Tributes have been pouring in for former Dominican, Winward Islands, Combined Islands and West Indies Test cricketer, Irving Shillingford, who has passed away.
Shillingford died in the morning of Thursday January 26, 2023 at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital. He was 78 years old.
Born in Dublanc, Dominica on 18 April 1944, Shillingford began his cricket career in his early teens. He later played with the West Indies cricket team in his 30s in four tests and two One Day Internationals (ODIs) in 1977 and 1978. The highlight of his career with the West Indies team was when he scored 120 in a test match against Pakistan which was played in Guyana in 1977.
Shillngford also played 88 first class games, 49 of them for the Combined Islands whom he represented from the inception of the team in 1961 until its dissolution in 1981. He also played first class cricket for the Windward Islands.
Sports commentator and former national cricketer, Ossie Lewis, has said that Shillingford was the best batsman ever produced by the Windward Islands and a great person, both inside and out.
“Irving Shillingford was arguably the best batsman ever produced by the Windward Islands, not just Dominica, and he was one of the best batsmen from the West Indies,” Lewis said during an interview with Dominica News Online (DNO). “Apart from that he was a fine human being, humble, honest and enthusiastic to help young people get on with their game and to improve.”
Lewis noted that they went to school about the same time and said he knew Shillingford from the time he played in the Windward Islands Interschools Tournament in Grenada at the age of 15 where he represented the Dominica Grammar School.
He pointed out that the accomplished Dominican and regional cricketer was also a selector on the West Indies board, a coach as well the manager of the Dominica cricket team.
Lewis is of the view that being from Dominica, Shillingford was the victim of insularity in the selection of the West Indies teams of the 1970s where preference was given to players from the “big islands like Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana, [the] BIG4” and cricketers from the smaller islands had to be exceptional to make the West Indies team.
“Had Irving been alive today, with the standard today within cricket, [he] could easily have played numerous test matches,” Lewis declared. “He was one of the best produced by the West Indies, and injustice was done to him. He deserved to have been selected for many more test matches.”
According to Lewis, Shillingford was an icon and a great cricketing hero who left a great legacy to sportsmen who come after him adding that as long as cricket is played in Dominica, his name will be remembered as an outstanding batsman.
Meantime, PM Roosevelt Skerrit expressed his deep sadness on learning of Shillingford’s passing.
In a statement on his Facebook page, the prime minister said a true icon was lost.
“We have lost a true icon who brought great joy to the cricket-loving Dominican public. He stood as an example of all that was achievable for Dominican players of the most beloved sport in the West Indies,” Skerrit stated.
He said the late cricketer who is still the only Dominican to have scored a test century, represented the dreams and aspirations of many Dominican cricketers who hoped to achieve similar glory.
“He never lost his love for the game, leading his local club, Cavaliers, well into his 60s and inspiring young cricketers to pursue their own passion for the sport. He also served for many years as a national selector,” the prime minister added.
He said Irving Shillingford was a source of pride and his name is forever etched in the minds and hearts of the Dominican people.
“We will continue to honor his memory and celebrate his legacy. On behalf of the Government and People of Dominica, I extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and others who mourn his passing,” Prime Minister added.
According to the ESPN Sports Media Ltd website, Irving Shillingford was a “gifted” batsman who made his first-class debut aged 16, but had to wait another four years for his second appearance, when he impressed batting No. 3 against the touring Australians – thereafter he scored consistently for more than a decade without coming close to international recognition.
“A superb 1976-77 season finally saw him called into the West Indies side at the age of 32 for the second Test against Pakistan, where he made 39 and 2, but in the third Test at Georgetown he blasted 120, but by the end of the series he had lost his place in a powerful batting line-up, “ ESPN Sports stated
They said he was again in “excellent form” the following season, hitting his career-best 238 against Leeward Islands at Castries, and when the Packer rebels disappeared he was given another chance, against Australia in Guyana.
He made 3 and 16 and was again dropped. In a different era Shillingford would have made far more than four Test appearances.
Shillingford had made the most runs in the shell shield the previous season, with 257, and though he was aged nearly 33 he was given the chance. He made 39 from number five in the first West Indies’ innings – in an 81-run partnership with opener Roy Fredericks, helping the West Indies to a lead of 136 runs on first innings. Shillingford only made two runs in the second innings, but the West Indies still won with six wickets to spare.
Shillingford continued to play domestic cricket until 1981-82 enjoying a Shell Shield victory with his Combined Islands team in 1980-81and also playing four matches for the windward islands the following season. However, his final season was not his greatest – with 112 first class runs at a batting average of 18.66, he failed to pass fifty a single time, though his team finished second in the Shell Shield table.
