Submitted by: Jessica Angelo-Julien – Cricket Hall of Fame
Flashback to Gordon and Desmond In full cry
Former star West Indies opening pair Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes have accepted their nominations to be inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame. This year’s ceremony is set for Saturday, September 20 at the Marriott Hotel, downtown Hartford. The other nominees are Florida cricket administrator Jeff Miller, co-founder of Lucas Sports Club in New York Mascelles Bailey and Mohamed Baksh, a member of the West Indies Cricket Umpires’ Training and Examination Committee.
The Rev. Canon Wilborne Austin, rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Bloomfield, Connecticut, will receive a presidential award for his services to the community. Greenidge, a Barbadian, one half of the West Indies’ prolific opening partnership with Haynes, began his career in 1974 against India and continued to play international cricket until 1991. A feared opening batsman, he played in 108 Test matches in which he scored 7,558 runs with 19 centuries. He is perhaps best known for his amazing double-double century performance against England in 1984
Haynes, also a Barbadian, was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1991. One of the greatest batsman to ever play for the West Indies, the muscular Haynes formed a formidable partnership with Greenidge which was integral to the success of the West Indies team in the 980s. Favoring a more measured approach to batting, unlike his counterpart Greenidge, Haynes compiled a redoubtable 7,487 runs in 116 Test matches at an average of 42.29. His highest Test innings came against England in 1984 with 184 off 395 balls.
Miller, who began his cricket career as a youngster in his native Barbados, has established himself in the U.S. both as a player and an administrator. A fast bowler, he represented the U.S. in a number of international games, and has also served as chairman of the Northeastern Cricket Association while residing in New York. He moved to South Florida in 1986 and in 1990 was elected to the executive committee of the South Florida Cricket Assocation. In 2000 and 2001, he was appointed a member of the USA National Selection Committee. Currently he is a member of the City of Lauderhill Florida Organizing Committee for the Mayor’s Cup and is one of the persons responsible for the building of the Central Broward Regional Park Cricket Stadium.
Bailey, originally from Jamaica, was a co-founder of The Bankers Athletic Cricket League in New York in 1971. A useful off-break and middle order batsman, Bailey also co-founded Lucas Sports Club with some well-known cricketers. The club reportedly is one of the only cricket clubs in New York that has its own club house. In addition to playing in the Metropolitan League, the oldest and one of the largest leagues in the U.S., Bailey has served that organization in various capacities.
Baksh, a native of Guyana, from an early age, was involved with sports at various levels, serving on a number of community organizations and regional cricket boards. Having an abiding interest in cricket umpiring, he started officiating at matches at the age of 24 and has continued to do so ever since. Baksh has under his belt, more than a quarter century of officiating in Shell Shield and Red Stripe competitions in the West Indies. For a number of years, he was a member of the West Indies Cricket Umpires’ Training Examination Committee.
Canon Austin, another Barbadian, held several positions in Hartford, Connecticut prior to answering the call to the ordained ministry. Always a devout Anglican, his goal was always to become a priest in the faith. Since his ordination he has served faithfully as Priest at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church and Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. One of his responsibilities was the pastoral care of the parishioners. He paid visits to active, inactive and home-bound members. He ministers to individuals and conducted services to groups in various locations in the community earning the reputation for carrying out these duties faithfully with compassion and caring. “If I can help somebody as I travel on, then my living shall not be in vain,” is the motto that Canon Austin lives by.
Patrons to this year’s induction ceremony can expect it to be just as entertaining and enlightening as previous ones.
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