avg = N/A
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = N/A
FC catches/stumpings = 34/3
debut date = 11 February
debut year = 1948
last date = 16 February
last year = 1948
source = http://content.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/51874.html

Andrew ("Andy") Gordon Ganteaume (born January 22, 1921) was a West Indian cricketer who played as an opening batsman and occasional wicketkeeper. He was born in Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

He is noteworthy for scoring 112 in his only Test innings, against England at Port of Spain in 1947/48, which gives him a higher batting average than even Donald Bradman, who is universally considered the greatest batsman in the game's history. However, lists of all-time averages rarely include those who have played fewer than 20 innings, thus Ganteaume's higher average is treated merely as an interesting statistical anomaly, not as evidence that he was a better player than Bradman.

There are several possible reasons why this proved to be his only Test innings. He was selected because several players were injured and these players soon returned and the West Indies had a very strong batting line up during his prime with Frank Worrell, Clyde Walcott and Everton Weekes dominating the middle order. Jeff Stollmeyer, who missed the match with a pulled hamstring, wrote: "Andy's innings in its later stages was not in keeping with the state of the game and his captain Gerry Gomez was forced to send a message out to him to 'get on with it'." The game was drawn and perhaps Ganteaume unfairly took the blame in the eyes of the selectors.

In the West Indian domestic game, Ganteaume played first-class cricket for Trinidad from 1940/41 until 1957/58, hitting five centuries in all, although his batting declined in effectiveness after 1950/51. Nevertheless he was chosen for the 1957 party for England, and in fact played 19 of his 50 first-class matches on this tour. As the second or even third wicketkeeper, he did not make it into the Test side, however, with Gerry Alexander as the first choice and young Rohan Kanhai the challenger, and after his return played only two more first-class games: one against the touring Pakistanis in 1957/58, and a final match - at the age of 42 - for the renamed Trinidad and Tobago side five years later.

Ganteaume acted as match referee in a Red Stripe Cup game between Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana in 1996/97.

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