Lawrence Rowe
Encyclopedia
Lawrence George Rowe is a former West Indian cricket
er.
Lawrence, also known as "Yagga", was an elegant right-handed batsman described by Michael Holding
, his team mate, as "the best batsman I ever saw". It was felt that his ability was so extraordinary that Sobers believed he could have been the greatest of all West Indian batsmen. At one game Rowe hit a ball so cleanly that it followed a level trajectory like a guided missile over the boundary for six. Gideon Haigh
describes the incident:
He made his debut for Jamaica in 1968–69. He then made history on his Test match
debut v New Zealand
at Kingston 1972 scoring 214 and 100 not out, the first time that a cricketer had scored a double and single century
on Test debut. It also gave him a batting average of 314 after his first Test match.
Rowe was a heavy scorer at his home ground, Sabina Park
. In 1974 v England he scored 302 there in 10 hours.
On his arrival in Australia for the 1975–76 tour Rowe was being hailed as the best batsman in the world. A century in his second Test innings in Australia maintained his average at over 70 runs per innings and it seemed to confirm his reputation. The team were humiliated by the Australian side over the rest of the series and Rowe never regained his previously devastating form.
Rowe was a West Indies batting "hero" in the days before Viv Richards
. He played 30 Test matches
scoring a total of 2,047 runs at an average of 43. He was known to whistle while he batted though he seemed to be injury prone; he suffered problems with his eyesight and was allergic to grass.
He played 30 Tests between 1972 and 1980 and played 11 One Day Internationals. Rowe played for Derbyshire
in the English County Championship
and also joined World Series Cricket
, where he scored 175 in one match for the WSC West Indies XI. He is one of only four West Indian batsman to have scored a triple century, the others being Garfield Sobers
, Chris Gayle
and Brian Lara
.
Rowe, when past his prime, became infamous in 1982–83, because he led a rebel tour to South Africa during the days of apartheid when they were isolated from world sport. The West Indian public were outraged by the tour and Rowe himself and others were ostracised in Jamaica. This may have been a primary reason for Rowe subsequently settling down in Miami, USA. During the lunch break of the first Test between West Indies and India on June 20, 2011, Rowe was honoured when the Sabina Park
stadium was named after him, in a ceremony that also honoured Michael Holding
and Courtney Walsh
. He took the opportunity to lay those ghosts to rest with an apology on behalf of that ill-fated team, saying:
However, after much protest, Lindel Wright, JCA President, the decision was revoked by the board after Rowe stated publicly that he saw nothing wrong with his decision to tour apartheid South Africa.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er.
Lawrence, also known as "Yagga", was an elegant right-handed batsman described by Michael Holding
Michael Holding
Michael Anthony Holding is a former West Indian cricketer. One of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket, he was nicknamed 'Whispering Death' by umpires due to his quiet approach to the bowling crease...
, his team mate, as "the best batsman I ever saw". It was felt that his ability was so extraordinary that Sobers believed he could have been the greatest of all West Indian batsmen. At one game Rowe hit a ball so cleanly that it followed a level trajectory like a guided missile over the boundary for six. Gideon Haigh
Gideon Haigh
Gideon Clifford Jeffrey Davidson Haigh is an English-born Australian journalist, who writes about sport and business. He was born in London of a Yorkshire father and an Australian mother, and was raised in Geelong, Victoria.- Career :Haigh has been writing about sport and business for over...
describes the incident:
Early in his innings against England at Kensington OvalKensington OvalThe Kensington Oval is located to the west of the capital-city Bridgetown on the island of Barbados. "The Oval" is one of the major sporting facilities on the island and is primarily used for cricket...
, Bridgetown, Barbados; in March 1974, he received a bouncer from Bob WillisBob WillisRobert George Dylan Willis MBE , known as Bob Willis, is a former English cricketer who played for Surrey, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal and England...
. He smashed it flat into the stand at square leg; it travelled most of the way at head height.
