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(Repost from a FB entry, thank you)

On this day (actually 3 days ago) in 1933 birth of former West Indies all rounder Collie Smith. He made a century for Jamaica against the touring Australian team playing his 3rd first class game in 1955 & this earned a West Indies Test call. He rose to the occasion scoring a century on debut becoming the fourth West Indies player to achieve the feat. He was a useful spinner as well & one of his best all around performances came during the 5th Test of 1958/59 Indian tour where he scored a century & took match figures of 8 for 184.
In 1959 he set a Lancashire league record at the time scoring unbeaten 306 runs while playing for Burnley. It was during that season when a tragedy happened. Smith was traveling to London with his West Indies teammates Sir Garry Sobers & Tom Dewdney to attend a charity game. He was sleeping in the backseat while Sir Garry was driving & they were already late for the event due to London traffic.

That's when their car ran into a cattle truck. Smith was thrown to the front of the vehicle & all three passengers seemed to be fine with minor injuries at first including Smith. He told Sir Garry "Don't worry about me. Look after the big fellow. " referring to Dewdney. Unfortunately those were very much the last words he ever spoke as even though he seemed fine initially, his spine was severely injured & soon went into a coma.

He never regained his consciousness & passed away three days after the tragic accident. The saddest part was he was just 26 at the time with plenty to offer both as a cricketer & as a young man. His body was taken to Jamaica where over 60000 people reportedly attended his funeral. Later Sir Garry was fined & his license was suspended for a month by Stone Magistrates Court as he was found guilty of careless driving.
"Keen Cricketer, Unselfish Friend, Worthy Hero, Loyal Disciple, Happy Warrior." was carved into the tombstone of Smith at Jamaica's May Pen Cemetery.

In reply to Curtis

Folk hero. Only good die young.

A player who was destined for greatness

In reply to Curtis

I saw this on a cricket forum, never heard about him or the situation before
wow

In reply to positiveg
Yuh serious?

In reply to Brerzerk

that was exactly my thought this morning when i read it but held back on my comment thinking......well if the cricketers playing don't know the history and care about it, why should g care

you might be familiar with this verse

In reply to Brerzerk

positiveg just pretending to be younger than most.

Doan pay 'im no mind.

In reply to Drapsey

Posi ah true???