Karl Nunes
Encyclopedia
Robert Karl Nunes was a West Indian
cricketer
who played in West Indies' first Test in their inaugural Test tour of England
as wicketkeeper and captain.
Nunes was born in Kingston, Jamaica
, but educated in England at Dulwich College
. He toured England with the 1923 West Indian side that won 12 matches; he was vice-captain and second-string wicketkeeper, and the tour was his first taste of first-class cricket
.
In the mid-1920s, he captained Jamaica in matches against Barbados, MCC
and a touring side led by Lionel Tennyson. He scored two centuries against Tennyson's side, including his personal best of 200 not out. He was a leading light in the Jamaican cricket board of control from its establishment in 1926.
On the 1928 tour, having kept wicket only intermittently across his first-class career, he was the main wicketkeeper, and he moved down the batting order from his customary position as an opener to bat mainly in middle order. He had limited success in the Tests, with a highest of just 37, and fared only a little better in other first-class matches, with a single century against Glamorgan
.
After this tour, he played only in Jamaica, though this also included an appearance in the Kingston Test match of the England tour of 1929-30. In this match, the final game of a four-Test series, Nunes was again captain but, freed from the responsibility of wicketkeeping, opened the innings. In a theoretically timeless Test
that ended as a draw after eight days, England made 849, then the highest Test score, with 325 for Andrew Sandham. Nunes top-scored with 66 in the West Indies response of 286 and then made 92 in the second innings after England did not enforce the follow-on, putting on 227 for the second wicket with George Headley
, who went on to make 223. This was Nunes' last Test appearance.
He died in London
at the age of 64.
In June 1988 Nunes was celebrated on the $3 Jamaican stamp alongside the Barbados Cricket Buckle
.
West Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played in West Indies' first Test in their inaugural Test tour of England
West Indian cricket team in England in 1928
The West Indian cricket team that toured England in the 1928 season was the first to play Test cricket. The team was not very successful, losing all three Tests by an innings and winning only five of the 30 first-class matches played....
as wicketkeeper and captain.
Nunes was born in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, but educated in England at Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
. He toured England with the 1923 West Indian side that won 12 matches; he was vice-captain and second-string wicketkeeper, and the tour was his first taste of first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
.
In the mid-1920s, he captained Jamaica in matches against Barbados, MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
and a touring side led by Lionel Tennyson. He scored two centuries against Tennyson's side, including his personal best of 200 not out. He was a leading light in the Jamaican cricket board of control from its establishment in 1926.
On the 1928 tour, having kept wicket only intermittently across his first-class career, he was the main wicketkeeper, and he moved down the batting order from his customary position as an opener to bat mainly in middle order. He had limited success in the Tests, with a highest of just 37, and fared only a little better in other first-class matches, with a single century against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
.
After this tour, he played only in Jamaica, though this also included an appearance in the Kingston Test match of the England tour of 1929-30. In this match, the final game of a four-Test series, Nunes was again captain but, freed from the responsibility of wicketkeeping, opened the innings. In a theoretically timeless Test
Timeless Test
A timeless Test is a match of Test cricket played under no limitation of time, which means the match is played until one side wins or the match is tied, with theoretically no possibility of a draw. The format means that it is not possible to play defensively for a draw when the allotted time runs...
that ended as a draw after eight days, England made 849, then the highest Test score, with 325 for Andrew Sandham. Nunes top-scored with 66 in the West Indies response of 286 and then made 92 in the second innings after England did not enforce the follow-on, putting on 227 for the second wicket with George Headley
George Headley
George Alphonso Headley was a West Indian cricketer who played 22 Test matches, mostly before the Second World War. Considered one of the best batsmen to play for West Indies and one of the greatest cricketers of all time, Headley also represented Jamaica and played professional club cricket in...
, who went on to make 223. This was Nunes' last Test appearance.
He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the age of 64.
In June 1988 Nunes was celebrated on the $3 Jamaican stamp alongside the Barbados Cricket Buckle
Barbados Cricket Buckle
The Barbados Cricket Buckle is a repoussé engraving on a belt buckle of a slave playing cricket in Barbados circa 1780-1810.It is believed to be the only known image of a slave playing cricket and the oldest known image depicting cricket outside the British Isles."That the belt buckle depicts the...
.