Contributed by Mail!
An Avid English Cricket Fan.
Alvin Kallicharran made batting look easy. He was graceful, stroking the cricket ball with effortless ease….such exquisite timing. Although well capable of clearing the boundary when the opportunity presented itself, he will remain in my memory for his grace, elegance and the simplicity he applied to his craft.
Alvin Isaac Kallicharran walked to the crease purposefully with short brisk steps donning a smile and he was graceful as he departed. Within a blink Kallicharan would be in the thirties on his way to another score of note, a great batsman who seems to be recognised and honoured with accolades away from his homeland.
When asked about great West Indies cricket players, not many will name Kallicharran. Similarly if you ask noted commentators about great West Indians, Kanhai is always mentioned in the top two but in the west indies he rarely, if ever, features when you name a best 11 in history.
There are few better players of the hook & the pull than Alvin Kallicharran. Just imagine, Dennis Lillee, without the helmet, hookinging him for 6, my god. Courage, conviction & a lot of class. A hallmark of Caribbean Cricket . Alvin Kallicharran is one of my favorite players. His confrontation with Lillee at the Oval is a classic.
It is said that Kallicharan sorted but failed to attract any interest from World Series Cricket and whether that is true or not for a man at the top of his profession in 1977, it is a highly debatable contention when you consider the likes of Des Haynes, James Allen and Richard Austin secured contracts. James Allen?
The WSC West Indians returned to the fold for the 1977/78 Australian visit, a team captained by Bobby Simpson as Des Haynes reminded me. This team contained talented but green players and West Indies won the first and second test after which all their Packer players were banned. Kallicharan took the mantel and promptly lost the test at the quaint and picturesque Bourda but managed to win the series 3-1. Kallicharan stayed on and lead the team to India, narrowly losing a six (6) test series with a very young inexperienced team.
Once the rebels returned and WSC finished 23rd February 1979 Kallicharan was dispensed with although he retained his place in the team. His tenure as Captain was unceremoniously bought to an abrupt end. His treatment did not suggest an iota of loyalty from the WICBC and it has irked me over the years as I imagine it did Kalli and others.
Kallicharan continued playing for Warwickshire, where he had been contracted since 1971, and played there for 19 seasons in total scoring over 18,158runs including 52 centuries and 78 fifties with a highest score of 243*.
Kallicharan toured India in 1974-75 and was named Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year 1975 and I believe a Bollywood film was inspired by and named after him soon after. In a story related by Kallicharan on arriving at the Airport Police question him and not believing he was with the West Indian touring party proceeded to hit him with a Lathi, stick, until he was rescued.
I saw so much of Kalli for Warwicks and even if he played against my team, whether at County or Country level, I always looked forward to his walk to the crease and pleased to see him leave as well because he was so professional and accumulated so well and quickly. He could really time a cricket ball without effort.
Controversially Kallicharran took part in the two rebel tours to South Africa in 1982/83 and 1983/84. He was later to play for Transvaal and Orange Free State. I vaguely recall his account of South Africa conditions at that time were not the best. The seven (7) rebel tours to South Africa no doubt lead to the reintroduction of South Africa to the International fold and contributed to the fall of apartheid.
In all first class cricket Alvin Isaac Kallicharran played 505 times scoring 32,650 runs with 83 hundreds and 160 fifties at an average of 43.64. A great West Indian and servant to his home country and caribbean cricket. If only his conversion rate was better!!
Quick hands and high backlift. Does that remind you of a modern left hander.
This guy was fearless and I loved everything about him. His walk to the crease, the effortless manner of his batting and yes a great hooker and puller like most smaller men.
We thank you.
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