Read on Twitter
January 12, 1956 was one of the worst on-field days for West Indian cricket, at par with their 25 all out against Ireland.
A reasonably strong West Indian side lost to – Fiji.
The picture is of Ratu Kamisese Mara, who led Fiji on that day.
+
A reasonably strong West Indian side lost to – Fiji.
The picture is of Ratu Kamisese Mara, who led Fiji on that day.
+
Mara later became Fiji's first Prime Minister.
The West Indians halted in Fiji en route to New Zealand.
They played a one-day, one-innings match against them, at Albert Park, Suva.
The West Indians were led by Atkinson.
+
The West Indians halted in Fiji en route to New Zealand.
They played a one-day, one-innings match against them, at Albert Park, Suva.
The West Indians were led by Atkinson.
+
The side also featured Weekes, Goddard, Sobers, Collie Smith, Depeiaza, Ramadhin, and Valentine, among others.
Weekes and Goddard were rested that day, but the other stars all played.
The Apted brothers, Harry and William, opened batting.
Harry Apted top-scored with 33.
+
Weekes and Goddard were rested that day, but the other stars all played.
The Apted brothers, Harry and William, opened batting.
Harry Apted top-scored with 33.
+
He had a fracture in his right hand when he was only 18 months old.
It never healed properly.
His upper arm and forearm remained almost perpendicular to each other.
He could not stretch the arm.
It also became shorter than his left hand.
+
It never healed properly.
His upper arm and forearm remained almost perpendicular to each other.
He could not stretch the arm.
It also became shorter than his left hand.
+
But he trained himself to bat left-handed and bowl right-arm off-breaks.
Additionally, he was so acrobatic that he could use his left hand to field balls that went to his right.
He also coached Fiji at hockey.
A fine athlete.
+
Additionally, he was so acrobatic that he could use his left hand to field balls that went to his right.
He also coached Fiji at hockey.
A fine athlete.
+
The other notable contribution came from IL Bula (full name: Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamaineiilikenamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau), often hailed as the Fijian Bradman.
Bula scored 27. A bit on Bula here: https://twitter.com/ovshake42/status/1328039220682768384
+
Bula scored 27. A bit on Bula here: https://twitter.com/ovshake42/status/1328039220682768384
+
But Fiji folded for 91 once the two got out. Smith got 4/26 and Atkinson 3/14.
All over?
Atkinson held his stars back and opened with Hammond Furlonge and Alfred Binns (both played Test cricket, by the way).
They scored only 16 each but then, the target was only 92...
+
All over?
Atkinson held his stars back and opened with Hammond Furlonge and Alfred Binns (both played Test cricket, by the way).
They scored only 16 each but then, the target was only 92...
+
But now the wickets fell against the seamers, the right-handed John Gosling and the left-handed Asaeli Driu: Sobers 6, Smith 1, Depeiaza 4...
At 50/6 things started looking bad. Wilfred Edun and Frank King added some runs, but not for long.
+
At 50/6 things started looking bad. Wilfred Edun and Frank King added some runs, but not for long.
+
Driu (4/26) and Gosling (6/25) routed West Indies for 63.*
*The runs conceded do not match, for there were only 4 extras. So either they conceded more or there was another bowler. But Driu and Gosling did share all 10 wickets.
PS
+
*The runs conceded do not match, for there were only 4 extras. So either they conceded more or there was another bowler. But Driu and Gosling did share all 10 wickets.
PS
+
- West Indies won the Test series 3-1. The win, in the last Test match, was the first in New Zealand's history.
- In 1965, Fiji was elected to the ICC.
- In 2005, Bula became the first cricketer to be inducted into Fiji's Hall of Fame. In 2008, Harry Apted became the second.
- In 1965, Fiji was elected to the ICC.
- In 2005, Bula became the first cricketer to be inducted into Fiji's Hall of Fame. In 2008, Harry Apted became the second.
