Ron HEADLEY

Ron Headley, son of the great West Indies batsman George Headley - the Black Bradman - and father of England fast bowler Dean Headley, was born in Jamaica but brought up around Dudley in the English West Midlands, where George played as a professional in the Birmingham League. Young Ron, an attacking left-handed batsman, played his early cricket with Worcestershire (see photo above), although he was recruited by Jamaica after the county toured there in 1966. He played for Worcestershire from 1958 to 1974. Most of his career was before widespread air travel so his English base gave him little chance of Test selection, despite the West Indies lack of a second opener throughout the late 60s and early 70s. His opportunity only came when Steve Camacho was hit by a bouncer by Andy Roberts in the match between Hampshire and the 1973 West Indians. Headley was an obvious replacement.

He scored 8 and 42 on his debut in the Oval Test, and 1 and 11 at Edgbaston, his best scores being 62 and 24 against Glamorgan. He played in one ODI at the Oval, scoring 19. Ron played an unofficial Test for a Commonwealth XI against Pakistan at Karachi in February 1971, being bowled by Salim Altaf for 8 and then being injured in the field and unable to bat in the second innings. One of his greatest achievements in domestic cricket came when captaining Worcestershire at Dudley in 1971. After bowling Warwickshire out for 126 in 27 overs his side needed to score the runs in an improbable 18 overs to win the Sunday League. Cheered on by a 10, 000 crowd he lashed a quicktime 58, adding 55 in just 30 balls with Alan Ormrod, and reached the target with two balls to spare. (Bob Harragan)