Message Board Archives

This post by bobby caught my attention:

Is that true?

How many stylish WI batsmen of that era were there?

Nurse, Butcher, Sobers.....who else?

Later on......Bacchus, Rowe, Mattis, Timur Mohammed, Dujon, Hooper, Lara, Kalli

Today.....Samuels, Brandon King, Carty, Brooks

What’s the definition of “stylish”?

I never saw basil butcher bat. How stylish was he compared to say Samuels?

Don’t recall seeing Seymour nurse batting either. Heard Frank Worrell was quite elegant and had a wicked late cut.

In reply to imusic

My problem with the term stylish is that it seems to be used almost only in reference to wristy stroke makers who appear to be economical in effort. Totally agree with the examples like Rowe Hoops Gower VVS etc but I think the category is too restrictive. Stylish should be the batsmen you want to see. You not talking tuh yuh friends by de bar or looking fuh food when dem at de crease. Yuh well sad when dem out. Viv's name never gets mentioned when we talking stylish batsmen but imo he was one of the most stylish bats...in fact he had a style all of his own and you en going nuhwhere when he was batting. Viv would take balls a foot outside off and punch dem through mid-wicket...hit fast bowlers forward of square off de front foot. Sometimes he would go well outside leg to execute a perfect text book offdrive. Hoops is still my alltime favorite stylist but there are many styles.

In reply to Oilah

That’s a slippery definition for me.

There are people that feel that way about kraigg Brathwaite or Oscar Durity

Their wanting to see them bat doesn’t invalidate their sentiment. But neither batsman could be deemed stylish

Totally agree on Viv. Even if it’s just to see him walk out to the crease.....you didn’t want to miss that

Lawrence Yagga Rowe, an embodiment of style and power. The man could come to the crease and make a few runs but people would be talking for days about the style of his effortless shots, and his timing was exquisite.

Lawrence Rowe and Carl Hooper were two of the most stylish right handed West Indian batsmen I have ever seen.Of course for left handed batsmen ...........

In reply to Dukes

You didn't see Seymour?

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

Seymour is already stated.We are looking for other stylish WI batsmen.I did see Seymour but I think Yagga and Carl were even more stylish.Maybe I did not see Seymour make many as he never did well at Bourda.

In reply to imusic
I never thought Butcher was stylish but when he got going he was destructive.

Nurse was very much like Rowe.

I thought Desmond Lewis was very elegant very much a front foot player.

Stuart Williams was very elegant

In reply to Baje

What about Desmond Haynes? He tried to clone Seymour.

In reply to imusic

Caress is the word, I never saw Rowe as test player, but saw Nurse many times, a friend told me the difference between the 2 was timing, Rowe timing was a bit better, they both were elegant, both caress the ball like you would a pair of breast.
It is said that Frankie was the original stylist.

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

Was Desmond that elegant?, I think David Murray may fit the mode of elegance, another local player that comes to mind would be Artus Cumberbatch.

Aravinda DeSilva - This guy oozed elegance, style and class. Remember him from the 96 WC


Jayawardene from Sri Lanka was classy as well

Basit Ali from Pakistan was pretty stylish

Stephen Flemming from NZ was stylish as well. His forward defensive shots used to race up to mid off

Of those that I have seen live from the WI
Geoff Dujon
Gus Logie
Carl Hooper
Marlon Samuels
Stuart Williams
and the incomparable BC Lara

In reply to imusic

Maaannnn de only people who want tuh see KB bat is he friends and family. I want KB to mek runs but I surely en glued tuh my seat when he batting

In reply to imusic

Did you ever see Zaheer Abbas?

He is the best I've seen and I've seen a lot of Lawrence Rowe.

Another was Keith Douglas Walters. Actually, he was the closest to perfect.

Oops, scratch the above. Just noticed we're talking 'bout WI batsmen.

In reply to Drapsey

I have.

I much preferred Majid Khan from a batting aesthetics standpoint

I saw very little of GSA Sobers. But the little I saw was enough to determine that he was as stylish as they come. Of course, being a left hander gives him an advantage in that category as well.

Shai Hope does have some style you must admit..

In reply to imusic

You saw Sobers but not Nurse and Butcher?

