The Wildest Tests

The 1954 Georgetown Test

This was the third Test of the five-match West Indies-England series and England had lost the first two games.

England led off with 435 and then had West Indies in deep trouble at 139 for seven.

But a fighting partnership followed. Clifford McWatt and Jack Holt added 99 runs for the eighth wicket before the former was run out for 54.

Even as the next batsman Sonny Ramadhin joined Holt sections of the crowd protesting the run-out decision hurled bottles and other missiles on to the field.

The players were fortunate to escape injury. Play was halted and officials went across to the England captain Len Hutton and requested him to lead his team off the field as the situation was pretty tense.

Hutton, however, preferred to remain as he wanted to knock over the last two wickets. His courageous action came in for much praise later.

After the debris was cleared, England did pick up one more wicket before close of play. They then dismissed the West Indies for 251, enforced the follow on, got them out a second time for 256 and went on to win by nine wickets.

Image: Sonny Ramadhin seen here with his spin twin Alf Valentine.

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