Former Dominica prime minister, manager of the Windward Islands cricket team and president of the Dominica Cricket Association, Edison James described Shillingford’s passing as a great loss for the country, “the sporting world, particularly cricket in Dominica and throughout the region and beyond.”
James, who was speaking on the SportsWrap programme on Q95, said his relationship with Shillingford started many years ago when they were both students at the Dominica Grammar School.
“We have a little joke between us that I virtually made him because we had a competition playing second form against first form; I had this opportunity to run Irvin out. [I was] standing close to the stumps and I decided I’m going to throw the ball at the stumps and I missed and he went on to score a hundred so I always tell him, ‘Irving, had I gotten you out then, your career would have finished.’
James, who says he was pleased to have had the opportunity of managing Irving Shillingford at the Dominica, Windward islands and Combined Islands levels,
“Irving was always a pillar, a go-to person to get advice and guidance and so on. He was never a difficult player to manage,” James added.
James believes that Shillingford earned his position as a West Indies player at the same time as former West Indies cricketer and captain Clive Lloyd.
“I remember Clyde Walcott, former West Indies manager and former international cricketer of great repute; I remember him being at my home in Dominica, he having been invited by us to be our guest speaker and raising with him, the matter of Irving not having been selected before and he told me, to my surprise and other emotions as well, he told me Irving was never considered and I’m wondering about that,” the former regional cricket administrator recalls. “How could it be? I believe that if Irving had been given his opportunity at the same time as Lloyd and these others, he would have been as renowned an international cricketer as Lloyd was.”
James goes on to point point out that when, in the later years of his life, Shillingford was eventually called up by the West Indies, he scored 120 runs in the second game.
“I remember that sterling motorcade which met him, the group which met him and the motorcade came in from Melville Hall to Roseau because I think the Pakistan side he had played against in Guyana and scored the 120 came in at the same time to play, probably Windwards in Dominica,” he recounted. “I remember that motorcade when the whole of the country was there to welcome him…so Irving has been part of this country’s cricketing history and it’s a pity that…well, everyone has to go but it’s a great loss to our country.
James also expressed his wholehearted support for the idea of establishing a cricket hall of fame where people like Irving Shillingford and other Dominicans who have excelled in the field of sports, can be honoured and highlighted as a source of inspiration for Dominicans.
Below are audio recordings of commentary on Shillingford’s test century in Guyana in !977 and a calypso written in tribute to him by The Mighty Ugly in 1976.
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Condolences to the family and friends of Irvin,T.Shillimgford he was a great Dominican cricketer.All those aholes posting negative comments about Skerrit and Irvin should stop that foolishness.Let Irvin rest in peace.As Prime Minister Skerrit has produced the most international athletes.At present there are two under 19 cricketers on the West indies team.Out of a population of 72,000 we have 3 aholes posting foolishness.There are hundreds of cricketers who have represented Dominica if you want to know about Irvin go ask the majority.There are two men on Q95 who over the years have nothing positive to say about Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze.They and others have destroyed cricket in Dominica,especially cricketers from the Kalinago territory.The playing field in St.Joseph where more the 50 players practiced and played for Dominica is still there today.Skerrit killed sports will only come from the mouth of a jacka.
You peace of fictitious human feces you need to shut up!
What athlete Roosevelt produce, and where? What kind of athlete in what sort of training camp?
Who are the paid coaches Roosevelt used to train his invisible athletes.
You are nothing more than a blind rat salivating to get a hand out from Roosevelt that dam corrupted crook.
As far as I might want to suggest, during Irvine entire athletic career Roosevelt had not seen the sun: not yet burn.
And if he was born by the time Irvine cricketing career was over Roosevelt might be aToddler four years old or there about,
Contradict that you nobody!
If Roosevelt created so many athletes in the country, how come there are no track and fields training facilities no, Olympic training facilities nevertheless, people with potential goes to international games doing long jump but never had the opportunity to have a place for that sort of training in Dominica: guy shut your ignorant mouth we are not all idiots!
Just shut up!
Mr. Irving Shllingford should be immortalised in the history of Dominica. The man carried the country’s name with dignity throughout the breath of the Caribbean and beyond when Dominica was not well known.
He should be regarded as a cricketing idol/ hero. Condolences to his bereaved family.
You made us feel proud as a cricket ambassador of high pedigree. You brought joy to the hearts of many, during your exploits at the crease, at the Botanical Gardens, Mindo Phillips Park, Arnos Vale, Borda, Queens Park Oval, Kensington Oval, etc, etc , etc.
