Fellow posters ; A Jamaican knowledgeable chap posted this across the road
hubert 9/18/14 8:02:01 AM
Belated Congrats to Leon Johnson on his debut 50 plus in the 500th Test.
His early promise bore fruit but equally important it stretched Guyana's reputation as the
best starters in West Indies batting annals.
No other territory has had as many debutants who compiled 50s or better on Test debuts.
The list is one of excellence : :-*
Post WW2, Christiani had a 99 followed by
Pairadeua who got a ton ( 115 ?) against India becoming the 3rd WI batsman after Headley and Ganteaume to do so.
Others I can recall :-
Butcher 58 n.o v India away
Solomon 40 odd and 86 v India away
Mendonca 78 v India
lloyd, 2 50s v India away
Fredericks 70 odd v Oz away
Kallicharran 100 followed by 100 vb NZ
Baichan 105 v Pakistan away
Chaderpaul 68 v Eng
Sarwan 84 not out v Pakistan
That's a fine dozen and says among other things :
that Guyanese batsmen are probably the best prepared for Test arena.
The anomally is their best Bat..Kanhai playing as wicketkeeper and
opening with Pairadeau at Edgbaston 1957 got 42.
Hooper too missed the list but got a Ton in his 2nd test.
Butcher probably has the WI record as a firstimer,compiling a 50 or better
in his first 6 Tests.
I expect good things from Leon going forward especially as I missed his knocks.
I know it is a trivial Stat, but well done Guyana..worthy of emulation.