A public subscription to finance his travel to Jamaica, opened by the Daily Gleaner, raised over £1,000, and despite his reservations, Headley returned to Jamaica. [13], On their return home, the West Indian players were well received by the public and officials; Headley received praise and once again attended functions arranged in his honour. Mat. [5], On leaving school, Headley was appointed as a temporary clerk in a magistrate's court; this enabled him to play competitive cricket for the St Andrew's Police side in 1926, in a cup competition. Moreover, he carried the burden of shoring up West Indies' batting on his shoulders throughout his distinguished career. In 37.5% of his innings he was top scorer (better even than Bradman with 29 out of 80). Although he continued to travel with the team, he was unable to play in any further matches until the final game of the tour, when he scored 100 against Ceylon Schools as the tourists travelled home via Ceylon. 22. [60], After scoring an unbeaten 257 in a minor match against Norfolk, Headley scored 89 in his team's victory over Glamorgan and 182 against Warwickshire. [8], Headley made his Jamaica debut against Lord Tennyson's XI at Sabina Park on 9 February 1928, in a match won easily by the home team. List of Test cricketers born in non-Test playing nations, "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by George Headley", "Test Batting and Fielding for West Indies in Marylebone Cricket Club in West Indies 1929/30", "Statsguru: GA Headley Test matches (innings by innings list)", "Test Batting and Fielding in Each Season by George Headley", "Jamaica v Lord Tennyson's XI in 1931/32 (first match)", "First-class matches: Highest partnership by wicket", "Jamaica v Lord Tennyson's XI in 1931/32 (second match)", "Jamaica v Lord Tennyson's XI in 1931/32 (third match)", "England v West Indies 1933 (first Test)", "England v West Indies 1933 (second Test)", "First-class Bowling in Each Season by George Headley", "Statsguru: Test match batting records (Scores over 200 for West Indies)", "Hundred in each innings of a Test match", "England v West Indies 1939 (second Test)", "England v West Indies 1939 (third Test)", "George Headley (CricketArchive Profile)", "Five greats of West Indies cricket honoured", "George Headley: Stats analysis. Headley became involved in the selection of teams, taking some of them overseas. He averaged a century every fourth innings in which he batted, second again to Bradman, and did not suffer a poor series in his career before the war. George Headley averages 60.83 in 22 matches with 10 centuries. [53] Jamaica won the match to win the series 3–0; Headley scored 723 runs at an average of 361.50. Mor... George Alphonso Headley, born on May 30 1909, is regarded by many as next only to Bradman for his stupendous batting exploits. As the professional, he was expected to open the bowling although, as a spinner, he would normally have bowled later in an innings. In all first-class matches, he has the third highest average with 69.86, behind Bradman and Vijay Merchant among those who played 50 innings. He did not play Tests between 1949 and 1953, but resumed his career in English league cricket, first in Lancashire and later in the Birmingham League. [9][44] Headley scored 336 runs in the Test matches at an average of 37.33,[29] and 1,066 runs at 44.41 in all first-class games. These bowling tactics were used in subsequent matches, and Headley found difficulty in countering them. A quieter match followed against Middlesex, but Headley reached his second double century of the tour in the match against Derbyshire, which took him past 1,000 runs for the season. In his second season, the club topped the league. He also took his maiden first class wicket. He aggregated over 2,000 Test runs at a remarkable average. However, England were able to bat long enough to secure a draw. [9][98] Previous captains of island teams had been almost exclusively white. Read about George Headley's Profile, Latest News, Articles, Career updates only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Headley had a fascinating start to his career at the age of twenty in four Test Headley scored 704 runs at an average of 87.88, including four centuries. Following his tour of England in 1933, Headley signed as a professional at Haslingden in the Lancashire League, where he played until the outbreak of war in 1939. [9], In the first Test, West Indies suffered their only defeat of the series. Learie Constantine-Wikipedia. When the war came Headley had played 35 test innings in ten years. He and his family moved to Birmingham,[111] and in each the next four seasons Headley averaged over 65 with the bat and under 17 with the ball. [25][26] On the first three days, England scored 849. Headley, playing Grimmett comfortably by now, batted for 146 minutes, and hit 13 fours. Headley, although troubled by the English bowling on a difficult pitch, top-scored