In this week’s edition of In Search of West Indies Cricket, Roger Seymourexplores the lore surrounding one over in a Test match at Kensington Oval, Barbados
As an event or a tale acquires folklore status distortions are liable to occur as it passes from generation to generation. Several variations might emerge, as bits are added to, and, or, omitted from the original account. West Indies cricket folklore stories gravitate to explosive innings such as Roy Fredericks’ 169 in the Second Test match at Perth versus Australia in the 1975/76 series, and Viv Richards’ 291 in the Fifth Test at the Oval, in England, in 1976. They also include outstanding bowling performances, like Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine spinning the West Indies to a famous victory in England during the Second Test at Lord’s in 1950, which was immortalised in “Victory Calypso.” Final overs of thrilling finishes are also in the folklore collection. The last over of the Tied Test Match at Brisbane in the 1960/61 series in Australia, and Carlos Brathwaite swotting four consecutive sixes to win the 2016 T20 World Cup Final spring to mind. And then, there is the over Michael Holding delivered to Geoffrey Boycott.