FORMER President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Patrick Rousseau, on Wednesday batted for world great cricketer George Headley to be posthumously awarded Jamaica’s third highest honour, the Order of Merit.

Rousseau, who was the guest speaker at a function put on by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) to officially rename Emerald Road, George Headley Drive, said that the great cricketer was an inspiration in the fight for Jamaica’s Independence.

“In his day he was as well known internationally…”

he said.

Rousseau, who argued that the ability to read the ball makes for exceptional batsmen, added that Headley was blessed with exceptional eyesight.

“Like so many great players, he was blessed with exceptional eyesight, and every time I have discussed batting with any of these great players Garry Sobers, Everton Weekes, all of them talk about reading the ball when it leaves the bowler’s hand…. I think it’s one of the things that makes for an exceptional batsman, that and the power of concentration,” he said.

Headley, who ranks third on the all time list of batsmen, had an impeccable technique and a good temperament and his record was proof of his batting prowess, he said.

Even more remarkable, Rousseau said, was the fact that Headley achieved the feat of a 60.83 average on uncovered pitches.

In his cricketing career, Headley scored a century every 2.2 innings, Rosseau said.

“Only eight players have become immortal in two test matches, and Headley is one of them,” Rousseau continued.

Paying tribute to Headley’s versatility, Rosseau described him as a “bright man”, who had an analytical mind and was able to develop cricketing strategies.

He remarked that “class and colour” was a barrier to the batsman – who was also a talented leader and teacher – being selected captain at the height of his achievements.

Rousseau said that the racial prejudice that existed during the period when Headley and Frank Worrel played cricket, motivated him in his push while he was still president of the West Indies Cricket Board to have the World Cup Cricket tournament take place in the West Indies.

“Many people wondered why I made such a spirited effort to secure the 2007 World Cup for the West Indies, and I share a few thoughts with you. I wanted to prove many things, but there were two critical ones. The first one was that black West Indian people had the abilities and the quality to run a world event as good as anyone, especially the English, the Australian and New Zealand, who were very sceptical when we first proposed that the World Cup should come to the West Indies.

“My thinking was driven by what I had read about the experiences of people like George Headley, Frank Worrel and many others,” Rosseau added.