–Sir Clive Lloyd declares
GUYANA was recognised for its historic win of both the Shell Shield First-Class and the Geddes Grant/Harrison Line 50-Overs cricket matches back in 1983 at a 40th Anniversary Dinner and Gala at the Ramada Georgetown (Princess) Hotel on Friday night.
Sir Clive Lloyd was captain when Guyana won the Shell Shield title in 1985, but the 1983 double was the first time any team had won both titles in the same season.
Besides Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) officials, special guests included Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Mr. Charles Ramson Jr, as well as the families and friends of the 1983 Guyana team, and new West Indies fast-bowling sensation Shamar Joseph.
Sir Clive spoke of the team’s journey during the 1983 tournament, saying that although Roger Harper led Guyana to the double in 1993, there could never be a second first.
The Skipper also attributed their success to teamwork, since it was a team without too many big-name players.
Apart from Lloyd, only Clyde Butts, Faoud Bacchus and Harper had ever played Test cricket.
Rated the most successful Captain to have presided over most of West Indies’ 29 unbeaten series from 1980-1995, Sir Clive reminisced on their historic run during the 1983 season, when Guyana became the first team to capture both the First-Class and 50-Overs titles.
The legendary West Indies skipper couldn’t help poking a bit of fun at his old teammates, further adding to the camaraderie of the occasion. Hailing them for the indomitable team spirit they displayed back then, he said that maybe all of them could easily play Test Cricket today.
THE FALLEN THREE
Sir Clive Lloyd, who led West Indies to 11 consecutive Test victories (a record which was subsequently broken by Australia), used the occasion to remember those of his fallen comrades, namely Roy Fredricks, Andrew Lyght and Butts. Fredricks, a government minister at the time, had come out of retirement to score 136 against T&T, and 217 against Jamaica to become the only sitting MP in the World to score a first-class double century.
Lyght, on the other hand, who was represented by his son at the event, had scored two centuries and three fifties, while Butts finished with 25 wickets.
Minister Ramson, in his feature address on behalf of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who is in St. Vincent & the Grenadines on State duties, told the gathering that Guyana is a country built on cricket.
“It is who we are; we wanted to outdo the English, and for the period when Sir Clive was among the best in the world and he won the World Cup in 1975, and what it did was inject a level of confidence and pride into us as Guyanese,” he said, adding:
“We are all distinctly West Indian, but the one essential ingredient is cricket. It is our most successful sport, and it is a way of life.”
Himself a former first-division left-arm spinner for the Everest Cricket Club, Minister Ramson said in conclusion:
“Playing with passion and pride, the generations before us did that. We want to thank the players and former GCB President Major General Norman McLean.
GCB Secretary Ronald Williams, who spoke on behalf of GCB President Bissoon Singh in his absence, gave a statistical account of the 1983 series, highlighting the top performers in the four-day tournament.
He also mentioned Derek Kallicharran, who made an unbeaten 68 in a crucial partnership with Milton Pydanna in the 50-over final against Jamaica, and Garfield Charles, who captured 5-18 in that game as Jamaica were bundled out for 83.
Shamar Joseph, who had a seven-wicket haul in only his second Test to set up the first Test win by a West Indies team in 27 years in Australia, soaked up knowledge and tricks from the old-school gang of stalwarts, as he mixed and mingled with the experienced group.
The 1983 team: Sir Clive Lloyd (Cap’t), Faoud Bacchus (Vice-Cap’t), Roger Harper, Derek Kallicharran, Garfield Charles, Milton Pydanna, Tyrone Etwaroo, Monty Lynch, Leslaine Lambert, Ray Joseph, Kamal Singh, and William White, Roy Fredericks (Manager/Player), Andrew Lyght, and Clyde
Butts. Unfortunately, the latter three men are now deceased.
Each member of that side was presented with Guyana Caps, while a bust of Sir Clive Lloyd was unveiled.
Today from14.00hrs at the Everest Ground, a memorial T20 game will be played for Clyde Butts, who died last December at 66.
