Know our Cricketers of yesteryear

by Patmos Richards

This vintage collection of cricketers was the St Vincent cricket team of 1954 in Dominica. They won the Cork Cup as the competition was then called. The Cork Cup was named after Governor Cork, a British Colonial who worked in the Windward Islands.

All of these players have earned a place in the annals of local cricket history. They are still highly talked of for the scintillating cricketing skills which they displayed on the field of play.{{more}}

Discipline was the central hallmark of this legendary cricket team, led by the distinguished Frank Thomas, after whom one of the pavilions at the Arnos Vale Playing field is named.

These cricketers, according to reliable sources, were very competitive and carried with them a strong sense of character and a relentless courage, two salient qualities that were responsible for them vanquishing their cricketing opponents.

In this 1954 outfit, there was a combination of youth and experience – Captain Frank Thomas and his Vice, Frank Mason, were undoubtedly the two most experienced players at the time. The other players were predominantly youthful and talented.

Manning Jackson was highly rated in those days as one of the better Vincentian batsmen who caressed the ball gracefully. Ardon ‘Panno’ Daisley was renowned for his vicious and perfect square cut. Other highly rated batsmen were Eldon ‘Muckle’ Bramble, Ardon Antrobus, Vin Cato, wicketkeeper batsmen, Ian Neverson and Duncan ‘Bumpy’ Providence. Caspar Quammie will be remembered as a veritable all rounder.

Frank Thomas, Frank Mason, Lance Pierre and Dasilva were genuine fast bowlers who gave an excellent account of themselves during their tenure as National Cricketers. Adams, originally from the Grenadine Island of Union Island, made a name for himself as a veritable leg spin bowler.

Some of these cricket legends have migrated to other countries. Certainly, four of them in the persons of Duncan “Bumpy” Providence, Eldon

‘Muckle’ Bramble, Vin Cato and Ardon ‘Panno’ Daisley are dead. The manager Mr. Basil Dasent is also deceased.

Caspar Quammie presumably lives in the USA and it was rumoured that Ian Neverson lives in another part of the Caribbean. Pierre, DaSilva and Antrobus live overseas while Jackson still lives on Vincentian soil along with two other legends, Frank Thomas and Frank Mason.