On Everton DeCourcy Weekes

48 Tests, 4455 runs, 15 Centuries & an average of 58.6

His 98th birthday went by, yesterday (26 Feb). I have grown up seeing this vibrant photo of his.

My father, who was a teenager in 1949, used to mention his name with a mix of despair & respect. He mauled our bowlers through the entire series, scoring five test centuries in five consecutive innings (the first of which preceded the tour of India.)

I am an unabashed fan of Donald Bradman, who besides being an unmatched batsman & captain, also pocessed an amazing analytical mind about the game of cricket.

So, when Bradman, in the late 90-s, commented that the batsman 'whose style resembled his the most, was Sachin Tendulkar', I was taken aback.

From whatever still photos & footages that I had seen, Everton DeCourcy Weekes' name ought to have been mentioned by the Don.

The same short build, the same no-nonsense & brutally efficient strokeplay of cuts, pulls & drives.

Substance over style... eschewing all risks (it is said that he has only hit one 6 in his entire career, that too in a club game).

And, of course, a massive hunger for runs, especially if the bowling attack was relatively weak.

Whenever I chance upon online discussions and evaluations about great test batsmen, the followers of the game, when evaluating West Indies, start off with George Headley (as a token of respect) & then quickly jump across to Sobers, Richards & Lara (even invoking names like Greenidge, Lloyd, Kanhai, Gayle, etc.).

Weekes always tends to get a passing mention as 'one of the formidable Three W-s'.

In my very humble opinion, Weekes is a 'stand-alone great'. His surname, starting with 'W' is incidental.

His batting average, just after Headley, in the glittering pantheon of West Indian batting greats, should serve as conclusive evidence.

A man with a razor sharp-mind, he was a fine bridge player & represented Barbados in the World Bridge Olympiad in the 70-s.

He was very athletic too. A fine fielder during his cricketing days, he also represented his island (Barbados) in high quality soccer tournaments.

For someone to be brought up, primarily by his mother (under difficult financial conditions), Weekes led a a fine, dignified life & held leadership positions in many social organisations.

As a cricketing icon, he mentored many talented Barbadian players, most notably, Seymour Nurse & Condar Hunte.

A most remarkable cricketer with staggeringly impressive statistics.

Everton DeCourcy Weekes needs to be remembered a lot more.