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Belated Congrats to Leon Johnson on his debut 50 plus in the 500th Test.His early
promise bore fruit but equally important it stretched Guyana's reputation as the
best starters in West Indies batting annals.
No other territory has had as many debutants who compiled 50s or better on Test debuts.
The list is one of excellence.
Post WW2, Christiani had a 99 followed by
Pairadeua who got a ton ( 115 ?) against India becoming the 3rd WI batsman after Headley and Ganteaume to do so.
Others I can recall :-

Butcher 58 n.o v India away
Solomon 40 odd and 86 v India away
Mendonca 78 v India
lloyd, 2 50s v India away
Fredericks 70 odd v Oz away
Kallicharran 100 followed by 100 vb NZ
Baichan 105 v Pakistan away
Sew Shivnarine 2 50s v Oz at Bourda
Chaderpaul 68 v Eng
Sarwan 84 not out v Pakistan
That's a fine baker's dozen and says among other things
that Guyanese batsmen are probably the best prepared for Test arena.
The anomally is their best Bat..Kanhai playing as wicketkeeper and
opening with Pairadeau at Edgbaston 1957 got 42.
Hooper too missed the list but got a Ton in his 2nd test.
Butcher probably has the WI record as a firstimer,compiling a 50 or better
in his first 6 Tests.
I expect good things from Leon going forward especially as I missed his knocks.
I know it is a trivial Stat, but well done Guyana..worthy of emulation.

yep...

I wish the yute the very best and may he continue the tradition of Mudland producing the best and long serving batsmen. May he continue the "high standards" of valuing ones wicket by the GREAT Shivnarine Chanderpaul!

Very generous, hubert. Thanks!

Guyana has the oldest existing first division club in the region and played in the first first-class match in the region.

Despite the long history, however, Guyana's cricket has suffered from rain more than any other territory, which makes it necessary for Guyana batsmen to settle in quickly in order to be successful.

Leon Johnson can be a very fluent player when in form - sort of like Rowe and others. He loves to take the attack to the bowling after settling in.

At this point he still has to prove himself against the better bowlers in the world.

I hope he proves to be a classy player. If he does, he will be a real joy for us fans, and his style could bring back ex-fans to WI cricket.

In reply to hubert

Excellent Post...yuh fughet Sew Shivnarine of of few to score 50+ in both innings of his fuss test!!!

I expect Leon to grow from this start...and only get better!

In reply to WestDem

Leon Johnson is the original "Baby Lara"

I first met him 11 years ago at Bourda, during the 2003 U-19 tournament, the year that TNT was led by no other than Dinesh Ramdhin, Ramphal, Lendl Simmons and I think Kantasingh.

No, he wasn't in the Guyana U-19 team at that stage, but he already had a reputation of being the "next Lara".
Guess who was handling the scoring duties at the time, your boy Francis Mendonca!!

In reply to StumpCam

In reply to WestDem
Forgot Sew. The hardest most savage square cut I ever saw was his shot off Jeff Thomson at Bina 1978.Tommo was still in his follow through when the ball rocketed off the bottom of the members stand wall on its way back to the middle.
I still see the blow and will never forget it.

Inclued in edit

In reply to hubert

Both Shiv (1991) and Leon Johnson (2004)were run out for ducks in their very first FC innings. Shiv made 90 in his 2nd innings but Johno didn't bat a 2nd time in his first match.

I hope Johno can emulate Shiv's performance in international cricket

He has started really well in his 1st test...now he must take it to stronger opposition.

Both Deo and Fuda...have allowed the opportunity in tests to slip away.

Not many remember Johno has a ODI 50 against Canada

In reply to Narper... really well? ... I would say he started well. Really well would have been a ton in one of those innings ... lets raise the bar nuh mon.

In reply to natty_forever

All due to a Rookie error in choosing or not choosing to go fuh de DRS in de fuss inning!

In reply to WestDem


was he on 99

In reply to hubert

Welcome back, Hubert. Very good post.


I very much like what I see of Johnson so far.








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In reply to tc1

In reply to Ewart

Liked what I saw of him a few years ago when he went on some tour to OZ for ODIs.Was not successful but his soundness and technique were evident.

PS -Doing much better soon get back to my young self

In reply to hubert


Nice!


Good to hear.



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In reply to hubert
do another research since you're so good at it...see if they take the longest to break the ton barrier..

In reply to WestDem... well we will never know. Hope he not another muddie who caan ton up.

In reply to Wally-1
That is revealing
too. Off hand, Sarwan and Kanhai took a long time.Kanahi took 13 Tests, then 256 at Calcutta.I think Sars took longer; has to look at that.Lloydie in 4th Test,Fredo longer.Butcher 3rd Test;Solomon 4th Test.Mendonca only played Two Tests and like Sew Shivnarine did not get a ton.

In reply to Wally-1



This is for you.
OG Collie Smith holds a unique West Indies Test record and perhaps a World record too.
He passed 50 or better in his first Tests against All countries(5) that he played against

104 v Oz
64 v NZ
161 v England
78 v Pakistan
63 and 58 v India at Bombay

In reply to hubert



Loverly!



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