FORMER Guyana and West Indies and batsman Alvin Kallicharran, who also plied his trade for Warwickshire in English County cricket, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Kallicharran was among the top batsmen in West Indies during the 1970s and many felt his potential was only partly fulfilled.
According to Indian journalist Suraj Choudhari, “despite his short stature, Kallicharran had the elegance, the charm and almost every stroke in his armoury. His balance was just perfect and was equally equipped against any kind of attack.

He rendered batting a joy to behold; the southpaw won thousands of hearts with his graceful stroke-play and was a vital cog in the side during his playing days.
“Kallicharran’s footwork was a joy to watch, it was dazzling. He could play strokes off the front foot as well as off the back foot; there was no major weakness in his technique. He had the hunger to score big and was a plucky striker of the cricket ball.”

Kallicharran was a part of the West Indies side that won the World Cup in 1975 and 1979. He was the highest run-scorer in the 1975 World Cup, scoring 197 runs with an average of 49.25, 78 being his highest score.

He was also named as the Wisden Cricketer-of-the-Year in 1973 and led the West Indies side in 1977-78 when Clive Lloyd resigned.

Kallicharran made his Test debut against New Zealand at Bourda in 1972, scoring an emphatic ton against New Zealand at Georgetown in 1972 and followed this up with another century at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago the following Test. He recorded his highest score in Test cricket against India in Mumbai in 1978, smashing 187.

Kallicharran ended his Test career with 4 399 runs along with 12 centuries at an astounding average of 44.43 in 66 Tests. In the ODIs, he featured in 31 games, scoring 826 runs at 34.41.