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West Indies oldest cricketer Esmond Kentish dies

ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA - The former West Indies Test cricketer Esmond Kentish, who played two matches against England in the 1948 and 1954, has died at the age of 94, according to a statement by the West Indies Cricket Board.

Kentish was the oldest living West Indian cricketer at the time of his passing on Friday.

Kentish played for Oxford University - winning a Blue at the age of 39 - and Jamaica, making his West Indies debut in the fourth test against Gubby Allen’s England side at his home ground Sabina Park in 1948.

An opening bowler, Kentish took three England wickets, including Allen in the first innings, as the home side romped to a ten-wicket victory.

He was overlooked for the next six years, however, before earning a recall for the first test against Len Hutton’s England side in 1954, again at Sabina Park.

Kentish went wicketless in the first innings but removed both Hutton and Peter May in the second as he returned figures of five for 49 which helped the West Indies to a 140-run victory.

After retiring as a player, Kentish went on to become a director of the WICB and a life member of the Jamaica Cricket Association. He also managed the West Indies team in 1973 and 1975.

“Esmond was a perfect gentleman who was admired by all for the manner in which he conducted himself as a cricketer and a professional man,” said WICB president Dr. Julian Hunte.

In his professional life he was the first black General Manager of the Bank of Jamaica and was conferred with the Order of Distinction for services to the bank.

“Esmond was a stalwart not only of West Indies cricket but of Jamaican society and the high accolades he received throughout his distinguished and rich life are testimonies to his standing as a fine human being who we will all miss,” said Hunte.