Learie Constantine
Learie Constantine
was the son of Lebrun Constantine, a plantation foreman who toured
England as an allrounder with the West Indian cricketers of
1900 and 1906. In 1923 they both played for Trinidad against
British Guiana at Georgetown, one of the few instances of a father and
son appearing together in a first-class match; both of them long
cherished the occasion. In constant family practice the father insisted
on a high standard of fielding which was to prove the foundation of his
son's success.
Learie Constantine was one of the great personalities of the game,
although in his debut series against England in 1928 his figures was
unremarkable in the form of 5 wickets for 262 runs and he made only 89
runs in six innings with the bat, Learie Constantine made a distinct
impact. He was as fast as anyone in the world at that time.
Furthermore, he bowled with dramatic intensity, managing by his
demeanour to suggest that even a majestic drive for four off his
bowling must have occured by accident.
As a batsman and he could have
been considered an all-rounder, Constantine operated in one way,
attack. With a quick eye and supple wrists typical of the game in the
West Indies, Learie Constantine could take any attack apart.
Constantine's bating was typical of the quality that
distinguishes the West Indian's expression of that art. Naturally quick
reflexes, good eye sight, natural athletic ability and an innate ball
sense.
As a fielder Learie Constantine was a specialist at cover-point, and
those who saw him in his prime said he was one of the great out
fielders of all time, athletic, panther-quick, sure-handed and with a
arm that could riffle the ball into the wicket-keeper's gloves like a
bullet even from the deepest boundary which was not then limited to 75
yards.
In eighteen Tests between 1928
and 1939 his overall figures were poor - 641 runs at 19.42; 58 wickets
at 30.10. On the other hand he virtually won two important Tests and
shaped a third. At Georgetown, in 1930, when West Indies beat England
for the first time, George Headley made a major batting contribution;
but it was Constantine who twice broke the English batting with four
for 35 and five for 87, figures not approached by any other bowler in
the match.
At Port of Spain in 1934-35 he
levelled the series - which West Indies eventually won by one match -
when, after scoring 90 and 31, he took two for 41 and ended his second
innings three for 11 (in 14.5 overs) with the master stroke of having
as great a resister as Maurice Leyland lbw with only one ball of the
match remaining. In his last Test, at The Oval in 1939, when he was 37
years old, his five for 73 took West Indies to a first-innings lead.
After, his serious cricketing days were drawing to an end. Constantine
did occasional writing and broadcasting. Among his books are Cricket In
The Sun, Cricket And I, How To Play Cricket, Cricketers' Carnival, The
Changing Face Of Cricket (with Denzil Batchelor), and Colour Bar. Years
of dogged study were rewarded when he was called to the Bar by the
Middle Temple in 1954. Returning to Trinidad he was elected an M.P. in
his country's first democratic parliament; became Minister of Works in
the government and subsequently High Commissioner for Trinidad and
Tobago in London from 1962 until 1964.
Learie Constantine was awarded
the M.B.E. in 1945; knighted in 1962; made an honorary Master of the
Bench in 1963; and created a life peer in 1969. He served various
periods as a governor of the B.B.C., a Rector of St. Andrews, a member
of the Race Relations Board and the Sports Council. Lord Constantine,
MBE, died in London on July 1, 1971 as, Baron Constantine, of Marvel in
Trinidad and Tobago, and of Nelson, in the County Palatine of Lancaster.
Learie Constantine Test Cricket
Statistics
| Full Name |
Learie Nicholas Constantine |
|
Number
of Test
|
18 |
|
Test Run Aggregate
|
635 |
|
Test
Batting Average
|
19.24
|
|
Total Test Wickets
|
58 |
|
Test Bowling Average
|
30.10 |
|
Test
Centuries
|
0 |
|
Date of Birth
|
September
21, 1901, Petit Valley, Diego Martin, Trinidad |
| Died |
July 1, 1971, Brondesbury, Hampstead,
London |
|
Test Debut
|
England
v West Indies at Lord's - Jun 23-26, 1928 |
|
Last Test Match
|
England
v West Indies at The Oval - Aug 19-22, 1939 |
|
Batting
Style
|
Right hand bat |
|
Bowling
Style
|
Right-arm fast |
|
|
|
| Screenshot |
Description |
 |
Cricket
Legends These players are the 50 greatest cricketers of
the century, as voted by a blue-ribbon panel of judges assembled by
ESPN. The panelists were asked to list in order, their top 50 players.
Cricketing legends from Australia, England, India, New Zealand,
Pakistan, South Africa and the West Indies all made it to the final 50.
Among them are some famous West Indies fast bowlers, great Aussie
legends, and modern heros of the game. Disc 4 features Keith
Miller WG Grace Graeme Pollock Malcolm Marshall |
| Format |
Pages |
Cost |
| NTSC - DVD |
|
£124.99 |
|
|