You could pull, square drive, back drive, square cut, cover drive, hook, pull, leave alone, etc…This life is now ended, but your cricketing prowess will remain etched in the memories of those of us who knew you…Such a simple and unassuming soul.
May You Rest In Eternal Peace!!!
R I P!!!
Thanks, Irving!
You made us all proud!
PM Skerrit should not talk about Irving Shillingford being an Icon and his foolishness. No doubt Irving Shillingford was a legend and in those days Dominica was ahead of all the islands that formed the windwards and maybe all the Leewards except for Antigua. Back then cricket was played in every village every day on island and more than half the teams of Windwards and Combined were from Dominica. Since Skerrit became PM he destroyed cricket to the point that one cannot see cricket in any village today except in the kalinago territory. The decline / death of cricket in Dominica no doubt must had been a serious blow to Irving Shillingford. To make things worse Skerrit nailed the final nail in the coffin of cricket when he decided to legalize marijuana without putting a thing in play to protect our young boys. So today while most elementary or secondary schools don’t have a cricket team most of our young boys smoke ganja and ganja and sports don’t agree . Also poor sports ministers
You know, I hate to dispute your claim that Antigua cricketers were ahead of anyone who played first classes in Dominica, and ultimately dominated the Windward island team.
In that there were always at least five Dominican players on that team representing the Windward Islands.
If you said a combined Leeward team at one time performed better I would have to agree. Now more Antiguans got to make the West Indies team after Antigua government paid as usual a bribe to someone which caused WI officials to move their headquarters to Antigua, hence they cram the team with seven Antiguans at one time, but it was not because they were so good.
They got the opportunity to play, practice they say makes perfect.
While thy victimized one of the best spin-boller of the day in Antigua: the late Eustace Matthew they did the same to Kenneth Laurent of Grand Bay.
Eustace Matthew was 35 when he asked the late Worrell, he could make the WI team Worrell said yes, in 25 years: 35+25 =60
That meant…
So let me clarify this: Eustace Matthew Caleb Laurent were just about two of the best spin-bollers to be born in the West Indies and never got a chance to play, because the little Indian boys out of Trinidad and British Guiana (Guyana) they say were better until, Willett out St. Kitts: I will not mention Lance Gibbs out Guyana, he was the best in world his spin ball came at you as fast as a medium pace.
But back to conversation between the late Frank Worrell and Eustace Matthew the late: if a cricketer is 35 years old and he will only be good enough to make a team in 25 years to be informed by a former player, selector board of directors that he will make the team at 60 old when he would have already retired from his job as a custom officer that was an insult:
In my opinion he simply told Eustace he would never be good enough.
Guy I lived in England where I saw county cricket played saw the best of test players. I submitted any Dominica player could playoff for England.
Con:
The West Indies cricket selector, continuously discriminated against Windwad Island players, until they selected Michael Finly of St. Vincent as a wicketkeeper, when he was used as a selector, refused to endorse Dominica players.
Even after Irving and Grason proved that our players were as good as the best the victimization continued, until they picked Norbert Phillip; and in every case they allow them to play in limited amount of test match!
It would appear to me all the Shillingford’s; male are born with this cricketing gift. Very few people heard the name Paul Shillingford Dominica born (Castel Bruce Village) played cricket in Wesley, prior to immigrating to England, he had a local team in England: people would advise if they wanted to get into county cricket; their best option would be to first play in Shillingford team, in the seventies some of Britons test players came out of Paul Shillingford team.
Paul Shillingford is the father of Benjamin Shillingford of Wesley!
” PM Roosevelt Skerrit expressed his deep sadness on learning of Shillingford’s passing.”
Shut up Roosevelt, you damn liar, and hypocrite: you do not know anything about Irving Shillingford. In Irving’s heydays, you were not even born, but I suppose now that Irving is dead, you that little boy will take credit for all of his accomplishments, in cricket and his entire life!
“James goes on to point out that when, in the later years of his life, Shillingford was eventually called up by the West Indies, he scored 120 runs in the second game.”
I remember that distinctly; and recall the words of Jeff Charles lamenting while commenting over the game: ” the whole cricketing world might be saying now “I told you so.”
And that comment was in reference to the years the West Indies selectors discriminated against Irving simply because he was Dominican.
Irvin was born gifted; cricket was his Neitch, the same as the late fast blower Grason Shillingford.
The West Indies selectors…
Be careful. Now you are telling a lie like Skerrit. Jeff Charles left Dominica in 1973 to further his studies. Jeff was not in the commentary box in 1977. Tony Cozier was the one commentating when Irvine reached his 100. In later years I personally asked Irvine if Jeff knew he had made it to the West Indies team and scored 100 and he replied that he received a cable from Jeff Charles in England congratulating him on the occasion. I caught you lying this time. But I get it. Just as I have said before that Irvine Shillingford will forever hold a special place in the commentary box of Jeff Charles and St. Havis Shillingford.
