Sammy Guillen
Encyclopedia
Simpson Clairmonte Guillen (born 24 September 1924 in Port of Spain
, Trinidad and Tobago
) is one of the few men to have played Test cricket
for two countries. He played five Tests for the West Indies and three for New Zealand
in the 1950s, one of which was the New Zealand team's first victory, over the West Indies.
Guillen holds the further rare distinction of also playing in the final of New Zealand's premier association football competition, the Chatham Cup
, gaining a runners-up medal for Western AFC in 1954
. Unsurprisingly for a wicket-keeper, his position in the Western side was goalkeeper.
Simpson currently resides in Christchurch, New Zealand with his wife Val Guillen, a former wicketkeeper for the province of Canterbury woman's team. Simpson comes from a family of cricketers which include: Noel Guillen (his brother and whom the Queen's Park Oval's outdoor practice nets are named after), Jeffrey Guillen (a well-known real estate mogul who played cricket competitively throughout his teens and well into his 30's. Noel's son), Charles Guillen (a former player who played a major factor in the coaching of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo) and Justin Guillen, an up and coming all-rounder who seems destined to follow his Great Uncle Simpson's footsteps. His grandson Logan van Beek plays for the Canterbury Wizards
in cricket and for the Christchurch Cougars
in the NBL
.
On the death of Colin Snedden
on 24 April 2011, Guillen became the oldest surviving New Zealand Test cricketer
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...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
) is one of the few men to have played Test cricket
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...
for two countries. He played five Tests for the West Indies and three for New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
in the 1950s, one of which was the New Zealand team's first victory, over the West Indies.
Guillen holds the further rare distinction of also playing in the final of New Zealand's premier association football competition, the Chatham Cup
Chatham Cup
The Chatham Cup, currently known as the ASB Chatham Cup for sponsorship purposes, is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's football...
, gaining a runners-up medal for Western AFC in 1954
1954 Chatham Cup
The 1954 Chatham Cup was the 27th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand.The competition was run on a regional basis, with regional associations each holding separate qualifying rounds....
. Unsurprisingly for a wicket-keeper, his position in the Western side was goalkeeper.
Simpson currently resides in Christchurch, New Zealand with his wife Val Guillen, a former wicketkeeper for the province of Canterbury woman's team. Simpson comes from a family of cricketers which include: Noel Guillen (his brother and whom the Queen's Park Oval's outdoor practice nets are named after), Jeffrey Guillen (a well-known real estate mogul who played cricket competitively throughout his teens and well into his 30's. Noel's son), Charles Guillen (a former player who played a major factor in the coaching of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo) and Justin Guillen, an up and coming all-rounder who seems destined to follow his Great Uncle Simpson's footsteps. His grandson Logan van Beek plays for the Canterbury Wizards
Canterbury Wizards
The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...
in cricket and for the Christchurch Cougars
Christchurch Cougars
The Christchurch Cougars are a professional men's basketball team based in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. They play in the New Zealand National Basketball League....
in the NBL
National Basketball League (New Zealand)
The National Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in New Zealand.There were 10 teams in the 2010 season with teams based in Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Nelson, New Plymouth, North Shore, Palmerston North,...
.
On the death of Colin Snedden
Colin Snedden
Colin Alexander Snedden was a New Zealand cricketer. Born in Auckland, he played first-class cricket for Auckland and played in one Test for the New Zealand cricket team against England, at Christchurch in March 1947. Five other New Zealanders made their debut in the same match...
on 24 April 2011, Guillen became the oldest surviving New Zealand Test cricketer