21 June 2023 , 20:19
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England, cricket and the West Indies are forever intertwined thanks to nearly 100 years of international competition, rivalry, friendship, opposition and collaboration.
And on the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship from Jamaica to London, there is no better time to celebrate the impact and influence of the Caribbean on English cricket.
Whether it is the sight of Devon Malcolm destroying the South Africans at the Oval in 1994, or Dean Headley tormenting the Aussies at the MCG in 1998 or Roland Butcher carving 52 from 38 balls on his England ODI debut before becoming the very first black cricketer to represent England in a Test match, the moments of joy and entertainment provided by so many are etched into history.
From Butcher to Jofra Archer the line of players with a Caribbean background performing great feats for England continues to this day and as recently as November, Chris Jordan played his part in securing a T20 World Cup for the Three Lions.
But the influence of the Caribbean goes beyond the England team and beyond the professional game, into the recreational game where clubs were setup, played for and supported by those with a love of the game.
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Of course for many, their original love was for the West Indies team itself, the team they supported when it won its first Test at Lords in 1950 and then went on to claim the series.
Michael Holding bowls at Brian Close during another thumping West Indies win over England in 1976The team that dominated world cricket throughout the 1980s when their successes would lift the Caribbean population in the UK and send them to their jobs in factories, on public transport and in the NHS with a spring in their step.
But with their children being born in the UK the split between home and heritage became a topic for debate.
‘The Tebbit test’ and the nonsense that suggested any immigrant to the UK had to support the team where they lived rather than the team where they were from sparked more division where none needed to exist.
And the idea that those representing England would try a little less hard because they were born elsewhere was an insult. How wonderful that England’s 2019 World Cup winning captain and their current Test captain leading an entertaining revolution were born in Ireland and New Zealand respectively. Thankfully times have changed.
Chris Jordan lifted the T20 World Cup with England last yearBorn and raised in London to Caribbean parents, it fills me with huge pride to be a descendant of the Windrush generation and to have been inspired by the likes of Malcolm, Gladstone Small and Norman Cowans among so many others.
Now my daughter is playing the game and who knows where the journey will take her, but her opportunity is there thanks to those who have gone before us and for that we offer thanks.
And in another 75 years I’m certain there will be many more moments to celebrate.