Mervyn Grell
Encyclopedia
Mervyn George Grell - A hard-hitting, lower-order batsman and a medium pace bowler, Mervyn Grell was born in Trinidad
on December 18, 1899 and died in Cocorite on the same Caribbean
island on January 11, 1976, aged 77. In a career spanning the years 1930 to 1937, he played only a handful of first-class matches, ten in total. Half of these were against the visiting M.C.C.
including his debut, played at Port-of-Spain in January 1930 in which he performed admirably when scoring 40 and 54 batting at number 9 and 8 respectively; he top-scored in Trindad's first innings and was their second highest scorer in the second. He also took the wickets of N.E. Haig
and L.F. Townsend
in the visitor’s second innings, both players caught by wicketkeeper Errol Hunte
. In just his second match, also played against the M.C.C. in Port-of-Spain, Grell was asked to captain Trinidad and followed a duck in the first innings with his team’s top-score in the second, 34 not out. This particular score led a rearguard action that almost brought victory. On the basis of the three scores that he had achieved against F.S.G. Calthorpe
’s team, and because of his proximity to the ground (the West Indies liked to keep travel costs down to a minimum!), he was selected to play in the second Test against England, played at Port-of-Spain in February, 1930. By scoring 21 and 13 he far from disgraced himself in West Indies’ defeat but he was never picked to play for his country again. In all first-class matches, Grell recorded his highest score, 74 not out, in his last, played at Bourda
, Georgetown
against British Guiana
in 1937. Contrary to normal practice, no obituary appeared within the pages of Wisden
after Grell's death.
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...
on December 18, 1899 and died in Cocorite on the same Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
island on January 11, 1976, aged 77. In a career spanning the years 1930 to 1937, he played only a handful of first-class matches, ten in total. Half of these were against the visiting M.C.C.
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
including his debut, played at Port-of-Spain in January 1930 in which he performed admirably when scoring 40 and 54 batting at number 9 and 8 respectively; he top-scored in Trindad's first innings and was their second highest scorer in the second. He also took the wickets of N.E. Haig
Nigel Haig
Nigel Esme Haig was a cricketer who played for Middlesex and England.Tall, stringy and deceptively frail in appearance, Haig played regularly from 1912 to 1934 as an amateur batsman who could open the innings or bat further down the order and as a tireless swing bowler somewhat above medium pace...
and L.F. Townsend
Leslie Townsend
Leslie Fletcher Townsend was an English cricketer who played for England between 1929 and 1934, for Derbyshire between 1922 and 1939 and also for Auckland New Zealand between 1934 and 1936....
in the visitor’s second innings, both players caught by wicketkeeper Errol Hunte
Errol Hunte
Errol Ashton Clairmore Hunte was a West Indian cricketer who played in three Tests in 1930....
. In just his second match, also played against the M.C.C. in Port-of-Spain, Grell was asked to captain Trinidad and followed a duck in the first innings with his team’s top-score in the second, 34 not out. This particular score led a rearguard action that almost brought victory. On the basis of the three scores that he had achieved against F.S.G. Calthorpe
Freddie Calthorpe
Frederick Somerset Gough Calthorpe , styled The Honourable from 1912, was an English cricketer....
’s team, and because of his proximity to the ground (the West Indies liked to keep travel costs down to a minimum!), he was selected to play in the second Test against England, played at Port-of-Spain in February, 1930. By scoring 21 and 13 he far from disgraced himself in West Indies’ defeat but he was never picked to play for his country again. In all first-class matches, Grell recorded his highest score, 74 not out, in his last, played at Bourda
Bourda
The Bourda is a cricket ground in Georgetown, Guyana, used by the Guyanese cricket team for matches with other nations in the Caribbean as well as some Test matches involving the West Indies. Located in Bourda in Georgetown, Guyana, between Regent Street and North Road, it is home to the Georgetown...
, 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...
against British Guiana
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...
in 1937. Contrary to normal practice, no obituary appeared within the pages of Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
after Grell's death.