ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica’s former West Indies fast bowler Grayson Shillingford died early yesterday at age 65.
Shillingford, the first Dominican ever to play Test cricket, had been ailing for some time with cancer and succumbed to the illness earlier yesterday morning in Salisbury, located on the island’s west coast.
Given the Sisserou Award of Honour early last month at the 2009 Independence celebrations for his exploits on the cricket field, Shillingford had just returned to Dominica a month ago from his adopted homeland of Canada where he had been receiving treatment.
The fast bowler played seven Test matches for the West Indies between 1969 and 1972. He took 15 wickets at an average of 35.80, with his best returns being three for 63 off 26.5 overs against New Zealand at Sabina Park in Kingston in February 1972.
Shillingford played domestic cricket for Dominica, the Combined Islands and Windward Islands until the 1978-79 season.
During his 77 first-class matches played, he took 217 wickets at an average of 26.54, with best returns of six for 49 against Trinidad & Tobago in St Kitts.
Shillingford played 33 Shell Shield (first-class) matches between 1969 and 1979, taking 98 wickets at an average of 26.20 each. And, the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) yesterday expressed sadness over Shillingford’s passing.
In a press release yesterday afternoon, members and executive of WIPA “extended condolences to the bereaved relatives” of Shillingford, the first Dominican to play for West Indies.
WIPA President and Chief Executive Officer Dinanath Ramnarine described Grayson as “a model cricketer, who displayed all those fine qualities both on and off the field that added lustre to the game”.
“He could never be faulted for lack of effort in whatever role he played in cricket,” Ramnarine said.
“WIPA sincerely hopes that the fine legacy Shillingford has left, albeit in a relatively short Test career, will be emulated by all involved in West Indies cricket,” added the WIPA CEO.