 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Farewell West Indies fast bowler Clarke dies
Posted: Sunday December 05, 1999 02:53 PM
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters) -- Former West Indies test fast bowler Sylvester Clarke collapsed and died at his home in Barbados at the weekend, the Caribbean News Agency (Cana) reported. Clarke, who would have celebrated his 45th birthday later this month, was the third former West Indian test player to die in the past month. Fellow fast bowler Malcolm Marshall died of cancer last month at the age of 41 while opener Conrad Hunte died after a heart attack last Friday aged 67. Clarke played 11 tests, taking 42 wickets at an average of 27.83 apiece with best figures of five for 126 against India at Bangalore. He also captured three hat tricks for Barbados in the regional Shell Shield competition. A genuinely quick bowler, the tall, broad-shouldered Clarke made his test debut against Australia in 1978 after bursting on to the first-class scene with a hat trick against Trinidad and Tobago. He was included in the West Indies' squad, which toured India in 1979 and topped its bowling averages with 21 wickets at an average of 33.85. Speaking about his test career, Clarke once said he felt he did not get the break he deserved in the West Indies team. "I don't think I was fairly treated by West Indies selectors. I got the most wickets in India and they picked Malcolm Marshall for the next tour to Australia. All I want to do is play cricket," he said. Regarded as a fiery and fearsome fast bowler with a smooth action, Clarke, who usually bowled from a short run-up, was part of the West Indies "rebel" team which toured South Africa in 1982 and 1983. He later returned to South Africa, representing Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Free State in the first-class competition there. Clarke enjoyed great success in South Africa and equaled the Currie Cup record in 1984-85 with 58 wickets at 13 runs each. He also player county cricket in England and was instrumental in Surrey's victory in the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1982. He also finished that season with 85 county championship wickets at 19.95 runs apiece. His career-best bowling figures were seven for 31 against Essex at The Oval in 1987.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
