Last Friday, as the nation, still in shock, mourned the loss of five members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier (retired) Gary Beaton, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan, in a catastrophic air tragedy, the news broke that two other sons of the soil, Joe Solomon, and Clyde Butts, former West Indies Test cricketers had also passed away.
It has not been a good year for West Indies cricket, both on and off the field, and the loss of Solomon and Butts on the same day follows in the wake of the departures of former fellow Test cricketers, Dominican Irvine Shillingford (26th January), Barbadian Thelston Payne (10th May), Trinidad’s Raphick Jumadeen (27th July), Barbadians Tony White (16th August), and Peter Lashley (4th September). The last time the West Indies cricket fraternity was steeped in mourning of such magnitude was late in 1999, when three Barbadian players died within a span of 30 days: Malcolm Marshall (4th November), Conrad Hunte (3rd December) , and Sylvester Clarke (4th December).
President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dr Kishore Shallow, paid tribute, noting, “The remarkable contributions of Joe Solomon and Clyde Butts will be remembered not only by those in their native Guyana, but also by many across the West Indies.”
Joseph Stanislaus Solomon, known to everyone as ‘Joe’, was born at Port Mourant, Berbice, where his prowess for the game came under the eye of then West Indies Test cricketer Clyde Walcott, who had been appointed by Booker McConnell Sugar Estates as cricket coordinator for their sugar estates. Solomon first played for Port Mourant, before switching to the East Indian Cricket Club (EICC), now renamed the Everest Cricket Club. After appearances for Berbice in representative matches, Solomon made a spectacular entry into first class cricket, achieving the exclusive feat of three centuries in his first three innings; 114 not out for British Guiana versus Jamaica in 1956, followed by 108 against Barbados in the same season, and 121 versus Pakistan in 1958 (first class cricket was very limited in the West Indies in that time). Solomon was selected for the West Indies tour of India and Pakistan in 1958/59, celebrating his debut in the Second Test at Kanpur, India with scores of 45 and 86. In the second innings, Solomon, batting seventh in the order, added 163 with Garry Sobers (198), for the sixth wicket (both innings were ended via the run out route). This swung the match in favour of the West Indies. In the Fifth Test at Delhi, Solomon compiled an undefeated even century, and topped the batting in Tests for the India leg of the tour with an average of 117.00.
Solomon appeared in 27 Tests, between December 1958 and May 1965, as a middle order batsman, forgoing his natural free flowing style for a dependable solid counterfoil approach to the aggressive Sobers and Rohan Kanhai. Solomon’s adaptation was a precursor for the role fulfilled by Larry Gomes for the 1980s all conquering side. Solomon is best remembered for plugging the stumps from side on, to run out Australia’s Ian Meckiff to effect the famous Tied Test at Brisbane in 1960. Overlooked is the fact that he had performed a similar feat in the previous over to dismiss Australia’s top scorer Alan Davidson, 80, who had appeared to be leading his side to a certain victory. In Tests, Solomon scored 1,326 runs at an average of 34.00, and in 104 first class matches, he compiled 5,318 runs, at an average of 41.54, with 12 centuries, and a top score of 201 not out for Berbice versus the MCC in 1960. After his first career ended in 1969, Solomon continued to be involved in the game, coaching and serving on the Guyana Cricket Board, and managed the ‘Packer less’ West Indies team to India in 1978/79.
Clyde Godfrey Butts, who was born at Perseverance, East Coast Demerara, was first selected to represent Guyana in the 1981 Shell Shield match versus Trinidad at Bourda. Alvin Kallicharran, Guyana’s captain, was so impressed with Butts’ efforts in the nets that he insisted on his inclusion in the final XI. It was the start of a long and fruitful career for the lanky off spinner, often spent in the large shadows cast by comparisons to his fellow Guyanese and former World Test wicket record holder Lance Gibbs, and the seemingly never ending line (at the time) of West Indies fast bowlers, which severely limited chances for spin bowlers in the Caribbean. Nonetheless, Butts, who travelled a long and difficult journey, persevered, and his outstanding performances at the regional level, led to his Test debut at home, in April, 1985 versus the New Zealanders. Butts played in seven Test matches, and toured Pakistan, New Zealand and India, achieving the modest returns of ten wickets at an average of 59.50
When Butts retired from first class cricket in 1994, he was the leading wicket taker in regional cricket, with 348 wickets at an average of 24.19, inclusive of two ten-wicket hauls, 23 five-wicket captures, and a career best of 7 for 29. He was a leading contributor when Guyana won the regional Shell Shield Tournament in 1983 and 1987, and the 1993 Red Stripe Cup, and the 1987 and 1993 50-over tournaments. Butts remained active in the game, serving as manager of the West Indies Under-19 team, coaching, providing game analysis on radio commentary at the regional level, and participating in local club cricket until his late 50s.
As CWI President Shallow noted in his tribute, “His [Butts’] legacy extended beyond the field, earning him recognition as a statesman and ambassador for the game in Guyana and the region. In retirement, his unwavering commitment to coaching reflected his dedication. He tirelessly invested hours, nurturing young talent and passionately fostering their development within the sport.”
Solomon and Butts bore similar personality traits: quiet, unassuming, humble, and avoiding the glare of the limelight. Their input into the development of the game often went unnoticed in the public eye. Although Solomon migrated to New York (where he passed away) in 1984, he returned quite often and was active on the sugar estates with coaching and overseeing the preparation of grounds. Both Solomon and Butts had the honour of serving as West Indies selectors, quite a thankless job on many occasions. Selectors are a rare breed, besides possessing an intricate knowledge of the game, they must have the uncanny ability to assess and project talent. Solomon served from May 1971 to May 1977, initially having to participate in the tough decisions of letting go of his former teammates, Sobers, Kanhai and Gibbs. Later, he had the privilege of choosing the team for the 1975 Prudential World Cup victory, and then laying the foundations for the great period of the 1980s with the selections of the likes of Andy Roberts, Viv Richards, Michael Holding, Gordon Greenidge, Colin Croft and Joel Garner. Butts, who served in the difficult period of the early part of this century, was elevated to the panel in 2004 and became Chief Selector in 2008, and assembled the team which secured the 2012 T20 World Cup triumph.
Rest in peace. Joseph Stanislaus Solomon, born 24th August, 1930; died 8th December, 2023.
Clyde Godfrey Butts, born, 8th July, 1957; died 8th December, 2023.