Cricket West Indies (CWI) President, Ricky Skerritt, has described legends Desmond Haynes and Sir Learie Constantine as “exemplars” of the game after both of them were recently inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame.
Haynes, 65, and the late Sir Learie, a pioneer who featured in West Indies’ first ever Test in 1928, were among 10 inductees in celebration of the inaugural World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand at Lord’s in England. New Zealand won the championship.
“This is another special day in West Indies cricket history as these two exemplars of the wonderful game, have been honored globally through the ICC Hall of Fame through indicators of their performances and their impact,”‘Skerritt said in a statement.
“Sir Learie was the quintessential West Indian cricketer, a lively fast bowler, attacking batsman and superb fielder, a man who took to the field on that famous day at Lord’s 93 years ago when West Indies started the challenge but exciting journey as a Test nation,” the CWI president said.
Skerritt said Desmond’s cricket career showed early promise as a member of the Barbados Under-19 team.
Haynes made his debut a week after his 22nd birthday and celebrated with a magnificent 148 against Australia in an One-Day International in Antigua.
He made his West Indies Test debut on that same tour, hitting fifties in his first three innings before scoring his maiden Test hundred against New Zealand two years later.
