“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” – Philippians 4:13

Continuing my reflections on cricket and its role in my life, I now turn to how my focus shifted from on-field exploits to my academic and professional pursuits as I entered the world of work.

When I returned to the Caribbean in 1968, my primary mission was to establish a Biometrics unit in the Faculty of Agriculture at UWI, St. Augustine. This unit would focus on designing and analyzing crop and animal field experimentation. While in Trinidad, I played friendly club cricket on Saturdays for the University team.

After the match, I would stop at the Tunapuna bakery to collect a bag of fresh “hops” bread straight from the oven. That bread, paired with a sliver of melting butter, became a delightful addition to our family’s traditional Saturday evening meal of Barbadian-style “pudding and souse,” which always awaited my arrival at home.

Six years later, in 1974, I completed my mission and moved back to Barbados with my family. I was still under the auspices of the Faculty of Agriculture but soon embarked on a new chapter. By 1977, I took the bold step of establishing my own consulting company, much to the chagrin of my parents and their closest friends.

Around this time, I became involved in Barbados’ participation in World Series Cricket, a breakaway professional competition initiated by Kerry Packer for Channel 9’s Australian TV network. The late Ben Hoyos chaired the committee overseeing the Barbados leg of the series, and I was honored to be part of it alongside leading figures such as attorney Vernon Smith, Sir Wes Hall, and Sir Charles Griffith.

My involvement in cricket administration grew. Sir Clyde Walcott took on managerial duties for the West Indies team during the 1979 World Cup, and I filled his spot on the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) board during his absence. I remember hearing the late Peter Lashley, a former West Indian cricketer and fellow board member, frequently crediting the financial turnaround of the BCA to a suggestion I made—raising the price of lottery tickets from $1 to $2. It was a small change, but it made a big difference.

On my return to Barbados, my exercise regime changed from weekend cricket to daily early-morning walks on the beach. This kept me active, but I never played competitive cricket in Barbados again.

One unforgettable highlight came in 1980, during a summer vacation in England. I took my sons to watch the West Indies play England in the second test at Lords. It was a memorable occasion. On the first day, bitter English weather was so harsh that the England batsmen appealed for light at midday—a plea upheld by the umpires. The wind was so cold that we left the ground and returned later in the afternoon.

When it was the West Indies turn to bat in their first innings, what a treat! Desmond Haynes 184 and Vivian Richards 145. Vivian Richards hit Derek Underwood for six fours in an over clockwise from fine leg, culminating with a late cut for the sixth boundary. Unbelievable, it was nothing short of poetry in motion.

My final personal outing on the cricket field came in 1981. As one of my company’s fellowship activities, we arranged a one-off friendly cricket match against Barclays Bank. At 40, I joined the company squad and my sons, Kevin (13) and Bevan (10), with Bevan stepping in as the 12th man. I made 47 in this last foray on the cricket field. Unsurprising, I spent several hours in the evening soaking in the bathtub.

In my next and last column, I shall conclude this cricketing series by recalling other memorable moments associated with the game over the next four decades.

(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a corporate governance adviser. His email address is basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com. His columns may be found at https://www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com).