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

Correct. Maybe they didn’t make very much so I don’t remember them

In reply to imusic

when you talk of style, I more think of elegance. In my mind Richards was very stylish. Among the current crop Shai Hope is the most stylish/elegant. Carty plays some drives that make you wonder what is stopping him from becoming a very good player. His drives are elegant. Rowe was easy at the crease the few times I saw him got into any type of stride. Hooper was very sound technically and was stylish. Funny thing, Hooper is not one of those batsmen that will put me in front of a television at nearly all cost. For some reason among the elegant players this is how it robs me; Lara in full flight. A couple innings from Timur left a lasting impression on me. Dillip Vengsarkar (especially) and Shastri looked elegant as players the age I saw them. Theo Cuffy who was a hard hitter played the most elegant square drive with supreme touch. There was something about Thelston Payne that made me want to see more of him. I liked watching a Guyanese named Mark Harper, I don't know if it was because of style or power but he played some lovely shots.

Well I did see a glints of grace and
power from Kanhai , in 1960 at the Kensington Oval he made 40.

However it was mesmerizing to see Frank Worrell and Sobers flaying the English
Bowlers , in that same Test Match .

Well I did see a glints of grace and
power from Kanhai , in 1960 at the Kensington Oval he only made 40 runs and was clean bowled by a beauty from
Freddie Truman , with a ball that moved in the air like an outswinger , and when it hit the Turf it jacked back , and spread eagled Kanhai's Stumps .

However it was mesmerizing to see Frank Worrell and Sobers at the crease together flaying the English Bowlers
in that same Test Match .

Early in his innings the English Spinner Laker was troubling Sobers ,
so Worrell , called him for a midpitch conference .

Sobers then started batting a little out of his crease , and Laker never
troubled him again . Worrell made 197
and Sobers made 226.

He never made much but Richard Staple was an attractive batsman.

He never made many but Richard Staple was an attractive batsman.

In order...

Rowe
Worrell
Sobers
Hooper
Kallicharan
Marlon Icon
Dujon



///

In reply to POINT

Early in his innings the English Spinner Laker was troubling Sobers ,
so Worrell , called him for a midpitch conference .

Jim laker wasn't on the team. The English off spinners in that test were David Allen and Ray Illingworth. Barrington was a sort of stop gap right arm leg spinner. There was another right arm leg spinner on the tour, I believe his name was Tommy Greenhough

25 Posts and nobody has mentioned Chanderpaul....how come?

In reply to Ewart

Dujon was stylish and elegant.

Sobers
Kallicharran
Hooper
Lara
Chanderpaul
Sarwan
Samuels
Ganga
Lil Bravo

Rowe,
Hooper
Staple
Lara
Samuels
Hope
King

King and Pooran in today's WI side.Real easy on the eyes..Hope they both continue for long.Hetmyer is erratic and looks a bit too careless..Careless and beautiful....Lara and Mark Waugh..woww those two were the best.

Some names that I don’t see here and I think should be mentioned:

Andy Jackman, Rabindrauth Seeram, Gordon Greenidge, Dessie Haynes, Richie Richardson, Sarwan, Darren “Technically Correct” Ganga, Lil B is also pleasing to the eyes!

Of the present crop the most enjoyable to watch for me are Hope Pooran and Dowrich

In reply to Oilah

U doh watch Brandon king?

Brooks stylish too.....for the short amount of time he at the crease

In reply to imusic

I also like King Chase and Jason but I was sticking to my top 3

In reply to imusic

You are so right how I forget Brooks but I sticking to my top 3

In reply to Oilah

Chase and Jason enjoyable to watch bat?

Neither would make my top 20

Respect your opinion still tho

In reply to imusic

Thoroughly enjoy those long languid drives...look again...the driving by both is very enjoyable

In reply to imusic

The Icon was the last stylish batsman, I've seen.
None of the present players, would make me leave my Coucou, to see them bat.

In reply to openning

In reply to openning

You???? You who used to wake up 2 am in the morning to watch kraigg Brathwaite bat?

You who used to leave country line dancing class early because kraigg Brathwaite was playing?

You who kept track of every century kraigg Brathwaite ever made against schoolboy teams and every level of BCA cricket?

You who swore that kraigg Brathwaite would be greater than Everton Weeks?

You give up on him now??

In reply to openning

i have never seen Sir Garry batting live and i wll have to take a video look at Seymour but since watching that video of Sir Garry with de Don commentating and describing the stroke play and footwork, i would have to put Sir Garry up there. in fact near the top in the elegance department, brutal but elegant- a joy to watch

In reply to WestDem

wah happened to Bacchus?

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

Sobers played after both.

In reply to camos

True

In reply to imusic
Even you will walk away.

You're station too far West, Stampede is the first Friday in July until the second Sunday of the same month.
It is not like Carnival, which you prepare for 365 days.
I cannot say any thing bad about Van, love the city, visited there many times with my Ex, who is from West Van.

In reply to sudden

You know your cricket, Garry was brutal and elegant at the same time, Nurse was elegant and a caresser of the ball, pure timing

In reply to openning

Oh....so ex Mrs openning is a poshist. Nice! So you does have tea and crumpets and ting?

