Born Today on May 30: George Headley – The Black Bradman

Tags: Cricwaves Columns, George Alphonso Headley

Published on: May 30, 2012

Born on today, that is May 30th is the late George Alphonso Headley, one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Cricket. George Headley was known as ‘The Black Bradman’ during his playing days which was limited to only 22 Test Matches between 1930 and 1954.

- Compiled by BV Swagath

Born on today, that is May 30th is the late George Alphonso Headley, one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Cricket. George Headley was known as ‘The Black Bradman’ during his playing days which was limited to only 22 Test Matches between 1930 and 1954. One of the major reasons for Headley playing only the 22 Tests in 24 years was because of the Second World War that took place during that period.

George Headley is also a former West Indies Captain. Infact, Headley became the first Black Captain of the West Indies when he got promoted to that position in 1948. Headley was born on May 30th, 1909 in Panama, a Central American Country. Subsequently, he moved to Jamaica and settled there until his death in 1983 at the age of 74.

George HeadleyThe right-handed George Headley scored 2190 runs in 22 Tests at a superb average of 60.83. He scored 10 centuries and 5 fifties in his 40 innings with a career best of 270* which came against England in 1934/35 at Kingston, Jamaica. Headley, whose first-class career spanned 27 years, went onto score a total of 33 100s and 44 50s with a highest score of 344*. When Headley was playing for the West Indies, he was the only world-class player in what was an otherwise weak outfit.

‘The Black Bradman’ as he was nicknamed, George Headley was the first player in history to score a century in each innings of a Test Match at Lord’s which he achieved in 1939. Headley had made his Test Debut at the age of 21 against England in 1930 and his last Test was played at the age of 45 against the same opponent in 1954.

George Headley’s son – Ron Headley went onto play 2 Tests and 1 ODI for the West Indies in 1973. Interestingly, Ron’s son – Dean Headley, the grandson of the legendary George Headley also went onto become an international cricketer. Unlike his grandfather and father, Dean went onto represent England. Unlike the two international cricketers of his family, Dean Headley took up to fast bowling. With a height of 6ft 5 in, Dean Headley had his moments for England playing in 15 Tests and 13 ODIs between 1996 and 1999.

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