The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has paid tribute to former Dominica, Windward Islands, Combined Islands and West Indies fast bowler Grayson Shillingford, who died on Wednesday. He was 65 years old.
Speaking early Thursday, Dr Julian Hunte, President of the WICB, hailed Shillingford as a pioneer, an outstanding servant of the game, and true ambassador for his country and the region. Dr Hunte added that he was a hero to many people in his native Dominica and throughout the Windwards. He was the first Dominican to play Test cricket.
“The WICB would like to send condolences to the family and friends of Mr Shillingford and the people of Dominica at this time. He was one of those cricketers who had a passion for the game and served his country, the sub-region and the entire Caribbean proudly. He gave his all on the field and was respected and admired. He was totally dedicated and committed and gave a whole-hearted effort every time he took the field,” said Dr Hunte.
“Off the field, he made an excellent contribution to the development of the game and helped to chart the framework for the advancement of the game in his homeland as well as the Windward Islands. He was a hero for many young men who grew up in Dominica and were fortunate enough, like he was, to play at a higher level.”
Dr Hunte added: “As a pioneer he showed what could be achieved. He worked hard to make the grade and was then able to assist in the development of others, who eventually went on to play at the highest level and then, also contributed to the development of others. This is the true measure of his tremendous contribution to the game. He was an outstanding servant of the game, and a true ambassador for his country and the region. The great game of cricket has lost one of its finest sons, but we hope that Mr Shillingford’s shining example would be used by others to take the game forward.”
In his playing days, Shillingford was an accurate right-arm seam bowler who played seven Test matches between 1969 and 1972. Overall he took 15 wickets at an average of 35.8 per wicket.
He made his Test debut at Lord’s in a team which included Sir Garfield Sobers, Lance Gibbs, Basil Butcher and Clive Lloyd. He took four wickets in that match, and overall his best figures in an innings were 3-63 off 26.5 overs against New Zealand at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica in February 1972.
In all first-class cricket he played 81 matches, taking 217 wickets at an average of 26.5 per wicket, with best figures of 6-49 for Combined Islands against Trinidad and Tobago in St Kitts.
11 years. It feels like yesterday.
Miss you.
P
Grayson,
Another year …still missing you. Always in my heart.
P
Still in my thoughts Gray.
P
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JustSayN
Gray…It has been 10 years. Still missing you.
P
Five years later…still feels like yesterday.
Ever alive in my thoughts.
p
Pat it is hard to believe that it’s been five years.
Still missing you, Gray. You still live in my heart.
Pat
Four years…missing you.
p
It has been a year…your light shines ever bright in the hearts of those who loved you.Gray,you will never be forgotten.
p
It is hard to believe that it’s been a hear since his home going. Gray was an Icon and is truly missed. We continue to pray for his soul and his family. God bless
My deepest sympathy to Grayson Shillingford’s family. Sorry to hear of his passing on. His work on earth was complete therefore, Our Lord called him home. He is in God’s care. May this be a source of consolation.
Eternal rest grant unto Grayson O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. May the soul of Grayson and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen! Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who saves souls!
rest in peace brother
A humble man and a great Dominican cricketer/Could have been one of the Great West Indian pacemen but was not recorgnized by Gary Sobers during the West Indies 1969 tour. Instead Sobers attitude to Gray was that he came from a small island.
A peculiar curved-up, equine run-up to the wicket and a snaky-delivery-stride, Grayson Shillingford bowled with a lot of energy and grace, instilling fear in many a young promising Windward Islands batsman. With the exception of Colville Brown of St Vincent who delivered a stinging punishment on him that a West Indies International would not have anticipated and Earl Cenac of St Lucia who rocked back a couple times at the Botanical Gardens and square-cutted him to the third man, that all Irvine Shillingford at slips could have done was to watch in awe as his own prescription ( the square-cut) raced through the grass. But under the leadership of the great Sir Garfield Sobers, who gave preferential treatment to Vanburn Holder and John Shepherd with the new ball, Grayson Shillingford failed to fulfill his international career. May I renew my condolences to his family, relatives, and friends and may his soul rest in peace. This is Danny Simon.
Greetings in the name of my Master,Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
My deepest condolences to the family,hope He was right with God, then I can say rest in peace.
We only rest in peace, when we are save by the blood of Jesus Christ.JAH bless.
Rest in Peace. My Sympathy to the family.
rest in peace and my condolences to the family