Windies legend Weekes dead
Bridgetown, July 2: Everton Weekes, who formed one of the famous three “Ws” of West Indian cricket as part of a formidable batting lineup for more than a decade, has died. He was 95.
West Indies Cricket said the Barbados-born Weekes died Wednesday. He played alongside Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott, with all three players making their Test debuts in 1948.
He was also a highly respected coach, analyst, team manager, match referee for the International Cricket Council, and a member of the ICC Hall of Fame.
Weekes made his Test debut at the age of 22 against England at Kensington Oval. His final match was against Pakistan in Trinidad a decade later.
In his career, Weekes played 48 test matches and made 4,455 runs at an average of 58.61 per innings. That included a world-record five consecutive centuries in 1948 scores of 141 against England in Jamaica, followed by scores of 128, 194, 162 and 101 in India. In his next innings, he
made 90 when he was run out.
Worrell died in 1967 and Walcott in 2006.
His average of 58.61 runs places Weekes, along with George Headley, in the top 10 Test averages of all time.
“Everyone at MCC and Lord’s are saddened at the
news of Sir Everton Weekes’ passing,” the Marylebone Cricket Club said in a statement.
ICC RECALLS EXPLOITS OF WEEKES
Meanwhile, The International Cricket Council on Thursday condoled the death of West Indies batting great Everton Weekes, saying that he was an integral part of one of the best Test sides ever.
In a statement, the global body’s chief executive Manu Sawhney remembered the ICC Cricket Hall of Famer as a top player of his era and one whose performances will be long remembered.
“Weekes is a distinguished name in cricket and he was an integral member of one of the best Test sides ever. We all know of the ‘The Three Ws’ that comprised Frank Worrell, Clyde Walcott and Weekes, and the reputation they had during the 1940s and 50s,” Sawhney said.
“His attacking batting contributed in making the West Indies such an attractive side to watch. To be in that team itself was such a big honour, but there were times when Weekes really stood apart with his distinct style. On behalf of everyone at the ICC, I send our sincere condolences to his family and friends,” he added.
Weekes officiated as an ICC match referee in three Tests and four ODIs, all in 1994.