with 51 in West Indies' first innings but the other batsmen contributed little. Even so, he was chosen as West Indies captain in 1948 against England, the first black player to be appointed to the position, although a combination of injuries and politics meant he only led his team for one Test match. England batted again, to set West Indies an eventual victory target of 836. [138] In 1961, Headley coached for six months in Nigeria and earned praise from the Nigerian Cricket Association. However, his runs came in less than two overs and Learie Constantine later rated this as one of Headley's best innings. When he batted he was run out for a duck by Constantine after facing one delivery, and Haslingden lost the match. ... in 19 Test matches against England in this the period he scored 2,135 runs at an average of 66.71 including ten centuries, two of them doubles. [9] In a career total of 103 first-class games he aggregated 9,921 runs at 69.86, with 33 centuries, and took 51 wickets at 36.11. He hit the bowling of Alan Hilder for four consecutive fours and twice hit Lord Tennyson for three fours in a row. George Headley (West Indies) Depending on where you hail from, George Headley is either the Black Bradman or Bradman is the white Headley. There was a special provision which allowed Headley to be released to play for West Indies. [71][72] In 1935 he scored over 900 runs at an average of 61.13, and took 34 wickets; his contract was renewed for another two years. Headley played the hook very effectively and hit many short deliveries for runs. [9] When the tour concluded, Headley had scored 2,320 runs with seven hundreds, at an average of 66.28. [74], The first Test in Barbados was badly affected by rain which made the pitch almost impossible to bat on. [1], Headley moved in with his mother's sister-in-law Mrs Clarence Smith, in Rae Town, Kingston, and remained with her until her death in 1933. Although in that year his overall batting performance declined, to 677 runs at an average of 37.61, he took 76 wickets at 9.70 and had success in the Worsley Cup competition, including one innings of 189 not out in a match played over five evenings. [71][112] While in England during this time, he played several first-class matches for a Commonwealth XI against an England XI; he scored 20 in 1951 and accumulated 98 and 61 in 1952. Headley played cautiously for 140 minutes, attempting to tire out the bowlers, but was run out for 65 in a misunderstanding with Vic Stollmeyer. [93] In all first-class matches during the tour, Headley scored 1,745 runs at 72.70, placing him at the top of the season's first-class averages. [71][72], Headley did not play any first-class cricket in the West Indies in 1933–34,[13] but returned to Jamaica in readiness for the 1934–35 MCC tour. According to James's reckoning, Bradman in similar conditions passed fifty once, and averaged 16.66 in fifteen innings. The Australians bowled at Headley's leg stump with fielders concentrated on the leg side, making it difficult for him to score runs. As a batsman, Headley played in 22 Test matches, he scored 2,190 runs and 10 centuries - including one on debut and two double centuries - at an average of 60.83, and once at Bourda, once at Lord's, he scored two centuries in the same match. [57], West Indies drew the second Test, avoiding defeat for the first time in a Test in England. [35] In the final match before the Test series began, against South Australia, Headley had problems playing the Australian bowlers, particularly the leg spin of Clarrie Grimmett. This included a spell of three wickets without conceding a run in 14 deliveries, prompting a pitch invasion by the crowd. [93] C. B. Fry, a former England captain turned journalist, wrote that Headley's "middle name should be Atlas", suggesting that he carried the team on his shoulders. With 2,310 runs for an average of 79.65, Weekes failed by ten runs to equal Headley’s aggregate … George Headley only played in 22 Tests, but was top scorer for his Team on 15 occasions. [50] The success of two home batsmen led to celebrations in Jamaica and praise from the English bowlers for Headley's batting. Headley had a fascinating start to his career at the age of twenty in four Test Headley scored 704 runs at an average of 87.88, including four centuries. [1][2] His mother returned to Cuba, but regularly exchanged letters with her son. He then shared a partnership of 487 for the sixth wicket with Clarence Passailaigue; 236 not out after the first day's play, Headley went on to score an unbeaten 344, after batting for 407 minutes and hitting 39 fours. Ten hundreds in … And no … George's other three scores were 51 and 5 at Manchester, … Headley was the only batsman that stood between West Indies and regular capitulations. He managed to do so in extremely challenging conditions at the tender age of 20 years and 308 days. After a brief visit to New Zealand where they played a