Winston Davis: World record holder

Almost four years after St.Vincent and the Grenadines attained political independence, the young nation got a rare opportunity to celebrate a world record.

On Sunday, 11th June, 1983, cricketer Winston Davis recorded figures of 7 for 51 for the West Indies against Australia at Headingly, Leeds.{{more}}

Davis established a record in World Cup cricket. The young fast bowler who was on his first tour with the region’s side bowled with pace and control to set up the West Indies win.

In his 10.3 overs, he accounted for Kin Hughes, David Hookes, Graham Yallop, Allan Border, Ken Macleay, Geoff Lawson and Dennis Lillee.

His feat also entered the renowned Guinness World Book of Records. Davis’s seven wicket haul in world cup cricket finals was equalled in South Africa by Glenn Mc Grath and Andy Bichel.

Born in the sporting community of Sion Hill on 18th September, 1958, Davis, like many young boys of his time, gravitated to cricket while he attended the Dorsetshire Government School.

In his teenage years, he joined the Sion Hill Cricket Club, under the guidance of Lloyd Lewis.

Davis easily went on to play for St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Under-19 level, then the Windwards. The wiry fast bowler was good enough to make the West Indies Under-19 in 1976 against England here in the Caribbean.

He made the reciprocal tour two years later.

Davis forced his way into the then Combined Islands in 1980. Considered erratic, in his first outing, Davis retooled in 1981, and with guidance from fast bowling great Andy Roberts and batting hero Vivian Richards, Davis soon blossomed into a good fast bowler.

When the Windwards played as a separate entity in the 1982 Shell Shield, Davis spearheaded the attack, as the Windwards finished second in their debut season.

Davis emerged as the leading bowler the following year and established a new regional record of 42 wickets, as the Windwards repeated their second place.

Davis made his test debut for the West Indies in 1983 in the home series versus India.

A test career that saw him playing in 15 matches taking 45 wickets at a cost of 32.71 runs per wicket. In 35 One Day Internationals, Davis took 39 wickets at 33.38 runs per wicket.

His international career also saw him representing Glamorgan and Northampshire in the English County Championships. Davis also had stints with Wellington in New Zealand and Tasmania in the Australian state league.

Today, Davis is a tetraplegic, after suffering permanent damage to his spine in a freak accident while trying to clear land to build a church.

But his confinement to a wheel chair has not stopped Davis from holding on to his belief in God.

Now residing in Worcestershire, England, Davis, three years ago, played the lead role in the film “ Because of You”.

Several Appeal Funds and benefit matches, with the most recent played earlier this year, are used to assist Davis in his plight.

The local branch of telecommunications company Cable & Wireless featured Davis and others in the cover of the 2007-2008 Telephone Directory.