THOSE with a love for cricket are toasting the life of former Jamaica captain and West Indies opening batsman Mr Basil Williams who died in the United States a few days ago at age 65.

Back in the 1970s, Caribbean cricket lovers could depend on radio stations for ball-by-ball coverage of matches at regional and international levels.

Jamaicans lucky enough to have been listening in early March 1978, when Mr Williams became one of a select few to hit a century on Test match debut in Guyana, are unlikely to have forgotten the sense of pride and high excitement.

Mr Williams had only made the West Indies team for the third Test against Australia because of a falling out between the established players and the West Indies Cricket Board of Control. That was over the players’ decision to contract their services to Australian television tycoon Mr Kerry Packer.

As part of what was a huge crisis in cricket at the time, leading players, including Test captain Mr Clive Lloyd, were left out of the West Indies team for the third Test against Australia at Bourda, Guyana. Mr Williams was among several replacement faces in a West Indies team led by the world-class batsman Mr Alvin Kallicharran.

A big consolation for Mr Kallicharran’s West Indies was that they were up against an Australian team that was equally depleted because of the stand-off with Mr Packer.

Led by an ageing Mr Bobby Simpson, the outstanding captain and opening batsman of the 1960s, Australia boasted only one player of world class — the great paceman Mr Jeff Thomson.

Fast, with a mean, aggressive streak to match, Mr Thomson lived up to his reputation in that Test series. But in the second innings of that third Test at Bourda, the great fast bowler met his match in Mr Williams.

The radio commentators were in ecstasy as Mr Williams, a right-hand batsman, smashed his way to a century at close to a run-a-ball. Two years earlier Guyanese cricket fans had the good fortune to witness Mr Williams’ maiden first-class century — another shot-filled display — at Rose Hall, Berbice. It was they who christened Mr Williams, ‘Shot Gun’.

About six feet tall, with strong shoulders, Mr Basil ‘Shot Gun’ Williams was mainly a back foot player, most dominant through the offside in the arc between gully and extra cover, especially against faster bowlers. He hit the ball with uncommon power in all areas. But he was most ferocious on the square cut, presenting real and present danger to the health of fielders in areas square of the wicket and backward of square.

Yet, if the bowler over-pitched just outside off, Mr Williams’ front foot would steal forward to present the full face of the bat in the most delightful of cover drives.

The records will show that Mr Williams scored 469 Test runs in seven Tests for an average of 39.08, while scoring two centuries. His Test career ended when the big guns returned following the settling of the dispute between the cricket establishment and Mr Packer. In first-class cricket, Mr Williams hit 2,702 runs for an average of 36 with five centuries.

For young cricketers who are struggling, Mr Williams’ career should be an inspiration. After an inauspicious first-class debut at age 20 in 1970, he had to wait until 1977 before blossoming.

After his playing days, he served Jamaica cricket as administrator and selector before migrating to the USA.

Mr Williams will always be remembered for his bold, exhilarating stroke play. Those who saw him bat should feel privileged.