A forthright personality with a tendency to call a spade a spade, Mr Wavell Hinds has, at times, ruffled feathers.

Such as in 2007 when he was suspended for three months by the Jamaica Cricket Association for allegedly speaking his mind during a club game about the standard of umpiring.

That said, so far as this newspaper is aware, no one has ever seriously doubted his integrity, courage, loyalty, and commitment to Jamaica and the Caribbean, or his unbounded dedication to the game of cricket.

For those unquestioned qualities, plus the real and measurable contribution made to country and region, we applaud Mr Hinds for joining that august list of distinguished Jamaicans to have received the annual Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence.

As a batsman, Mr Hinds will not be remembered among the most talented to have played for the West Indies. Certainly, several among his immediate or near contemporaries, such as Messrs Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels, are far more blessed.

However, Mr Hinds as batsman, all-round cricketer and Jamaica captain, brought to the table a willingness to fight — no matter the odds — that was second to none.

He never gave up, fighting back repeatedly from loss of form, serious injury and ill-judged decisions by regional selectors.

Newly arrived on the international scene in 2000, Mr Hinds enjoyed great success against visiting Pakistan averaging 68 from 340 runs in three Tests. The left-hander’s power and aggression against the vaunted Pakistan spin attack of the day awakened memories of the legendary Mr Clive Lloyd.

He travelled to England with the West Indies team in the summer of that year as the young batsman to watch; only to be cruelly cut down by a string of flawed umpiring decisions. But Mr Hinds remained unbowed, undefeated.

As a medium pacer, he could not be discounted. Indeed, his distinct away-swing conquered a few of the world’s leading batsmen.

Those of us watching from the sidelines sensed that, like all true sportsmen, Mr Hinds enjoyed to the fullest the sport of his choice.

And many will remember his remarkably unbridled celebration of his second Test century against India on a grassy pitch at Sabina Park in 2002. Sport is of no value if we do not find joy. Mr Hinds found and provided his fair share.

As an administrator in the service of West Indies cricket, we believe Mr Hinds, in his current role as head of the players’ union, has made a good start. We look forward to much more from him in areas of West Indies cricket way beyond the West Indies Players’ Association.