Alf Valentine passes away
Thursday, May 13 2004
West Indies cricket is mourning the loss of Alf Valentine, one of West Indies greatest spinners and bowlers, at the age of 74 in Orlando, Florida - his adopted homeland.
Valentine had been in poor health since a stroke had affected his ability to walk.
Valentine was born was born in Kingston, Jamaica on April 28 1930. Valentine was plucky from obscurity after two first class matches along with his soon-to-be spinning partner Sonny Ramadhin from Trinidad, who hadn't played any matches before being picked for the 1950 tour of England.
Valentine made his Test debut against England in Manchester in 1950, proving to be an instant hit, taking 11 wickets, including 8-104 in the first innings. Valentine took 7 wickets in the next Test at Lords with figures of 116-75-127-7. Valentine took 33 wickets in the four Test series and got named in the 1951 Wiseden Cricketer of the Year.
Valentine played a total of 36 Tests, taking 139 wickets at 30. He was the first West Indies bowler to take 100 Test wickets, and to make it more remarkable, he did it in 19 Tests.
Valentine played his last Test against India at Kingston in 1961/62, but had suffered from burnout after being heavily bowled in tours of England gone by.
Valentine played league cricket in Birmingham, before he immigrated to America.
Posted by Craig
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