As the country celebrates the 176 years since the arrival of Indians to T&T, it is fitting to look at their engagement and contribution to sports. A cursory scan of the historical sporting landscape provides a picture of limited competitive participation across sporting disciplines.
It can be adduced that their (male and female) participation numbers have been greater in cricket across different levels when compared to other sports they engage in, such as tennis, table tennis, volleyball and badminton. On the other hand, they have been almost invisible in sports such as football, basketball, rugby, hockey, netball and track and field, to name a few at club and national levels.
Therefore, since cricket seems to be a synonym for Indo-Trinbagonian’s participation in sports, it is apt to highlight their involvement at the highest level-playing for the West Indies across all three formats – Test, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20.
Sonny Ramadhin is the first of 17 Indo-Trinbagonians to date to play Test cricket for the West Indies. He made his debut in 1950 (70th player) against England. Ramadhin along with Alf Valentine formed a formidable spinning partnership. He played 43 Test matches, 158 wickets at an average of 28.98 with a best bowling of 7 for 49 runs. A true legend of T&T and West Indies cricket Ramadhin celebrated his 92nd birthday on May 1, 2021.
The most prolific of the four batters who have represented the West Indies in Test cricket to date is Daren Ganga. Ganga (223rd) played 48 matches, scored 2,160 runs at an average of 25.71, with three centuries and a highest score of 135 vs India in 2006. He also captained the West Indies in 2007 on tour to England when Ramnaresh Sarwan became injured.
The promising Adrian Barath (281st) played 15 matches, scored 657 runs at an average of 23.64 with a highest score of 104 vs Australia at the Gabba in 2009 on Test debut. At age of 19 years, Barath became the youngest West Indian to score a Test century eclipsing the great George Headley. The other two Indo-Trinbagonian batters to play Test cricket for the West Indies are Nyron Asgarali (95th) who played two Test matches and Suruj Ragoonath (227th), two matches.
Denesh Ramdin (263rd) continued the line of wicketkeepers from T&T to play for the West Indies in Test cricket. He played 74 matches, scored 2,898 runs at an average of 25.85 with four centuries and 15 half-centuries. His highest Test score was 166, he took 205 catches and effected 12 stumpings. He was made West Indies captain in 2014.
Eleven of the 17 Indo-Trinbagonians to play for the West Indies in Test cricket have been spinners. The leading spinners other than the legendary Sonny Ramadhin are Dinanath Ramnarine (221st), 12 matches, 45 wickets at an average of 30.73 with a best bowling of 5 for 78 runs; Inshan Ali (139th) 12 matches, 34 wickets at 47.68 with a best bowling of 5 for 59 runs; Raphick Jumadeen (145th) 12 matches, 29 wickets at 39.34 with a best bowling of 4 for 72 runs and Sunil Narine (295th), six matches, 21 wickets at 40.52 with a best bowling of 6 for 91 runs.
The other spinners who played between one and five Test matches are Charan Singh (109th); Imtiaz Ali (154th); Rangy Nanan (174th); Rajindra Dhanraj (207th); Dave Mohammed (254th) and Amit Jaggernauth (270th).
The only fast bowler of Indo-Trinbagonian and Caribbean as a whole to play Test cricket for the West Indies is Ravi Rampaul (282nd ). He has played 18 matches, taken 49 wickets at an average of 34.79 with a best bowling of 4 for 48 runs.
Jasmine Sammy (8th player) 1976-79, played six Test matches, scored 134 runs, with a highest of 43 at an average of 14.88. She also took four wickets at an average of 9.75 with a best bowling of three for 22 runs.
Ten (10) players have represented the West Indies since their first ODI in 1973. These include Rajindra Dhanraj (71st), Dinanath Ramnarine (83rd); Daren Ganga (91st); Ravi Rampaul (118th); Denesh Ramdin (127th); Dave Mohammed (131st); Rayah Emrit (133 rd ); Adrian Barath (155th); Sunil Narine (162nd); Jason Mohammed (163rd); Nicholas Pooran (190th) and Akeal Hosein (200th). Both Ramdin and Jason Mohammed have had the distinguished honour of captaining the West Indies ODI team.
Anisa Mohammed (51st) has etched her name as a legend of both West Indies and world cricket. She leads the performances of the six Indo-Trinbagonian females who have represented West Indies in its first ODIs in 1979.
She made her ODI debut in 2003 vs Japan, have played 122 matches with 151 wickets at an average of 20.51 and a best bowling of 7 for 14 runs against Pakistan in 2011. She has taken a total of six five-wicket hauls in ODIs. In 2020, she was named in the ICC ODI Team of the decade- 2010-2020.
Other players who have played ODIs for the West Indies are Jasmine Sammy (10th); Cherry Ann Singh (24th); Gaitri Seetahal (65th); Amanda Samaroo (67th) and Karishma Ramharack (87th).
In T20 cricket, nine players have represented the West Indies since its first game in 2006. These players are Daren Ganga (1 match); Denesh Ramdin (9th); Ravi Rampaul (13th); Adrian Barath (40th); Sunil Narine (55th); Samuel Badree (56th); Nicholas Pooran (64th); Jason Mohammed (67th); and Rayad Emrit (70th).
In T20, Anisa Mohammed (6th) has etched her name in the history books by becoming the first player- male/female- to take 100 wickets in T20. To date she has played 111 matches, have taken 120 wickets at an average of 17.30 with a best bowling of five wickets for 10 runs. She has taken three five-wicket hauls in T20s. Other players have been Amanda Samaroo (23rd) who played five matches and Karishma Ramharack (37th) who has played six matches to date.
Beautiful article, sir. Names and facts that I could not recall off hand. Thank you for a wonderful piece of history and trivia.