George Headley

George Alphonso Headley OD, MBE (30 May 1909 – 30 November 1983) was a West Indian cricketer who played 22 Test matches, mostly before World War II.

Considered one of the best batsmen to play for the West Indies and one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Headley also represented Jamaica and played professional club cricket in England.

West Indies had a weak cricket team through most of Headley's playing career; as their one world-class player, he carried a heavy responsibility and the side depended on his batting.

He batted at number three, scoring 2,190 runs in Tests at an average of 60.83, and 9,921 runs in all first-class matches at an average of 69.86.

Headley was born in Colón, Panama, on 30 May 1909, the son of DeCourcy Headley and Irene Roberts.

Neither of Headley's parents was from Panama; his father was from Barbados and his mother from Jamaica, but they had moved to Panama while DeCourcey worked on the construction of the Panama Canal.

By the time Headley was five years old the Canal was complete, and the family moved to Cuba in search of further employment.

In 1919, concerned by the amount of Spanish being spoken by her son, Headley's mother took him to Jamaica so he could be educated in an English-speaking school.

In 1925 he scored his first century, batting at number three in the batting order in a match for Raetown against Clovelly.

On leaving school, Headley was appointed as a temporary clerk in a magistrate's court; this enabled him to play competitive cricket for the St Andrew's Police side in 1926, in a cup competition.

Some impressive performances for the club earned him an invitation to practice with the Jamaica Colts team.

However, his job made it impossible to attend, and he was not considered for the Jamaican side against Lord Tennyson's English touring side in 1927.

That year, Headley began working for Keeling–Lindo Estates, in St Catherine.

The firm were enthusiastic cricket patrons, allowing employees time off to play in matches, so that Headley was able to attend practice with the Jamaica team on a regular basis.

He also moved to the St Catherine Cricket Club, captained by his immediate superior in Keeling–Lindo.

To generate more income, Headley took a second job, working for the Jamaica Fruit and Shipping Company, but he wanted a secure profession.

To this end, he planned to move to America to pursue a career in dentistry.

However, he was now on the verge of the Jamaica team and a delay in the arrival of the application forms for his American work permit allowed him to make his first-class debut for Jamaica against another touring team led by Lord Tennyson.

He soon gained his place in the Jamaican cricket team, and narrowly missed selection for the West Indies tour of England in 1928.

Headley made his Jamaica debut against Lord Tennyson's XI at Sabina Park on 9 February 1928, in a match won easily by the home team.

Batting at number three, his first innings yielded 16 runs, but in the second innings, he scored 71, reaching fifty runs in as many minutes.

In the second game against Lord Tennyson's XI which began in Kingston on 18 February, Headley scored his maiden first-class century.

Having scored 22 not out after the first day's play, he reached 50 runs by playing very carefully but subsequently played more adventurous shots.

He hit the bowling of Alan Hilder for four consecutive fours and twice hit Lord Tennyson for three fours in a row.

He made his Test debut in 1930, against England in Barbados, and was instantly successful.

Further successes followed in series against Australia and in three more against England, as Headley dominated the West Indian batting of the period.

Following his tour of England in 1933, Headley signed as a professional at Haslingden in the Lancashire League, where he played until the outbreak of war in 1939.

Headley moved in with his mother's sister-in-law Mrs Clarence Smith, in Rae Town, Kingston, and remained with her until her death in 1933.

His mother returned to Cuba, but regularly exchanged letters with her son.

He attended Calabar Elementary School, where he played for the school cricket team as a wicket-keeper, although a meagre sporting budget meant he had to do so without gloves.

Later, he continued his education at Kingston High School.

Taking part in all-day cricket matches at the local Crabhole Park, Headley began to attract local attention, and aged 16, he joined Raetown Cricket Club.

He was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1934.

Headley was born in Panama but raised in Jamaica, where he quickly established a cricketing reputation as a batsman.

The war interrupted Headley's career; although he returned to Tests in 1948, he was hampered by injuries and did not achieve his previous levels of success.

Even so, he was chosen as West Indies captain in 1948 against England, the first black player to be appointed to the position, although a combination of injuries and politics meant he only led his team for one Test match.

He did not play Tests between 1949 and 1953, but resumed his career in English league cricket, first in Lancashire and later in the Birmingham League.

His playing career ended in 1954 on his return to Jamaica, after a public subscription paid his fare from England.

After retiring as a player, Headley was employed as a cricket coach by the Jamaican government until 1962.

He lived until 1983; his son Ron and his grandson Dean each played Test match cricket, for West Indies and England respectively.