BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former Barbados all-rounder Rawle Brancker has died here yesterday, aged 83.
Brancker, who played 47 first class matches between 1956 and 1970, was good enough to tour England in 1966 as part of a side led by Sir Garry Sobers – currently Barbados’ only living National Hero – but never played a game.
Following his playing days, Brancker became a prominent businessman here, and also served as chairman of Cricket World Cup 2007.
“It is with sadness that we learned today of the passing of Rawle Brancker, a man who made an immense contribution to the game of cricket and to business and social life in Barbados and the region,” said Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt.
“As one of the game’s leading West Indian cricket administrators, he helped to develop the framework and chart the course of preparations when we hosted the biggest global cricket event to come to our shores.
“On behalf of CWI and all stakeholders, I extend sincere condolences to his wife Roxanne and the entire Barbados cricket fraternity.”
Brancker played alongside the likes of Sir Frank Worrrell and Sir Everton Weekes – two of the heralded Three Ws – at prestigious local club Empire, in a team which included Sir Conrad Hunte, Sir Charles Griffith, and Seymour Nurse – all West Indies legends.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley hailed Brancker as an “exemplar of the highest standards”, praising his contribution to business, and local and regional cricket development.
“When I received news of the passing of Rawle Brancker earlier this afternoon, I could not help but reflect on the fact that his entry into this world came while our country was struggling with the aftermath of the 1937 rebellion, and his departure just one day after we commemorated that Day of National Significance,” Mottley said in a statement.
“Just as interesting is the fact that while Rawle displayed a very strong and decisive personality all the years that I have known him, he lived a very quiet and dignified life, both as a cricketer and businessman and was an exemplar of the highest standards in his endeavors.”
Brancker struck five hundreds and two half-centuries while averaging 27, and took 106 wickets with his left-arm spin also an average of 27.
