Oscar Da Costa
Encyclopedia
Oscar Constantine Da Costa - A very capable all-round cricketer from the early to mid 1930’s, Oscar da Costa was born in Kingston
, Jamaica
on September 11, 1907 and died there prematurely on October 1, 1936, aged just 29. A reliable batsman, a useful medium-pace bowler and an agile, versatile fielder
, he made his first-class career for Jamaica in February 1929 against a touring England XI put together and led by Sir Julien Cahn
; Da Costa himself bowled the opposing captain for 0 in the visitor’s first innings. In 1930, in only his fifth first-class match, he was selected to play in the fourth Test
match against England and performed adequately, scoring 39 in his only visit to the crease, taking a wicket in each of the English innings and holding three catches in the match. In 1933, he was selected to tour England with West Indies. He scored over 1,000 runs on the tour at an average of 26.82, including his maiden century, 105 against Essex
at Leyton
. However, he was less successful in the three Test matches, scoring just 70 runs from six innings and taking one wicket. After this, Da Costa appeared just once more for the West Indies, this being the second Test of England’s visit to the Caribbean
at Port of Spain
in 1934/35 where he helped the home team to a convincing victory. Interestingly, Oscar da Costa never played a first-class match against any of the other colonial islands and only nine of his 39 matches were for Jamaica. All his matches were played against Select XIs, against counties and Universities on the 1933 tour, or were played against England in Test matches. He was considered something of a joker and carried a rubber stamp with his signature on to save time went asked to provide and autograph or two! Da Costa has the unenviable distinction of being the first West Indian Test cricketer to die but no obituary originally appeared within the covers Wisden for him.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
on September 11, 1907 and died there prematurely on October 1, 1936, aged just 29. A reliable batsman, a useful medium-pace bowler and an agile, versatile fielder
Fielding (cricket)
Fielding in the sport of cricket is the action of fielders in collecting the ball after it is struck by the batsman, in such a way as to either limit the number of runs that the batsman scores or get the batsman out by catching the ball in flight or running the batsman out.Cricket fielding position...
, he made his first-class career for Jamaica in February 1929 against a touring England XI put together and led by Sir Julien Cahn
Julien Cahn
Sir Julien Cahn, 1st Baronet was an entrepreneur, philanthropist and supporter of cricket.-His cricket XI:...
; Da Costa himself bowled the opposing captain for 0 in the visitor’s first innings. In 1930, in only his fifth first-class match, he was selected to play in the fourth Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
match against England and performed adequately, scoring 39 in his only visit to the crease, taking a wicket in each of the English innings and holding three catches in the match. In 1933, he was selected to tour England with West Indies. He scored over 1,000 runs on the tour at an average of 26.82, including his maiden century, 105 against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
at Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
. However, he was less successful in the three Test matches, scoring just 70 runs from six innings and taking one wicket. After this, Da Costa appeared just once more for the West Indies, this being the second Test of England’s visit to the 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...
at Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
in 1934/35 where he helped the home team to a convincing victory. Interestingly, Oscar da Costa never played a first-class match against any of the other colonial islands and only nine of his 39 matches were for Jamaica. All his matches were played against Select XIs, against counties and Universities on the 1933 tour, or were played against England in Test matches. He was considered something of a joker and carried a rubber stamp with his signature on to save time went asked to provide and autograph or two! Da Costa has the unenviable distinction of being the first West Indian Test cricketer to die but no obituary originally appeared within the covers Wisden for him.