Early Retirement For West Indian Cricketer

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30841, 28 August 1965, Page 11

Early Retirement For West Indian Cricketer

QNE of the characteristics of West Indian cricket has been the youth at which many players have been introduced to test cricket. G. S. Sobers and J. B. Stollmeyer, 17 and 18 respec-

tively on their first appearances, are splendid examples of the success this policy can have. Another to be picked for the West Indies when still in his teens was the slow left-arm bowler, A. L. Valentine, who last week

announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the relatively youthful age of 35. This possibly illustrates a weakness in the idea of selecting young players for Valentine is a grand example of a bowler who, if he was not entirely “burnt out” before he reached 30, certainly showed a fallingaway in form. Valentine reached 100 wickets in tests in something like three years and nine months, and after only 19 tests. In a further 17 tests, his total rose to only 139. However, Valentine did sufficient in those first three or four years to ensure him of a lasting place in the history of his country’s cricket. In fact, in his first series, he reached unparalleled heights: the first eight England wickets to fall in his very first test match, a total of 33 for the four-match series of 1950. The tour of Australia in 1951-52 was a severe test for

the young bowler as that country possessed probably the best team in the world and a hard core of experienced batsmen. But when S. Ramadhin, with whom Valentine had posed tremendous problems for the 1950 England batsmen, faltered and, it is claimed, “threw in the towel,” Valentine plugged on uncomplainingly and answered every demand of his hard-pressed captain. He took the most wickets by a bowler on either side and won the affections and sympathy of the public with his great-hearted efforts. Valentine never again reached towering heights although he toured England in 1957 and 1963, Australia in 1960-61 and New Zealand in 1956. His bowling remained most useful, sometimes dangerous, and Valentine was always a cheerful member of what were now and then unhappy’ teams. His test career never came to an abrupt halt; like the best old soldier, he just faded away—but not forgotten.