Desmond Haynes: Live, Love, Laugh
Sat, Nov 25, '06
(The Sticky Wicket West Indies Hall of Fame in Antigua launches its voting process to select two more persons to join the select group of legends to be named among "Cricket's Finest". Voting ends November 30, 2006).
When you see Desmond Haynes, the first thing that strikes you is the broad smile suggesting happiness and great delight. Such is the nature of the man. Haynes' cricket career -- and indeed his life -- have been typified by the motto "Live, Love, Laugh" which he once carried on a pendant on his gold chain.
This has it origins in Haynes' hometown of Holder's Hill in St James near the west coast of Barbados. Today he still spends a lot of time mentoring and encouraging his neighbours. His hands-on involvement has been the catalyst behind many others going on to represent Barbados and the West Indies.
Dessie's introduction to the international stage was like a scene from a movie. He was called up from relative obscurity for a One-Day International against Australia. The impact was immediate. He set the Antigua Recreation Ground on fire, with a blazing 148 against Australia and this showed that the kid nicknamed "Joe Louis" -- because of his love for the famous boxing champion -- was ready for the world.
From there he went from strength to strength and made a sterling contribution to the history of West Indies cricket, before leaving the arena in 1994. After starting as an aggressive right-hander, he mellowed and changed his style to become a solid opener who could be relied on to bat for very long periods.
In that time he made 116 Test match appearances and amassed 7487 runs at 42.29 per innings, with a highest score of 184, among his 18 centuries. In One-Day Internationals he was equally prolific cracking 8648 runs in 238 matches, with a best score of 152 not out. At his best against pace, he also showed the technique and diligence to score 75 and 143 in a rare West Indies defeat on a dustbowl at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1989.
Together with Gordon Greenidge, he formed what was by a distance the most enduring and prolific opening partnership of them all, with 16 century stands -- four of them in excess of 200. In all first-class cricket Haynes made 26,030 runs with 61 centuries, making a contribution to Middlesex in the English County Championship and West Province in the South African Provincial competitions.
"It was a great honour to represent the West Indies and lift the lives of many of the people one represented," Haynes said. "It is also a huge honour to be nominated for a place in the Sticky Wicket Hall of Fame. I am happy I made a contribution and happy to be recognized in this way."
Today, at age 50, Dessie continues to make a contribution to the people. He is a member of the Stanford 20/20 board of directors. He was also a Barbados selector and member of the board of directors of the Barbados Cricket Association and West Indies Cricket Board. He was also a Senator in Barbados.
* NOTE: If Desmond Haynes is selected to the Sticky Wicket Hall of Fame, he will join Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Viv Richards, George Headley, Clive Lloyd, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Lance Gibbs, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Brian Lara, and Ridley Jacobs.
