BROWNE Cyril Rutherford ‘Snuffy’ Browne
D. O. B: October 8, 1890
St. Michael, Barbados
Died: January 12, 1964
Georgetown, Guyana Teams: West Indies, Barbados, British Guiana
Cyril Rutherford ‘Snuffy’ Browne was a right-handed batsman and medium-pace spin bowler who played in West Indies’ first two Test series in 1928 and 1930. He was born in Barbados but learnt and played most of his cricket in Guyana where he lived from an early age.
Browne made his mark prior to the days of West Indies Test cricket, as in 1923 in England, when he took 75 wickets including six for 66 against Somerset. In 1926 he scored a superb unbeaten century at Bourda against the touring MCC side after being struck on the head. By the time West Indies gained Test status Browne was nearly 40 years old and had past his best.
In the West Indies inaugural Test at Lord’s, he scored 44 in the second innings to prolong an eventual innings defeat. Outside of the Tests, he did show glimpses of his earlier skills by taking 8 for 81 against Derbyshire and hitting a swash-buckling match-winning century in an hour against Kent.
When West Indies claimed their first ever Test victory at Bourda in 1930, Browne cracked an unbeaten 70 on the heels of Clifford Roaches’ double-century and George Headley’s twin hundreds.
He was a magistrate by profession and later became the first Black West Indian to be elected to the honorary membership of the MCC.
RECORD
TESTS: 4 RUNS: 176 AVG: 25.14 HS: 70* vs. ENG., Bourda, 1930
WKTS: 6 AVG: 48.00 CATCHES: 1
(DIGICEL – Guyana’s Bigger, Better Network)