Talking cricket/an inspiring generation
On Tuesday evening, on Sky Sports, I was preparing to watch the Champions League when I saw a programme presented by Charles Colville called Talking Cricket.
It featured those black cricketers who over 40 years ago made the breakthrough of playing for England – guys like Roland Butcher and Norman Cowans of Middlesex, Phil de Freitas of Leicestershire, Alex Tudor of Surrey, Gladstone Small of Warwickshire and Devon Malcolm of Derbyshire.
They must have had to overcome racial stereotyping, had their allegiance questioned and suffered crowd abuse but they were uniformly humble, articulate and not embittered.
A few generations later we have the Black Lives Matter movement and, with the growth of white ball cricket, much greater financial opportunities.
Even Yorkshire, where once there were were separate Indian cricket leagues, produced Adil Rashid. With him, (when he plays) Moeen Ali, Jefra Archer and Chris Jordan the present T20 side is diverse.
Not so in the era of those interviewed by Charles Colville.
I remember the Middlesex lads well. Middlesex were picking and playing black cricketers before most other counties.
Aside from Cowans and Butcher one thinks of leggie Harry Latchman, Wilf Slack and Neil Williams.
I remember thinking, when an over of extreme pace from Wayne Daniel devastated Lancashire, that he was so superior to his team mate Cowans and his foe Phil Allott.
Devon Malcolm told the story of refusing a West Indian jersey offered to him when he was cold by Jimmy Adams as he could not wear it as it was not his country.
Similarly Gladstone Small, born in Barbados, asserted England was his country.
Those participating were not asked about Black Lives Matter but I suspect they would not be enthusiastic participators.
Cowans has done very nicely thank you in property and would not be attracted to the anti-capitalism of the movement.
These were the pathfinders. The present generation should show their appreciation.
Ironically it was West Indies cricket that was to suffer as so many of their finest played county cricket here and lesser lights like big Sylvester Clarke of Surrey also made great contributions.
This has now dried up though the players have benefited from T20 cricket.
This led to a situation in Australia when Chris Gayle and Dwight Bravo would not play for the touring West Indies as they were contracted to T20 teams.