non-first-class match against Wellington, the tourists arrived in Sydney. This affected his availability for cricket as he was no longer able to take leave when playing for a team; if he did not work, he received no wages. In reply, England had scored 81 for seven when Wyatt declared in an attempt to make West Indies bat while the pitch was difficult. With ten fours in total, Headley became the first West Indian to score a century against Australia, and was left 102 not out when West Indies were bowled out for 193. [9][43] In the fifth Test, West Indies won the toss and batted first, which proved an advantage in a match plagued by uncertain weather. [61] Ivan Barrow believed Headley reached his batting peak during the tour. After all, George Headley was by far the best West Indian batsman of his times, and, by many accounts, the best in the world but for Don Bradman. [23] In the second innings, Headley scored 112 as West Indies batted with a big first innings lead, attacking defensive English bowling. [31] The first match of the Australian leg was against New South Wales, where the West Indians were bowled out for 188 and Headley was stumped for 25. [119] After his final Test match appearance, Headley's only other first-class match was in the Commonwealth XI fixture in 1954, when he scored 64 in his final first-class innings. [126] Although he was a naturally attacking player, Headley felt the need to play cautiously owing to the way his team depended on him. The accompanying article called his tour "almost a triumphant march" and described him as "the best batsman the West Indies have ever produced. [71] He changed his bowling style to medium pace and took 59 wickets at an average of 16.59. When the war came Headley had played 35 test innings in ten years. [113] The Test selectors had seen enough to include Headley in the team for the first Test. [90] After the Test, Headley scored 93 against Surrey but failed to reach fifty in his next three games, which included three single figure scores. In the second innings, Headley was out for a duck and Jackie Grant declared when West Indies had scored 51 for six, so that England required 73 to win; they did so after losing six wickets. While West Indies played their inaugural Test series during that tour, Headley continued to play for St Catherine's. CLR James advanced Headley as … [96] Meanwhile, he took a new job as an insurance agent. George Headley was the first great West Indian batsman and a pioneer for cricket in the ... in 19 Test matches against England in this the period he scored 2,135 runs at an average of 66.71 including ten centuries, two of them doubles. By the time Headley was five years old the Canal was complete, and the family moved to Cuba in search of further employment. [3] Taking part in all-day cricket matches at the local Crabhole Park, Headley began to attract local attention,[4] and aged 16, he joined Raetown Cricket Club. [79] Headley contributed 485 runs at an average of 97.00. In 1925 he scored his first century, batting at number three in the batting order in a match for Raetown against Clovelly. He made his Test debut in 1930, against England in Barbados, and was instantly successful. These tours also served to build Headley's reputation. [91] Headley scored just five in West Indies' brief second innings, bringing to an end a sequence of six fifties in successive Test innings. However, Headley later argued that the run was given to ensure that he was batting at the beginning of the next over, so that England could try to get him out before he settled down. Out of the 247, only 75 have resulted in wins, which is 30.4% of the fourth-innings hundreds. He shared century partnerships with both Clifford Roach and Frank de Caires, but these were insufficient to force victory, and the match was drawn. Headley had a difficult match. He batted in discomfort, scoring 57 not out. Headley found the fast bowlers difficult, but survived the period when the pitch was most difficult to bat on before he was out for 44. Individual “Twin Centuries” Statistics. He scored 36 not out, but aggravated his back pains and he withdrew from the final Test. After all, George Headley was by far the best West Indian batsman of his times, and, by many accounts, the best in the world but for Don Bradman. * There have been 247 centuries that have come in the fourth innings of tests, out of a total of 4210 centuries in test history in percentage terms, that is only 5.9% of all hundreds. [13][93], Wisden judged Headley to be the best batsman of the 1939 season,[94] while other critics rated him among the best batsmen in the world, with favourable comparisons to Bradman. [83][84] During the series, Headley demanded expenses, which were not normally granted to the players. [102], For reasons related to class and race, it had been unthinkable before the war for the West Indies to appoint a black Test captain, but the postwar world saw social