Today in cricket, Sportsin24x7.com will celebrate the birthday of West Indian great Lancelot Richard Gibbs who was born on September 29, 1934. He was the first spinner to take 300 Test wickets. Despite often playing a supporting role to West Indies fast bowlers, he became the most successful off-spinner until Muttiah Muralitharan’s arrival.
We will look at some key moments of his career –
Gibbs switched from leg-spin to off-spin on the advice of coach Arthur(former England wicket-keeper) McIntyre for better control and variation.
He was also an exceptional fielder, known for his sharp catches in the gully and off his own bowling, securing 52 catches in total.
Lance Gibbs made his first-class debut in 1953-54 for British Guiana against MCC at Bourda. In MCC’s first and only innings, Gibbs dismissed Denis Compton for 18, reducing the visitors to 51/3.
Lance made his debut in the second Test at Port-of-Spain in 1957 against Pakistan. He took four wickets in the match. Retained his place for the remainder of the five-match series.
West Indies toured England in 1963. Gibbs had a highly successful series, taking 26 wickets at an average of 21.30. Achieved figures of 5/59 and 6/98 in a ten-wicket victory at Manchester.
West Indies toured England in 1963. Gibbs had a highly successful series, taking 26 wickets at an average of 21.30. Achieved figures of 5/59 and 6/98 in a ten-wicket victory at Manchester.
Gibbs is the cousin of Clive Lloyd, another great West Indies cricketer. They played together for the West Indies on multiple occasions.
Almond Street in Georgetown, Guyana, is named after him. He owns a prized International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame cap.
Serves as the cricket ambassador for Digicel, the leading mobile service provider in the Caribbean. Digicel has also been the sponsor of the West Indies cricket team.
The only West Indian spinner to take a hundred wickets since Gibbs is Carl Hooper. Chris Gayle follows in the records, suggesting that surpassing Gibbs as a spinner from the islands is unlikely anytime soon.
Batting Career Summary
Format
M
INN
NO
R
HS
AVG
BF
SR
100s
200s
50s
4S
6S
Test
79
109
39
488
25
6.97
579
84.28
0
0
0
24
0
ODI
3
1
1
0
0
0.0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
Bowling Career Summary
Format
M
INN
B
R
WKTS
BBI
BBM
ECO
AVG
SR
5W
10W
Test
79
148
25247
8989
309
8/38
11/157
2.14
29.09
81.71
18
2
ODI
3
3
156
59
2
1/12
1/12
2.27
29.5
78.0
0
0
Career Information
Detail
Information
Test Debut
vs Pakistan at Queen’s Park Oval, Feb 05, 1958
Last Test
vs Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jan 31, 1976
ODI Debut
vs England at Headingley, Sep 05, 1973
Last ODI
vs Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford, Jun 07, 1975
