Sonny Ramadhin, CM was a West Indian cricketer, and was a dominant bowler of the 1950s.
22 Facts About Sonny Ramadhin
1.
2.
Sonny Ramadhin was the first of many West Indian cricketers of Indian origin, and was one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1951.
3.
Sonny Ramadhin is most famous for his performance in the West Indies' 1950 tour of England, which was immortalised in the song "Victory Calypso".
4.
Sonny Ramadhin was well known for his ability to turn the ball both ways and he was largely known for using three short-legs along with close in fielders on the off-side during his playing days in order to exert more pressure on the batsmen.
5.
Sonny Ramadhin was referred to as "a small neat man whose shirt-sleeves were always buttoned at the wrist".
6.
Sonny Ramadhin was the last surviving member of the 1950 West Indies team that secured the West Indies' first-ever Test series win in England.
7.
Sonny Ramadhin had no first name on his birth certificate; instead he was referred as "boy" in the birth certificate, and he later adapted his nickname "Sonny" as his first name.
8.
Sonny Ramadhin was introduced to cricket at the Canadian Mission School in Duncan Village, but did not bowl while in school.
9.
Sonny Ramadhin made his test debut, along with Alf Valentine, in the first Test of that same Test series against England which started on 8 June 1950.
10.
Sonny Ramadhin thus became the first cricketer of East Indian origin to play for the West Indies in international cricket.
11.
Sonny Ramadhin bowled the leg-break and off-break without a discernible change in his action.
12.
Sonny Ramadhin pitched a tantalizing length, bowled straight at the wicket and spun enough to beat the bat.
13.
When England returned to the West Indies in early 1954, Sonny Ramadhin took 13 wickets in the first two Tests and was instrumental in West Indies' victory.
14.
Sonny Ramadhin was the first bowler to take two five-wicket hauls in his first two Test matches, against England.
15.
Sonny Ramadhin decided to play in Lancashire League as a professional and then decided to play first-class cricket for Lancashire after ending a prolific international career which spanned for a decade.
16.
Sonny Ramadhin ended up his international career having taken 158 test wickets in 43 appearances.
17.
In June 1988, Sonny Ramadhin was celebrated on the 75c Trinidad and Tobago stamp alongside the Barbados Cricket Buckle.
18.
Sonny Ramadhin settled in England after his retirement from international cricket.
19.
Sonny Ramadhin lived in Delph in his final stages of his life for around nearly 12 years.
20.
Sonny Ramadhin served as President of Friarmere Cricket Club for a considerable number of years.
21.
Sonny Ramadhin died on 27 February 2022, at the age of 92.
22.
Sonny Ramadhin's grandson, Kyle Hogg was a fast bowler who played for Lancashire between 2001 and 2014.