In reply to sudden
The reason I fell in love with Seymoure's batting, was his hunger.
Sir Gary was like Ali, just the best.
Seymour may had gained by watching Sir Everton, and his love for being the best he could be.
I believe Basil gained a lot, from being around Sir Clyde.
In one of Bobby Simpson's book, he spoke of being sorry for Seymour when he walked to the wicket, against Australia, as his inning continued, he felt sorry for his bowlers.

In reply to imusic
She was called Angela Davis, when she went to High-school at The Bishop Strachan Private School, in Toronto.
She hated that school, parent wanted their children, out of the Van environment
She is still my best friend.
She is from a strong Black family, Dad was a Red Cap, mother a Music teacher

In reply to openning

What’s a red cap bro?

In reply to openning

You got class, Angela Davis,maxist, n Black Panther

In reply to tc1

He didn’t say she WAS Angela Davis

He said they used to CALL HER Angela Davis

Maybe all it took for her to get that nickname was that she was black and had an Afro. Maybe it wasn’t meant as a compliment either back in those days

In reply to imusic

Ok opening has nuff pokey

In reply to imusic

Airport Porter.

In reply to tc1

Lol!

In reply to openning

Thanks bro

Definitely Rowe and Hooper. Nurse was tops too. Butcher was good but not in their league.
I know we are talking west Indian batsmen but Someone mentioned Majid Khan over Zaheer Abbas. I saw them both at Bourda. Majid made 169 and Zaheer 80 Majid is good but he’s not in Zaheer’s class

no mention of rohan kanhai and viv richards. them stylish too.

In reply to sudden

WHAT??????

I am FLABBERGASTED!!!!!!

Who from our legends have you seen bat.????

In reply to Dukes

live from 1974 i watched every test match at the Mecca until i migrated in the early 80s

Everton Mattis was quite a stylist. I think the taller the batsman if he possess graceful ability, the more it looks classical to the eye.

In reply to sudden

Now, you cannot say you are under 30 anymore. lol:

In reply to tc1

still younger than FUZZ, WAY YOUNGER

I can't think of a lefthander that ooze style, outside of David Gower, to me they tend to look awkward and very difficult to bowl to.

In reply to tc1

He watched his first match in 1974 when he was 20

In reply to camos

Awkward? You’ve never seen Alvin Kallicharran or Brian Lara bat?

In reply to imusic

success is not synonymous with style !


Gus was more style than Lara.

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

In reply to FuzzyWuzzy

In reply to camos

U entitled to your opinion bruh.

In reply to sudden

I watched that era on tele, still have my VHS tapes.
I missed almost 25 years, of watching cricket live at the Mecca.
Did you play for Cawmere, and in what division?

Style like beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder. To me left handers have a higher "style quotient" on average than right handers but my top two are still righties.

In reply to Oilah

Co sign

In reply to Oilah

I have the opposite opinion, most left handed look awkward to me, only a few look elegant.

In reply to tc1

Like Sanga?
Maaan, even KLT Arthurton has default left handlers’ style!!

In reply to tc1

You mean must of those who are not natural lefties

In reply to tc1

That’s because Adrian Griffith is your hero

In reply to tc1

Even Ambrose had some elegant strokes because he batted left handed.

In reply to imusic

I take AG before Lincoln Roberts.

[b]In reply to sudden/ Trex

Worrell, Nurse, Rowe, Hooper , Walsh and me against Ambrose, Arthurton, Adams.

In reply to Halliwell

Favourite lefties:

Shiv
Lara
Hetty
Pooran
Sanga
Gayle
Gilly
Pant
Tresco
Fleming
Sobie
Kalli
Deonarine

In reply to Seechy

Obviusly not a beauty contest cause yuh leff out Gower

In reply to imusic

Hooper and Rowe, for me, are the two most stylish batsmen West Indies have produced.

In reply to Fivestar
In my view..Rowe, Worrell and Hooper.
Others...Sobers, Nurse,Dujon, Kanhai and Kallicharran a much under rated stroke maker.

Renford Pinnock, he never wore the Maroon, but the style and gimmick was to behold.

In reply to hubert

Not Lara?

In reply to imusic
How could I forget him ? Of course BCL was elegant and stylish.My bad.

In reply to openning

Pinnock came to mind also, when this thread was started. I saw him play football once and he brought the same style and flair he showed in cricket to his football game.

In reply to Seechy

I like how Pooran puts a Good Ole Fashioned LAG on the ball

Reminds me of wind-ball cricket in the road under a big Samaan tree pulling lag into the tall grass