Our recent story on former Workington groundsman Ken Reed and the visit of the West Indies greats in 1951 has prompted a follow-up.
Ken was a little sketchy on details of the game at the Workington ground but another cricketing stalwart from West Cumbria, Gilbert Johnstone has actually tracked down the actual newspaper report.
It comes from the Whitehaven News of Thursday, July 24, 1951 under the headline Big hitting West Indians in a hurry.
A Commonwealth team captained by Clive Walcott the West Indian Test player, and containing five other West Indians, entertained a 2,000 crowd at Workington on Thursday, with some quick scoring in a drawn match with Cumberland and Westmorland.
Features of the game were a fourth wicket stand of 111 in 65 minutes between Weekes and Walcott, and some deadly spin bowling by Ramadhin.
All the West Indians were Test players with the exception of Wight, who is studying in this country.
The rest of the team comprised players from the Lancashire clubs, with whom the West Indians play.
Though the rate of scoring speeded up later in the game, the opening pair of Marshall and Banhan, were content to play mainly defensive shots and got at least one request from the crowd to “get a move on”.
Marshall, a bespectacled white West Indian, never seemed comfortable especially against Judge, the Carlisle professional, who eventually got him leg before.
Worrell pepped up the scoring with some nice shots, but 50 minutes had elapsed before the half century was reached.
The next 50, however were, added in 40 minutes and were a prelude to the real fireworks. On Walcott joining Weekes this pair treated the crowd to some really magnificent hitting.
Both were particularly strong on the leg side, with drives and pulls, and Walcott pulled one ball right over the top of the laundry. Altogether he hit four sixes and six fours in his 72 not out. Weekes hit 11 boundaries in his 70.
Judge and Heaton, both of Carlisle, were the two-counties best bowlers. Judge keeping an immaculate length, conceded only 33 runs in 14 overs. Heaton a young medical student, had the satisfaction of knocking down the off stick of both Worrell and Weekes. He bowled really well and sent down only two loose balls in 10 overs.
Denver (Whitehaven) was in his usual good form behind the wicket.
The West Indians declaired at 214 for five after about two-and-a-half hours play.
Wesson (Carlisle) and Eric Walmsley (Whitehaven) batted confidently against the bowling of Worrell, Townsend and Riley, and scored at a pretty fast rate. Then Walcott brought on Ramadhin and the position changed rapidly.
This little bowler delivers fairly fast spin balls with an impeccable length. Then he introduced a flighted leg break which completely deceived Walmsley and several batsmen after him.
But that he could be hit was demonstrated by Heaton, who cracked a six into the laundry while Driver (Carlisle), likewise cracked him to the boundary.
Cumberland and Westmorland had 100 on the board in 80 minutes, and at the end of the innings, which lasted 100 minutes, had scored 112 for the loss of eight wickets. Ramadhin took five for 20 and at one time had three for one.
