Alvin Kallicharran
Encyclopedia
Alvin Isaac Kallicharran (born 21 March 1949) is a former West Indian batsman of Indo-Guyanese
ethnicity who played from 1972 to 1981. His elegant, watchful batting style produced some substantial innings for a West Indian team very much in its formative years in the seventies. He was a Wisden
Cricketer of the Year
for 1973.
Kallicharran was born in Georgetown
, British Guiana
(now Guyana
). His brother Derek
played first class cricket for Guyana and later the United States of America. Though he was a talented batsman like many of his peers, Alvin Kallicharran only managed 4399 runs, but at an average of 44.43 in 66 Test matches, he demonstrated his capability. He was part of the 1975 and 1979 team that won the Cricket World Cup. His highest innings was a score of 187 against India in the 1978–79 tour.
A small man, he had poise, balance, orthodoxy, and a full repertoire of strokes off either foot. He was at his best away from soft, seaming pitches, despite his successes with Warwickshire
in English County cricket
. Probably his finest innings, a superb knock of 158 against England, was shrouded in controversy when he was run out by Tony Greig towards the end of the first day. He attempted to join World Series Cricket
, but failed, and was appointed captain of the West Indies in 1977–1978 when Clive Lloyd
resigned over the Packer
issue. Kallicharan was later involved in controversy when he led an unofficial 'rebel' tour to South Africa
in defiance of the Gleneagles Agreement
and anti-apartheid protestors in that country who asserted that official sporting structures were discriminatory. He saw out the rest of his career playing for Orange Free State
and Transvaal
in South African domestic cricket. He is currently manager of Lashings World XI
.
Kallicharran played for Warwickshire against minor county
Oxfordshire
in the 1984 one day Natwest Trophy. He scored 206 and took 6 for 32. http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1984/ENG_LOCAL/NWT/WARWICKS_OXON_NWT_04JUL1984.html
Presently, Kalicharan lives in London and is involved in promoting cricket among youth around the country. While in a short visit to United States in April 2011, he held several training sessions on invitation by the Triangle Cricket League in Raleigh-Durham area, North Carolina.
Indo-Guyanese
Indo-Guyanese are mostly descendants of indentured labourers from India who are citizens or nationals of Guyana. They are often referred to as Indians or East Indians...
ethnicity who played from 1972 to 1981. His elegant, watchful batting style produced some substantial innings for a West Indian team very much in its formative years in the seventies. He was a Wisden
Wisden
The Wisden Group was a group of companies formed by John Wisden & Co Ltd, publishers of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. As well as John Wisden & Co, the group included the The Wisden Cricketer magazine, Cricinfo – the world's highest traffic cricket website – and the Hawk-Eye computerised...
Cricketer of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
for 1973.
Kallicharran was born in Georgetown
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
, British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
(now Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
). His brother Derek
Derek Kallicharran
Derek Isaac Kallicharran is a former first class cricketer. The brother of Alvin Kallicharran, Derek played for Guyana at Under-19 level and with the senior side in the Shell Shield...
played first class cricket for Guyana and later the United States of America. Though he was a talented batsman like many of his peers, Alvin Kallicharran only managed 4399 runs, but at an average of 44.43 in 66 Test matches, he demonstrated his capability. He was part of the 1975 and 1979 team that won the Cricket World Cup. His highest innings was a score of 187 against India in the 1978–79 tour.
A small man, he had poise, balance, orthodoxy, and a full repertoire of strokes off either foot. He was at his best away from soft, seaming pitches, despite his successes with Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
in English County cricket
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
. Probably his finest innings, a superb knock of 158 against England, was shrouded in controversy when he was run out by Tony Greig towards the end of the first day. He attempted to join 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...
, but failed, and was appointed captain of the West Indies in 1977–1978 when Clive Lloyd
Clive Lloyd
Clive Hubert Lloyd CBE AO is a former West Indies cricketer. He captained the West Indies between 1974 and 1985 and oversaw their rise to become the dominant Test-playing nation, a position that was only relinquished in the latter half of the 1990s...
resigned over the Packer
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
issue. Kallicharan was later involved in controversy when he led an unofficial 'rebel' tour to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in defiance of the Gleneagles Agreement
Gleneagles Agreement
The Gleneagles Agreement was unanimously approved by the Commonwealth of Nations at a meeting at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland. In 1977, Commonwealth Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and...
and anti-apartheid protestors in that country who asserted that official sporting structures were discriminatory. He saw out the rest of his career playing for Orange Free State
Orange Free State cricket team
The Free State cricket team is the first-class cricket team representing the province of Free State in South Africa....
and Transvaal
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
in South African domestic cricket. He is currently manager of Lashings World XI
Lashings World XI
The Lashings World XI is a famous cricket team, founded by David Folb. It was originally formed in 1984 as a scratch team, and grew from an unremarkable English local club cricket team into, as it bills itself, the "World’s greatest cricket club"....
.
Kallicharran played for Warwickshire against minor county
Minor counties of English cricket
The Minor Counties are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that are not afforded first-class status. The game is administered by the Minor Counties Cricket Association which comes under the England and Wales Cricket Board...
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Cricket Club
Oxfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Oxfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in the 1984 one day Natwest Trophy. He scored 206 and took 6 for 32. http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1984/ENG_LOCAL/NWT/WARWICKS_OXON_NWT_04JUL1984.html
Presently, Kalicharan lives in London and is involved in promoting cricket among youth around the country. While in a short visit to United States in April 2011, he held several training sessions on invitation by the Triangle Cricket League in Raleigh-Durham area, North Carolina.