Sonny Ramadhin

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = West Indian
country = West Indies
country abbrev = WI
name = Sonny Ramadhin
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm off break
balls = true
tests = 43
test runs = 361
test bat avg = 8.20
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 44
test balls = 13939
test wickets = 158
test bowl avg = 28.98
test 5s = 10
test 10s = 1
test best bowling = 7/49
test catches/stumpings = 9/-
FCs = 184
FC runs = 1092
FC bat avg = 8.66
FC 100s/50s = -/-
FC top score = 44
FC balls = 44937
FC wickets = 758
FC bowl avg = 20.24
FC 5s = 51
FC 10s = 15
FC best bowling = 8/15
FC catches/stumpings = 38/-
debut date = June 8
debut year = 1950
last date = December 30
last year = 1960
date = 14 January
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/52804.html

Sonny Ramadhin (born May 1, 1929) was a West Indian cricketer, and a dominant bowler of the 1950s. He was the first (of many) West Indian cricketers of Indian origin, and was one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1951.

Biography and career

Ramadhin was born in Esperance Village, Trinidad and Tobago in 1929. His birth certificate had no first name, simply the descriptive "Boy". This easily turned into Sonny, giving rise to his "official" name. He was introduced to cricket at the Canadian Mission School in Duncan Village, Trinidad but did not bowl while in school. He later played for the Palmiste Club and the Trinidad Leaseholds team where he showed remarkable bowling prowess. His trials for the West Indian team were two first-class matches bowling for Trinidad versus Jamaica where he took 12 wickets at an average of 19.25 [http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1949-50/WI_LOCAL/JAM_TRINIDAD_02-08FEB1950.html] , [http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1949-50/WI_LOCAL/JAM_TRINIDAD_02-08FEB1950.html] . This amazing performance led to his selection for the 1950 tour to England at the age of 20.

His debut series was in 1950 in England. He and fellow spinner Alf Valentine dominated the English batting, taking 59 wickets between them. West Indies won this series by three matches to one, which was their first series victory in England. When England returned to the West Indies in early 1954, Ramadhin took 13 wickets in the first two Tests and was instrumental in West Indies' victory.

The 1950 triumph by the West Indies led Lord Beginner to write the first in a deluge of calypsos celebrating West Indian cricketers, giving rise to calypso cricket.

Though a wrist-spinner, his leg-break hardly turned; hence the description of him as an "off-spinner".

He has lived in England since coming over to play league cricket in the 1950s. In 1964/65 he played for Lancashire, terminating his contract abruptly when he lost form. ["The Cricketer", 1965] From 1968 until 1972, he represented Lincolnshire in the Minor Counties Championship.

References

External links

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/154617.html Ramadhin's Cricketer of the Year biography]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sport/2000/england_v_west_indies/765299.stm BBC overview of 1950 series]
* [http://www.caribbeancricket.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1391 Biography at Caribbean Cricket]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/1055666.stm Interview with Ramadhin at BBC]
* [http://www.meppublishers.com/online/caribbean-beat/archive/article.php?issue=71&id=cb71-2-82 Garry Steckles story on birth of calypso cricket]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/cricket/specials/west_indies_v_india/1912365.stm BBC history of East Indian cricketers in West Indies ]