It is with deep sadness that the Caribbean Community notes the passing of one of its truly great sons, Sir Clyde Leopold Walcott.
Sir Clyde’s achievements in the world of cricket, as player, coach and administrator is unmatched in the West Indies. History will record Sir Clyde Walcott’s pioneering ascendancy to the Presidency of the West Indies Cricket Board as well as to the Chairmanship of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the game’s governing body.
From schoolboy prodigy in Barbados to head of world cricket was a momentous journey but it never turned the head of Sir Clyde. Along that memorable road, many will recall the power of his bat at the regional and international level during a career that saw him average more than 56 while scoring 3798 runs in 44 Test Matches.
His imposing physique and powerful strokes complemented the grace and elegance of the late Sir Frank Worrell and the relentless run gathering of Sir Everton Weekes to comprise the famous Three Ws of West Indies cricket, a trio of batsmen who thrashed the world’s bowlers for most of the 1950s. His brilliant batting against the mighty Australia team to the West Indies in 1955 will never be forgotten. To his batting must also be added his stint with the ball and that behind the wicket.
At the completion of his playing career, Sir Clyde turned his skills towards the development of the game in the region, particularly British Guiana, and played no small part in the emergence of some great players from that land in the 1960s.
Sir Clyde served West Indies cricket as chairman of selectors and manager of the West Indies team on numerous occasions including at the first ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975 and the second in 1979 both of which were won by the West Indies. He became President of the West Indies Cricket Board in 1988 and five years later President of the ICC.
This was a man who served the game and the region he loved to the last, looking forward in a very recent interview to a glorious performance from his beloved West Indies team in the CWC 2007.
The words icon and great have been severely misused in these times but the contribution of Sir Clyde Leopold Walcott to the game of cricket and the Caribbean has been truly great and iconic. As Secretary General of the Community, I extend sincerest condolences to his wife Lady Muriel and family and to the Government and people of Barbados on the loss of a West Indian treasure.
