Lebrun Constantine
Encyclopedia
Lebrun Samuel Constantine (25 May 1874 in Maraval
, Trinidad
– 5 January 1942 at Tunapuna
, Trinidad
) was a coloured West Indian cricketer who toured England in 1900 and 1906 and was a regular member of the Trinidad team from 1893-94 to 1922-23. He was primarily a batsman. He often kept wicket but was also a useful occasional bowler. He was an overseer on a cocoa estate in Diego Martin
.
He is best known as the father of Learie Constantine
and is often known as Old Cons. Another son Elias
was also a useful cricketer and his brother-in-law Victor Pascall
also toured with the West Indies in 1923
.
He was a member of both the 1900
and 1906
West Indies touring sides. He was second in the West Indies batting averages in 1900 and third in 1906 so was regarded as one of the successes of these tours. In 1900 he scored the first century by a West Indian in England when he made 113 against the Gentlemen of the M.C.C., described by Wisden as "a dashing and faultless display". Before the 1906 tour he was described as "an excellent bat; considered to be Austin
's rival, but his strokes lack the finish of Austin's" and "another of the brigade who proved himself very strong on the left side and can bat with power. He fields in the slips and can bowl right arm medium pace if required".
In the West Indies he was selected to play for the combined West Indian team against touring English teams on a number of occasions: in 1896-97
, 1901-02
, 1904-05
and 1912-13
. He was a regular member of the Trinidad team playing a number of matches in the Inter-Colonial Tournament
although only from the 4th tournament in 1899-1900. He scored his only first class century against British Guiana in the 10th tournament in 1909-10
He made his final appearance in an important match for Trinidad against Barbados in British Guiana at the age of 48 playing alongside his son Learie
who had just turned 21.
Maraval
Maraval is one of the northern suburbs of Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain a valley in northern Trinidad in Trinidad and Tobago. It is situated at the bottom of the hills of Paramin and located east of the Diego Martin valley to which it is connected directly by Morne Coco Road, and west of Santa...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
– 5 January 1942 at Tunapuna
Tunapuna
-Town:It is located between St. Augustine, Tacarigua and Trincity. Tunapuna is the largest town between San Juan and Arima. It is an important market and commercial centre, and is the seat of the Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
) was a coloured West Indian cricketer who toured England in 1900 and 1906 and was a regular member of the Trinidad team from 1893-94 to 1922-23. He was primarily a batsman. He often kept wicket but was also a useful occasional bowler. He was an overseer on a cocoa estate in Diego Martin
Diego Martin
Diego Martin is a town in northwestern Trinidad, just north-west of the capital Port of Spain and east of Carenage. The Diego Martin Valley in the Northern Range was once filled with a number of small villages but is now a densely populated area. It was named after a Spanish explorer Don Diego...
.
He is best known as the father of Learie Constantine
Learie Constantine
Learie Nicholas Constantine, Baron Constantine MBE was a West Indian cricketer who played 18 Test matches before the Second World War. He took West Indies' first wicket in Test cricket and was the team's leading all-rounder and opening bowler for the entirety of his career...
and is often known as Old Cons. Another son Elias
Elias Constantine
Elias Constantine was a Trinidadian cricketer who played first-class cricket for Trinidad between 1932 and 1949. He was the younger brother of Learie Constantine, who represented West Indies in Test matches; his father Lebrun and uncle Victor Pascall also played representative cricket for West...
was also a useful cricketer and his brother-in-law Victor Pascall
Victor Pascall
Victor S Pascall was a Trinidadian cricketer who represented the West Indies in the days before they achieved Test status. His primary role was as a left-arm spinner, but was regarded as a reasonable batsman. Pascall was related to the Constantine family; he was the maternal uncle of Elias and...
also toured with the West Indies in 1923
West Indian cricket team in England in 1923
The West Indian cricket team toured England in the 1923 season. The team played 28 matches between 19 May and 5 September 1923 of which 20 were regarded as first-class. This was the 3rd West Indian tour following those of 1900 and 1906....
.
He was a member of both the 1900
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...
and 1906
West Indian cricket team in England in 1906
The West Indian cricket team toured England in the 1906 season. The team played 19 matches between 11 June and 18 August 1906 of which 13 were regarded as first-class....
West Indies touring sides. He was second in the West Indies batting averages in 1900 and third in 1906 so was regarded as one of the successes of these tours. In 1900 he scored the first century by a West Indian in England when he made 113 against the Gentlemen of the M.C.C., described by Wisden as "a dashing and faultless display". Before the 1906 tour he was described as "an excellent bat; considered to be Austin
Harold Austin
Sir Harold Bruce Gardiner Austin OBE was a West Indian politician and cricketer. He was known as H.B.G.....
's rival, but his strokes lack the finish of Austin's" and "another of the brigade who proved himself very strong on the left side and can bat with power. He fields in the slips and can bowl right arm medium pace if required".
In the West Indies he was selected to play for the combined West Indian team against touring English teams on a number of occasions: in 1896-97
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....
, 1901-02
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...
, 1904-05
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...
and 1912-13
English cricket team in West Indies in 1912-13
The seventh team of English cricketers toured the West Indies in the 1912-13 season. The tour was organised by MCC. As in 1910-11, the team was captained by AWF Somerset...
. He was a regular member of the Trinidad team playing a number of matches 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...
although only from the 4th tournament in 1899-1900. He scored his only first class century against British Guiana in the 10th tournament in 1909-10
He made his final appearance in an important match for Trinidad against Barbados in British Guiana at the age of 48 playing alongside his son Learie
Learie Constantine
Learie Nicholas Constantine, Baron Constantine MBE was a West Indian cricketer who played 18 Test matches before the Second World War. He took West Indies' first wicket in Test cricket and was the team's leading all-rounder and opening bowler for the entirety of his career...
who had just turned 21.