He Tore A Hamstring Dot Mee Dot UK

Beyond the Rope Watching … Alvin Kallicharran

A Chinese Restaurant on a rainy Taunton evening, hardly the prelude to one of the more memorable innings that I have seen. Looking across the table at my dad, it was probably the last thing on his mind as he tucked into his Crispy Duck, never one for superstition ahead of a big innings.

This was one of those infuriating 1-Day Matches which stretched over into the reserve day due to the wonderful British climate, and Warwickshire would commence at 10am the following morning with the unlikely task of chasing 260 against the mighty Somerset – Richards, and more importantly tomorrow, Botham, Garner et al – in the NatWest Trophy Quarter Final of 1982.

This was a game that they were simply not supposed to win – Somerset had recently won the Benson and Hedges Cup, and Warwickshire were rock bottom of the County Championship, despite Kallicharran enjoying his best season since shoulder surgery in 1976. The left-handed batsman had spent the previous winter playing Currie Cup cricket in South Africa, for Transvaal, effectively ending his Test Career for the West Indies. He later said that this decision made County Cricket his ‘Test Cricket’, and there was never a better opportunity to prove his point than when up against his former West Indian colleagues.

For an 8 year old, the small and quaint town of Taunton was the antithesis of the sprawling city of Birmingham, and the picturesque County Ground in Taunton was similar in its relationship to the Test Ground that was Edgbaston. There was hardly the biggest crowd of the season at Taunton, but those who were there were fairly convinced of their progress to the last four. There were very few Warwickshire supporters that remained in Cider Country, but those that did were resigned to almost certain defeat but determined to enjoy themselves anyway.

Their confidence was not raised any further when Warwickshire found themselves 30 for 2 early on, with England stalwart Dennis Amiss joining Kallicharran in the middle. Dennis was by trade an opening batsman but had recently dropped into the middle-order after a run of bad form. Even at this early time, I recall the cider flowing in the Members’ Bar in Taunton, as well as the aroma of freshly and beautifully prepared sausage rolls!!

For once, my attention was focused solely on proceedings in the middle. At Edgbaston, there was lots of space at the back of the stadium for an impromptu game of cricket, but this was less apparent at Taunton. I had always grown up watching and loving the ‘Big Bird’, Joel Garner, as one of dad’s West Indian team mates, so I found it strange watching him and willing him to be a bit below par. Unfortunately, he wasn’t!! He was as difficult to get away as ever, and was certainly giving the keeper’s gloves a work out as he continuously went past Amiss’ outside edge.

Kallicharran was working him studiously, a model of concentration, so nimble in his footwork and able to play the ball so late. His first movement was seemingly back and across yet he seemed so perfectly correct in his forward defensive stroke. Of course, Garner was not the only danger, with the great Ian Botham taking the new ball from the other end. Even from the pavilion, you could see the swing and movement imparted on the ball. Again, Kallicharran’s ability to play the ball so late was very visible.

I was always so very impressed watching a batsman that could be so commanding without any latent aggression, so calmly in control working the ball into gaps and punishing the rare loose delivery. Even at 100-2, the Warwickshire supporters were not the most overly confident group, but the next hour will live in my memory as long as I live. Kallicharran cut loose with an array of shots all around the wicket, particularly punishing the England off-spinner and now TMS Favourite, Vic Marks. Even when they brought back Joel Garner, the 5’4″ Guyanese responded with a magnificent pull shot that went like a tracer bullet about 100 yards, flat and out of the ground.

Although Garner dismissed Amiss, with Geoff Humpage and Phil Oliver quickly following, Kallicharran continued his onslaught. I particularly recall Botham standing in the middle of the wicket hands on hips with head to the sky as another ball disappeared to the boundary. We would see this expression a few years later at Old Trafford when Viv Richards’ astonishing innings in the Old Trafford Texaco Trophy clash with England left Beefy similarly dumbfounded.

Kallicharran finished on 141 not out, with Warwickshire passing Somerset’s imposing target with a full 39 balls remaining. Now personally, I had found my own little 8 year old Utopia! Not only had I watched my dad and hero play a quite astonishing innings, but I had happily become the subject of the Warwickshire supporters’ celebrations. After all, if they couldn’t buy their hero a beer, why not lavish his son with all the coca-cola, sausage rolls and crisps he could find!!

The day was finished perfectly by running into the Somerset dressing room to see both Beefy and my Godfather, Viv, both ever gracious in defeat. This was followed by a long afternoon in the bar at Taunton watching the cider flow amongst one of the happiest group of Brummies ever seen in the West Country. This was a personal celebration, a family celebration, a Brummy celebration, not to mention a wholly unexpected celebration!!

At 5’4″, Alvin Kallicharran proved, as so often in his career, that size doesn’t always mean everything!! His power was deceptive given his diminutive stature, but his greatest gifts were his timing and exemplary footwork.

During this period of County Cricket, he was prolific, and particularly harsh on his West Indian colleagues, not even Joel Garner and the great Malcolm Marshall escaping. This was simply his means of proving that his absence from Test Match Cricket was based on politics and not sports. In being the only batsman to consistently score runs against the great West Indian fast bowlers of the era, albeit in County and not Test Cricket, he found his justification.

PS – I’ll get the accusations of favouritism out of the way – this was truly one of the most memorable innings that I have witnessed. Besides, I will be recalling several performances by greats from all countries. However, I could think of no better way to commence this series than by honouring my father on the day of his 61st birthday.

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