Steve Camacho : Dead at 69

Tony Cozier penned a nice tribute to Camacho today.

Quote: I got to develop a firm friendship with Camacho and his wife, Alison, in Barbados when he conducted the board's business virtually on his own out of a small office at Kensington Oval. It continued until the end.

I could understand his anguish at the controversies that have consumed West Indies cricket since his time, and led to its continuing deterioration. In recent years he could hardly bring himself to attend Tests in Antigua, where the board's headquarters are located following their move from Barbados.

Not that it completely dulled his love of life. He was partial to a drink or two but never to overindulgence. He spoke passionately and humorously, and with precise attention to delivery, about his days in the game and the vast number of friends he had made through it.

As a patient, technically correct opener who batted in spectacles, Camacho played 11 Tests for West Indies and 35 matches for Guyana between 1965 and 1979. His modest averages of 29.09 in Tests and 34.86 in all first-class matches did no justice to his talent.

It was evident in an innings of 157 for Guyana Colts against the touring Australians in 1965 at Bourda, where he had developed his passion for the game at the Georgetown Cricket Club. He was then 19. A year later, his 106 for Guyana against Trinidad and Tobago at the Queen's Park Oval was the first of his seven first-class hundreds.

Strong cricketing family ties guided his future. His grandfather, GC Learmond, represented British Guiana, Trinidad and Barbados in the inter-colonial tournaments at the turn of the 20th century, and toured England with West Indies teams in 1900 and 1906. His father, George, a left-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pacer, played 15 matches for British Guiana, three as captain.

Camacho junior was part of the phenomenally powerful Guyana batting team of the 1960s that included, at one time or another, his dashing opening partner Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Clive Lloyd and Alvin Kallicharran.

When he was picked in the Test team for the first time, against England in the Caribbean, his 87 in the fourth Test at the Queen's Park Oval remained his highest score. He struggled on the 1968-69 tour of Australia, managing 57 runs in his two Tests, but retained his place for the England tour later in 1969, topping the batting averages in the Tests with 46.75. An ordinary series against India in 1971 proved to be his last.

Although he continued for Guyana until 1979, he was being groomed for administrative work by mentors like Walcott, Berkeley Gaskin and Kenny Wishart. Walcott, a Barbadian, was then the national coach, and credited with the emergence of players from outside the confines of the capital, Georgetown. He was also Guyana captain and board president. Camacho eventually joined him during his term as WICB president.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/con...25629.html

Someone said he was hit by Garner in a Shield match ?

that sent him to retire !

[quote author=ketchim link=topic=100580.msg657647#msg657647 date=1443985981]
Someone said he was hit by Garner in a Shield match ?

that sent him to retire !
[/quote]
Here's the scorecard from that match. Garner picked up 5 wickets in the first innings and Camacho was absent hurt, unable to bat in the second innings.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorec...39001.html

NOTES at the bottom of scorecard:

Notes
--> The match was scheduled for four days but completed in three.
--> DI Kallicharran made his debut in first-class matches
--> RAO Straker made his last appearance in first-class matches
--> CS Beckles made his last appearance in first-class matches
--> DAJ Holford made his last appearance in first-class matches
--> GS Camacho made his last appearance in first-class matches

http://www.guyana-cricket.com/news/bajans-are-champs

The above is a review of the match courtesy of the Trinidad Express. It states that Camacho didn't bat due to a finger injury. If I had to face Clarke, Marshall and Garner on a regular basis, I'd probably think about retiring too.

Simply one of gt best
Camacho with Roy

Rip

Camacho and Fredericks had themselves a fantastic year in 1972/73. Camacho finished with an average of 70.83 with 4 fifties and a century in just 6 innings, while Fredericks was even better, averaging 113 with 3 fifties and 1 century in just 4 innings.

http://stats.thecricketer.com/Events/She...erage.html

Norm's site is a wealth of historical info !

                                             

http://www.guyana-cricket.com/node/5189


Date Published: 03-May-2008
Source: GCA
Author: Stephen Camacho

Wherever the British Empire spread in the 19th century, cricket and tea (later to inextricably intertwined in the traditions of the game) were principal exports and took root in most colonies; not least in Guyana and the West Indies. As all the full members of the International Cricket Council have emanated from this source, this is clearly the genesis of international cricket as we know it today.
In Guyana, cricket was concentrated in the capital, Georgetown. The Parade Ground in Middle Street became the venue for important matches and it was there in 1865, that Guyana won the second Inter-colonial match, defeating Barbados by two wickets.

In 1858, the Georgetown Cricket Club, the oldest cricket club in the West Indies was founded......



I hope you Folks paying attention to the origin of "organised" Cricket