Jim Allen, an aggressive middle-order batsman, who became the first cricketer from Montserrat to play first-class cricket, died in that country on July 2 at age 73.

Allen had reportedly been ill for some time. He played three matches for the West Indies during the Kerry Packer World Series Cricket in 1977.

Despite an unconventional chest-on stance, Allen was a free scorer, who made his first-class debut in 1972 for the Leeward Islands against the Windward Islands. He scored 3,067 first-class runs at an average of 34.07, with his highest score being 161 against Jamaica in the 1978-79 Shell Shield season.

Chris Dehring, CEO of Cricket West Indies, reflected on Allen’s impact on the regional game.

“In addition to being a former first-class cricketer, Jim Allen was a mentor, and father figure to several young players. He had this amazing ability to simplify cricket and made the game a spectacle to his peers and fans across the region. Jim was a gifted player with great hand-eye coordination, and a hard-hitting middle-order batsman, who terrorised bowlers throughout the region. He loved the game of cricket and always played with a smile on his face.”

“We are forever indebted to pioneers like him who paved the way with distinction and pride,” Dehring added.

Sir Vivian Richards, a former West Indies and Leewards Islands captain and batsman, also hailed his departed teammate.

“It’s a great loss to us, as a teammate for myself as well. Jim was a very outgoing guy and I remember the time we spent together with Leewards and we also spent some time with the Windwards together when we won the tournament in itself,” Richards told the Good Morning Jojo radio show in his native Antigua.

Jim Allen is the father of Davon Williams and brother of George Allen, both of whom represented Montserrat and the Leeward Islands in first-class cricket.

— Howard Campbell