Float Woods
Encyclopedia
Joseph 'Float' Woods was a coloured West Indian cricketer best known as a member of the 1900 West Indian
tourists to England. He is reckoned to be the first of the coloured West Indian fast bowlers that became a hallmark of West Indian cricket
from the 1960s.
Apologising for the lack of a photograph, 'Cricket' in 1900 says "that Woods is a fine specimen of the darkest of the coloured natives of the West Indies, that is to say, he is very dark indeed. He has a good figure, which denotes strength in every movement. He is very solidly built, and is of medium height. When his face is in repose one can plainly see that his disposition is phlegmatic, but when it lights up it is full of intelligence. He speaks English accurately but slowly, and as may be imagined he does not make long speeches. His bowling is too well known to need description, and all that need be said about it is that when bowling fast he comes across from the leg, while his slow ball comes in from the off. Although - or perhaps because - he takes a very short run, he makes a pretty big hole in the ground". He took up the game about the age of 15 and was largely self taught.
The origin of his nickname is something of a mystery although it is reported that "His nickname was Float, after a local delicacy, as an Englishman might be called Chips from fish-and-chips".
As a Professional was not eligible to play in the Inter-Colonial Tournament
so his chances to play in big matches in the West Indies was very limited. He made his debut for Trinidad against Barbados in 1893-94 in an extra match played after the Tournament. The next season he played for All Trinidad against Slade Lucas's team
, the first English tourists, in their only match against the island. In 1896-97 he played in all four matches for Trinidad against the tourists, twice against Lord Hawke's team
and then twice against Priestley's side
. Despite taking 19 wickets against Lord Hawke's side he did not play for the combined West Indies against Priestley's XI.
He was selected for the 1900 tour of England and was described before the tour as having "done wonders with the ball against English visiting teams, but doubtful whether he will be effective on good wickets". On the tour he was top in the bowling averages with 72 wickets at an average of 21.54, just ahead of Tommy Burton
, the other Professional. He was "on occasions up to his best West Indies form, but at other times seemed to lose heart very easily, though it must be confessed he was unlucky in the matter of missed catches".
Asked whether he was as fast as the English fast bowlers he is reported to have said: "I think I am faster than those I have seen. Richardson
was, perhaps, the fastest, but he is not as fast as I am now. They tell me he used to be much faster".
By 1902 he was playing for British Guiana. He was selected for the combined West Indies team in all three of their matches against RA Bennett's team
in 1901-02 as well as playing for British Guiana. His final first class matches were for British Guiana against Lord Brackley's team
in 1904-05 when he took 15 wickets in the two matches.
West Indian cricket team in England in 1900
The West Indian cricket team toured England in the 1900 season. The team played 17 matches between 11 June and 11 August 1900.There had been three tours by teams of English Amateurs to the West Indies in the mid 1890s and the idea of sending a combined West Indies team to England had gradually...
tourists to England. He is reckoned to be the first of the coloured West Indian fast bowlers that became a hallmark of West Indian cricket
History of the West Indian cricket team
The history of the West Indian cricket team begins in the 1880s when the first combined West Indian team was formed and toured Canada and the United States. In the 1890s, the first representative sides were selected to play visiting English sides...
from the 1960s.
Apologising for the lack of a photograph, 'Cricket' in 1900 says "that Woods is a fine specimen of the darkest of the coloured natives of the West Indies, that is to say, he is very dark indeed. He has a good figure, which denotes strength in every movement. He is very solidly built, and is of medium height. When his face is in repose one can plainly see that his disposition is phlegmatic, but when it lights up it is full of intelligence. He speaks English accurately but slowly, and as may be imagined he does not make long speeches. His bowling is too well known to need description, and all that need be said about it is that when bowling fast he comes across from the leg, while his slow ball comes in from the off. Although - or perhaps because - he takes a very short run, he makes a pretty big hole in the ground". He took up the game about the age of 15 and was largely self taught.
The origin of his nickname is something of a mystery although it is reported that "His nickname was Float, after a local delicacy, as an Englishman might be called Chips from fish-and-chips".
As a Professional was not eligible to play in the Inter-Colonial Tournament
Inter-Colonial Tournament
The Inter-Colonial Tournament was the main first class cricket competition in the West Indies before World War II.- Competing teams :* Barbados* British Guiana* Trinidad...
so his chances to play in big matches in the West Indies was very limited. He made his debut for Trinidad against Barbados in 1893-94 in an extra match played after the Tournament. The next season he played for All Trinidad against Slade Lucas's team
RS Lucas' XI cricket team in West Indies in 1894-95
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Mr. R. Slade Lucas toured the West Indies in the 1894-95 season playing matches between January and April 1895. They played a total of 16 matches of which 8 are regarded as first-class.-Touring team:...
, the first English tourists, in their only match against the island. In 1896-97 he played in all four matches for Trinidad against the tourists, twice against Lord Hawke's team
Lord Hawke's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1896-97
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Lord Hawke toured the West Indies in the 1896-97 season playing matches between January and April 1897. They played a total of 14 matches of which 7 are regarded as first class...
and then twice against Priestley's side
AA Priestley's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1896-97
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Mr. A. A. Priestley toured the West Indies in the 1896-97 season playing matches between January and March 1897. They played a total of 16 matches of which 9 are regarded as first class. They did not play in British Guiana....
. Despite taking 19 wickets against Lord Hawke's side he did not play for the combined West Indies against Priestley's XI.
He was selected for the 1900 tour of England and was described before the tour as having "done wonders with the ball against English visiting teams, but doubtful whether he will be effective on good wickets". On the tour he was top in the bowling averages with 72 wickets at an average of 21.54, just ahead of Tommy Burton
Tommie Burton
William Thomas Burton was a coloured West Indian cricketer best known as a member of the 1900 and 1906 West Indian tourists to England. He is generally known as Tommie Burton.He was the son of a black mother and a white father...
, the other Professional. He was "on occasions up to his best West Indies form, but at other times seemed to lose heart very easily, though it must be confessed he was unlucky in the matter of missed catches".
Asked whether he was as fast as the English fast bowlers he is reported to have said: "I think I am faster than those I have seen. Richardson
Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson was an English cricketer. A fast bowler, Richardson relied to a great extent on the break-back , a relatively long run-up and high arm which allowed him to gain sharp lift on fast pitches even from the full, straight length he always bowled...
was, perhaps, the fastest, but he is not as fast as I am now. They tell me he used to be much faster".
By 1902 he was playing for British Guiana. He was selected for the combined West Indies team in all three of their matches against RA Bennett's team
RA Bennett's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1901-02
After a gap of 5 years the fourth team of English cricketers toured the West Indies in the 1901-02 season. The team was captained by Mr. R.A. Bennett and, like the earlier tourists, consisted solely of Amateurs. They played a total of 19 matches, of which 13 are regarded as first class, between...
in 1901-02 as well as playing for British Guiana. His final first class matches were for British Guiana against Lord Brackley's team
Lord Brackley's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1904-05
Lord Brackley's XI was the fifth team of English cricketers to tour the West Indies, playing in the 1904-05 season. The team was captained by John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere and played a total of 20 matches between January and April 1905, of which ten are regarded as first class...
in 1904-05 when he took 15 wickets in the two matches.
External links
- Float Woods at CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...
- Float Woods at ESPNcricinfo