16 Facts About Sylvester Clarke

Sylvester Theophilus Clarke was a Barbadian cricketer who played 11 Test matches and 10 One Day Internationals for the West Indian cricket team.

The right-armer, bowling late in-swinging deliveries at very high pace and having developed an extremely fearsome bouncer, soon became one of the most feared and respected bowlers in the West Indies and, following the defection of many of the West Indian team to World Series Cricket, Sylvester Clarke made his full Test debut at Bourda Cricket Ground in Georgetown, Guyana, against the touring Australian team on 31 March 1978.

Sylvester Clarke was suspended for three matches from the team for his actions.

Sylvester Clarke played only one more Test, against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 1982.

Sylvester Clarke was a stand-out contributor for the West Indian side in South Africa, taking 37 wickets in the unofficial Test series at 16.16 and 20 wickets at 18.45 in the accompanying limited overs series.

Sylvester Clarke continued to play in South Africa until 1989, representing, at different times, Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Sylvester Clarke played with great distinction for English county side Surrey for a decade starting in 1979, becoming one of the leading wicket takers in the County Championship.

Sylvester Clarke received his county cap in 1980 and his benefit year in 1987.

Sylvester Clarke retired from first-class cricket in 1990 with 942 wickets at 19.52, including three hat-tricks.

In November 1999 Sylvester Clarke complained of feeling unwell and losing weight rapidly and saw a doctor, who could find nothing amiss.

Sylvester Clarke was one week short of his 45th birthday and left his wife Peggy; his son Shakeem and four daughters; Sasha, Desiree, Dawn and Shelly.

Whilst his Test bowling figures are not exceptional, and he was one of several particularly fast West Indies' bowlers at the time, Sylvester Clarke nevertheless gained a reputation amongst his fellow players as the most intimidating and feared fast bowler of his generation.

Sylvester Clarke induced fear and self-doubt in even the best batsmen.

Sylvester Clarke's overall first class figures of 942 wickets at 19.52, including three hat-tricks, is a statistic not matched by many other bowlers.

Sylvester Clarke was not shy of delivering balls patently designed to scare opposing batsmen and make them look foolish, and was regularly capable of a perfect bouncer, which having pitched then cut away sharply to follow the path of a batsman's head as he swayed away from it.

Sylvester Clarke was quite aware that he could be a physically intimidating man, and was unafraid of using his size and power to his advantage in overawing batsmen psychologically.