Sir Learie Constantine
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John Arlott on Sir Learie Constantine - 1966 |
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Biography of Sir Learie Constantine |
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Cricket in the Sun by Learie Constantine- Sabina Park,Jamaica March 1935
Jackie Grant the West Indies captain jumped to save a run,saved it, and sprained his ankle. The mantle of captaincy falls on Learie Constantine in the fourth Test Match between the West Indies and England to decide the rubber. This is the final day of the match and all through lunch Constantine says over and over in his mind: Hammond must go...Hammond must go.....
After lunch Martindale is bowling to Hammond and the last ball of the over is coming down,and Constantine had grabbed up the three previous balls as they left the bat, and he knows this last ball is going to be his catch. It whizzes down, Hammond is just too late at it,because out of the corner of his eye he sees Constantine leaping across to take it-and he plays on to his off-stump,and Hammond is GONE! Farnes is caught behind the wicket- 92 for 8 -and the last man comes to the wicket.In the last ball of his over Constantine gives it something extra and Martindale leaps forward as Hollies tries to drive past cover..and the last man is caught and West Indies have beaten England by an innings and 161 runs with three hours to spare,to win a TEST MATCH SERIES for the first time!" Martindale took 4 for 28 and Constantine 3 for 13 to bowl out England for 103 runs in their Second Innings. The hero of the match was George Headley who scored 270 not out.
The Greatest Performance in First Class Cricket!
Middlesex vs West Indies 1928(Lords)
Middlesex 1st Innings 352 for 6
(Constantine injured did not bowl)
West Indies 1st Innings 230
(Constantine 86 runs)
Middlesex 2nd Innings 136
(Constantine 7 for 57 (incl'd 6 for 11off 39 balls)
West Indies 2nd Innings 259 for 7
(Constantine 103 runs out of 133 scored while at the wicket)
WEST INDIES WON BY 3 WICKETS
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