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Former West Indies cricketer Irvine Shillingford is dead

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Irvine Shillingford, the first Dominican to represent the West Indies, passed away on Thursday. It is understood that Shillingford died in hospital in Dominica after ailing for some time. He was 78.

A right-hander with much potential, Shillingford played only four Tests and two One-Day Internationals for West Indies during the 1970s, managing to score a hundred against Pakistan in Georgetown in only his second Test.

In paying tribute, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit labelled Shillingford a “true icon” who had been a pioneer for Dominican cricketers. We have lost a true icon who brought great joy to the cricket-loving Dominican public. He stood as an example of all that was achievable for Dominican players of the most beloved sport in the West Indies,” Skerrit said in a statement.

“He was the first Dominican to play for the West Indies Cricket team and is still the only one to have scored a test century. For an all too brief moment, he represented the dreams and aspirations of many Dominican cricketers who hoped to achieve similar glory,” the prime minister added.

Source: Jamaicaobserver.com

My condolences to the Shillingford family, of which I knew some very well, also to all Dominicans.

Sad news. He was part of the glory days of 1970s Shell Shield tournaments when we all looked forward to hearing the scores at the end of each day of play as every team had players of such great potential. I thought that Grayson had played for WI before him but may have been wrong on that. RIP Irvine Shillingford and thank you for the memories. Perhaps Dukes can assist: was he part of the Combined Islands team made famous by Paul Keens-Douglas in Tantie at de Oval?

The passing of another great WI player.

RIP. Was a classy batter for Combined Islands.

Deepest sympathy - know a few of his cousins

In reply to Slipfeeler

Condolences…one of Dominica’s finest…decent bloke…The Shillingfords are well known in Dominica

He made a solid impact as part of the WI team prior to the Packer era..

My condolences to the family. This guy was a very good cricketer RIP boss.

Irvine Shillingford, now that was a good batsman!

In reply to VoopsandOut

You are right...Grayson (cousin tho) made his debut against England at lords in 1969. Irvin debuted in 1977 vs Pakistan (Croft 8/29 1st inn. sorry cyah help that). Lol remember that clearly.

Not sure whether P 'Keens' Douglas' rendition of 'Tanty Merle' is real or imagined but surely, Irvin would have been a formidable member of the Combined Islands then.

Condolences

RIP Irvine…

RIP!
One memory that stood out is a photograph of him and Big Bird standing mid pitch, the original Twins!

RIP! true fighter.

RIP Irvine. My thoughts and prayers goes out to the Shillingford family.

Rest Well Big Man!!! My brother-in-law told me this guy played first division cricket until his early sixties and was still scoring centuries..

RIP Irvine.

A top class batsman who never really got his due.

He was perhaps unfortunate that he was born at the wrong time and/or carried the wrong passport. With his talent he deserved to have played more test cricket for the West Indies.

When he was studying at UWI Mona it seemed as if he would score double centuries at will every weekend in the Jamaica Senior Cup competition. He once said that in the early days of playing for the Combined Islands and batting at #3 he would ask the openers to walk slowly to the crease to at least allow him to get his pads on!!!

Condolences to the Shillingfords and RIP Irving, joining his cuz Grayson in the great beyond.

Grayson debuted before Irving in WI team.

RIP Irvine - the cricketer.

You were from an era that produced genuine cricketers who made the region proud.

Sad news indeed..Irving Shillingford in my book was the best batsman produced by the Windward Islands.
I rated him higher than two of his contemporaries, Foster of Jamaica and Charlie Davis of Trinidad purely on solid strokeplay/
He was pure class as a batsman whose execution of the square cut gave pure joy.

He was however not favoured by the WI selectors for higher duties until he was on the top side of 30.
As a schoolboy he was the rave and he earned his FC debut in October 1961 as a 16 year old in the Triangular series in Guyana(BG).

He never gave up on marking the Test team however and his persistence paid off as he noted that selectors could not ignore runs, forever.
He was being touted for the 1966 Tour of England having recorded a Ton in the very first match against Jamaica in the Shell Shield. But like
Lloyd was a victim of horse trading in the selection process. But his reward came a decade later.
He duly made his debut against Pakistan in 1977 and recorded his sole Century in his 2nd Test.
Career outside cricket proved more rewarding and cricket took a back seat as he neared
mid 30s.

A quiet spoke and non demononstative cricketer, Irving Shillingford was a class act on and off the field and he gained inpopularity when he
spend time at the UWI Mona Canmpus and championed their Senior Cup team to the anguish of bowlers.
Condolences to his family and relatives and cricket fraternity of his native land, Dominica.

RIP Irving; you did well and will be remembered fondly.

RIP Irving. Heard about him during the Shell Shield cricket days.

In reply to VoopsandOut

RIP Shilly.

He scored a good century, I believe 121 against the touring Pakistanis in 1977. Their bowlers included a young Imran, a rampant Safraz and Abdul Qadir, so a very good attack

That he didn't play more test in only because of our great strength in batting.

Sad news... I actually played against him back in the 90s when he came with a visiting team of dotties from Toronto.

In reply to Arawak

R.I.P. Irving.

Saw him at Victoria Park in 1966, where in the 2nd Innings F.O Mason took 9; all but Irving's.

My condolences.