and political changes in the Caribbean. Headley top-scored with 33 out of the first innings total of 99 but made only 11 on his second attempt, being dismissed both times by Ironmonger. [10][11] After the innings, Tennyson compared Headley to Victor Trumper and Charlie Macartney, batsmen considered among the best who ever played. [101][102] Crab Nethersole, the Jamaican manager for the tour, reported that injuries to key players and the poor attitude of the crowd made the tour difficult, although Headley's captaincy was universally praised. He played cautiously during his 250-minute innings, as he was aware that his team were relying on his success. [118], For the jewelry designer and museum founder, see. [38] His quick footwork enabled him to alter his position if necessary to play the ball on the off side. West Indies won this game under the captaincy of Goddard, who had earlier led West Indies to victory in the third Test. [128], As of 2014, Headley's average in Test matches of 60.83 is third highest among those with 2,000 runs, behind Bradman and Graeme Pollock, and but for the Tests he played after the war, he would have been above Pollock. [35], Headley resumed playing for Lucas on his return to Jamaica, attracting great crowds and high expectations. He aggregated over 2,000 Test runs at a remarkable average. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the stumper who held his own as a batsman in an era of Don Bradman, George Headley and Wally Hammond. [23], While en route to the final Test in Jamaica, the West Indies team stopped in Panama and Costa Rica where official functions were held in Headley's honour. [129], Manley describes Headley as just under medium height with sloping shoulders. However, he was now on the verge of the Jamaica team and a delay in the arrival of the application forms for his American work permit allowed him to make his first-class debut for Jamaica against another touring team led by Lord Tennyson. In conversation with a member of the Australian Board of Control, Headley, Constantine and fellow tourist Tommy Scott suggested the authorities should produce faster pitches to enable the public to see more attacking cricket. The MCC side was not at full international strength; it included players who were either just beginning or just ending their international careers, and several star English bowlers were missing. 1 / 4 NEXT [9][17] In three matches against the tourists, Headley scored 326 runs, averaging 54.33. Headley played two matches for Jamaica against the tourists; he failed in the first game but scored 127 in the second. [27][28] When Headley was stumped, he had made what was at the time the fourth highest individual score in all Test cricket and the highest in a second innings. [9] The home side levelled the series with their first ever Test victory in the third match of the series, played in British Guiana. Headley lost his wicket through impatience in the first match, although he scored a pair of fifties, but scored a century in the third game. Ten hundreds in 22 Tests and an average of … George Headley was the dominant batsman in an era of development in West Indian cricket. In the second innings, opening again, he made 155 not out to guide West Indies to their victory target of 363. [22] In Trinidad, during the second Test, Headley found the unfamiliar conditions difficult—Trinidad was the only Test match ground in the Caribbean which was played on a pitch made from matting instead of grass. West Indies' first world-class batsman", "Test match players: Related Test players", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Headley&oldid=995895538, Cricketers who made a century on Test debut, Members of the Order of the British Empire, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 December 2020, at 13:24. He was the first person to ever accomplish this feat at the home of cricket. Least number of innings to score 10 Test centuries (overall) Player. Although some critics expected his selection for the West Indies tour of England in 1928, Headley was not chosen. George's other three scores were 51 and 5 at Manchester, and 65 in his only innings in the third test at the Oval. Headley again batted defensively to score 107, taking two hours to reach 50, as West Indies needed to bat for a long time to secure a draw. However, with George Headley forced to withdraw, Weekes won a reprieve. ... Headley scored eight centuries against England and two against Australia in 40 innings. [13] In the remainder of the season, Headley led Lucas to victory in the Senior Cup, scoring a century in the final. [28] The English press speculated on Headley's ability to cope with English conditions,[55] while expecting him to perform to a high standard. [84], In 1936 Headley returned to England, and played no more first-class cricket until the two trial matches for the 1939 tour of England. 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