He made his debut for Jamaica in 1968–69. He then made history on his Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
debut v New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
at Kingston 1972 scoring 214 and 100 not out, the first time that a cricketer had scored a double and single century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
on Test debut. It also gave him a batting average of 314 after his first Test match.
Rowe was a heavy scorer at his home ground, Sabina Park
Sabina Park
Sabina Park is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, and is the only Test cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica and is often referred to as "The Holiday Home of Cricket"....
. In 1974 v England he scored 302 there in 10 hours.
On his arrival in Australia for the 1975–76 tour Rowe was being hailed as the best batsman in the world. A century in his second Test innings in Australia maintained his average at over 70 runs per innings and it seemed to confirm his reputation. The team were humiliated by the Australian side over the rest of the series and Rowe never regained his previously devastating form.
Rowe was a West Indies batting "hero" in the days before Viv Richards
Viv Richards
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, KNH, OBE is a former West Indian cricketer. Better known by his second name, Vivian or, more popularly, simply as Viv or King Viv Richards was voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century in 2000, by a 100-member panel of experts, along with Sir Donald...
. He played 30 Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
scoring a total of 2,047 runs at an average of 43. He was known to whistle while he batted though he seemed to be injury prone; he suffered problems with his eyesight and was allergic to grass.
He played 30 Tests between 1972 and 1980 and played 11 One Day Internationals. Rowe played for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
in the English County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
and also joined World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket was a break away professional cricket competition staged between 1977 and 1979 and organised by Kerry Packer for his Australian television network, Nine Network. The matches ran in opposition to established international cricket...
, where he scored 175 in one match for the WSC West Indies XI. He is one of only four West Indian batsman to have scored a triple century, the others being Garfield Sobers
Garfield Sobers
Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers AO, OCC is a former cricketer who captained West Indies. His first name of Garfield is variously abbreviated as Gary or Garry. He is widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest ever all-rounders, having excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling and...
, Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle
Christopher Henry "Chris" Gayle is a Jamaican cricketer who currently plays international cricket for the West Indies. He captained the West Indies' side from 2007 to 2010. He plays domestic cricket for Jamaica, and has also represented Worcestershire, the Western Warriors and the Kolkata Knight...
and Brian Lara
Brian Lara
Brian Charles Lara, TC, OCC, AM is a former West Indian international cricket player. Lara is generally regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time...
.
Rowe, when past his prime, became infamous in 1982–83, because he led a rebel tour to South Africa during the days of apartheid when they were isolated from world sport. The West Indian public were outraged by the tour and Rowe himself and others were ostracised in Jamaica. This may have been a primary reason for Rowe subsequently settling down in Miami, USA. During the lunch break of the first Test between West Indies and India on June 20, 2011, Rowe was honoured when the Sabina Park
Sabina Park
Sabina Park is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, and is the only Test cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica and is often referred to as "The Holiday Home of Cricket"....
stadium was named after him, in a ceremony that also honoured Michael Holding
Michael Holding
Michael Anthony Holding is a former West Indian cricketer. One of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket, he was nicknamed 'Whispering Death' by umpires due to his quiet approach to the bowling crease...
and Courtney Walsh
Courtney Walsh
Courtney Andrew Walsh is a former international cricketer who represented the West Indies from 1984 to 2001, captaining the West Indies in 22 Test matches...
. He took the opportunity to lay those ghosts to rest with an apology on behalf of that ill-fated team, saying:
"...Today I sincerely apologise to the cricketing fraternity of Jamaica, the Caribbean and the rest of the world."
However, after much protest, Lindel Wright, JCA President, the decision was revoked by the board after Rowe stated publicly that he saw nothing wrong with his decision to tour apartheid South Africa.
External links
- Lawrence Rowe interviewed by Caribbeancricket.com
- Article on Lawrence Rowe at Caribbeancricket.com
- Article on Lawrence Rowe on BBC website
- Cricinfo statistics for Lawrence Rowe
- Stats Rleague
- Fairfax article