Devil Son ds: you are as complicated and ignorant as they come!
If you are residence in America, or if you are a citizen; old and dumb as I perceive you to be I would like to inform you that any idiot who has the desire to scholastically educate themselves as long as they can breathe, walk and talk do have the opportunity to go to school and educate themselves here unless they are incorrigible, and too dumb to learn.
You keep running off your mouth as if you are an authority, on every subject. If that was the case, you would not have butted in with that bit of garbage about Jefferson Charles left Dominica in 1973!
What’s your point: I remember when Charles was victimize while working (manager) of DBS Radio by a Labor Party government. I know when Charles went to England, and eventually commentated on Cricket match on the BBC. Rather than calling me a liar, if you were not so idiotic, and a lapdog of Roosevelt you would try to research and see if anything I wrote is true.
Con:
Store this in your shallow cranium, and every once in while ponder on all that I wrote regarding the subject matter, you might find my arguments are well founded.
Everything I wrote can be officially verified, I am not writing arguments to get points or be on anyone good side, neither do I need to be heard or seen; and surly a liar I am not! I don’t have anything to benefit or gain even by responding to your nonsense. I advise you now to stop benign an idiot because you and the other clown calling himself Lin Clown are not in my Neitch academically or in the same level of commonsense!
Talking fart about Charles leaving Dominica in 73, I even know when he came to America and picket up residence near San Francisco. Make a fool of yourself for Rosevelt, if you wish for that seems to be all your kind live for; but leave me out of it because I know better.
Here is a job; go and asks Roosevelt why he took away people’s house in Wesley and have Chines living in them?
Sincere sympathies to the family.
Mr. Shillingford was a good man at heart. Always had a smile on his face and was always a pleasure to run into. I recall him either dropping off or picking up his daughter (Lynn) and greeting any of us kids that he knew with a big smile. For some, he will continue to live on in our thoughts of good cricket and to others as a father and to others a blessing.
May you find comfort in this time of loss.
Condolences to the Shillingord family. Rest in peace and power my first sports hero!!!
As an eight year old, I snuck into the Botanical Gardens to take in your exquisite pull shots, straight drives and square cuts. Cricket fans and commentators may have called you the “Little Master” but to me you were larger than life when you occupied the crease.
Some will say that insularity, cronyism and “Small Island” bias conspired to rob you of a deserving spot on the West Indies roster while in your cricketing prime.
It was alway going to be a monumental task for you or any other talented regional batsman to crack into a West Indies line-up in the 1970’s that featured the likes of Sobers, Davis, Gomes, Rowe, Fredericks, Kalicharran, Kanhai, Lloyd, Foster and a young Richards; however, in my humble opinion you would have certainly delivered if given the opportunity earlier in your career.
Thanks for the wonderful memories!!!
More shame on Roosevelt Skerrit who knew all that and said so much about Mr Shillingford and during his 20 yrs as Prime Minister did nothing to honor the icon. Why didn’t Skerrit name Windsor park after Irving Shillingford just as the St Lucian government named their test venue after Sammy while he is still alive? Unlike Sammy who made big money playing cricket Irving Shillingford made no money because back then cricket had no money. So why didn’t Skerrit give Irving a good retirement plan that included health care and a good pension? Skerrit was in a position to make life much better for Irving and he didn’t. So for God’s sake Skerrit should just just shut up
Yes, Indeed, Irvine Theodore Shillingford like the late Augustus Rice Gregoire will forever hold a special place in the commentary box of Jeff Charles, Reginald St. Havis Shillingford and Ossie Lewis. A gifted batsman he was with a dazzling square cut so much so that whenever that shot was executed, no one moved. Every opposing player stayed put and upright in his respective fielding position and could only watch the ball with awe race to the boundary. Once that ball left his bat it was off to the races. Whenever it came to batting he always approached the wicket with class and great equanimity and, thereafter, once settled in, it became the game of catch me if you can. Like America’s baseball legend, Irvine Shillingford was the Eddie Murray of cricket and like America’s basketball legend, Irvine Shillingford was the Michael Jordan of cricket. Just execute one more square cut for me please, Irvine. RIP.
Rest in peace Mr. Shillingford, I had the opportunity to work with him while employed at the Ministry of Education and Sports and he was Sports Officer 1990s at Sport Division.
My condolences to his wife Mrs. Shillingford who I worked with also while she was at the Ministry of Education.
“You should respect greatness…/”