“Those two little buddies of mine”: Sonny Ramadhin became the first cricketer of Indian origin to play for the West Indies in 1950, helping them beat England for the first time in England. He became part of the first major West Indies team and the protagonist of one of cricket’s most famous songs
Sonny Ramadhin (left); and West Indies bowlers Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine during their tour of England, April 1950. (Photo/Getty Images) Sonny Ramadhin became the first cricketer of Indian origin to represent the West Indies when he made his Test debut at Old Trafford during the 1950 tour of England.Born in St Charles Village, Trinidad, near the capital Port of Spain, Ramadhin lost both parents when he was a toddler. He was raised by his grandparents who immigrated from India to work on one of the cocoa estates in Trinidad.Ramadhin did not have a first name when he was born. In his childhood, he was called simply “boy”. Over time this became “Sonny” and the name stuck.Then something unusual happened during a tour of England in 1950. In Ramadhin’s own words: “When I got to England, they insisted that no one could live life without an initial. The next time I picked up the paper, I became KT Ramadhin. I never found out what my new English names were supposed to be!”Regardless of what the English papers called him, he remained Sonny Ramadhine – the enigmatic spinner from the Caribbean who made the cricketing world take notice in 1950.
Swivel twins
Ramadhin and fellow batsman Alf Valentine became one of the biggest reasons for West Indies’ famous 3-1 Test series win over England in 1950. It was the first time West Indies had beaten England in England in a Test series.What made their story even more remarkable was their lack of experience. Before the England tour, both Ramadhin and Valentine had played only two first-class matches – both test matches for selection.England prepared for the famous Three W’s – Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott – who formed the backbone of the West Indies batting. What England didn’t prepare for was a pair of spinners with completely different styles.Ramadhin was known to bowl both off-breaks and leg-breaks with almost no visible change in his action. Valentine jumped left arm orthodox spin.
Test debut at Old Trafford
Ramadhin and Valentine made their debut together in the first Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on 8 June 1950.West Indies lost that match by 202 runs, even though the pitch offered plenty of help for the bowlers. Ramadhin and Valentine combined for 15 wickets in the match, but the English trio of Jim Laker, Eric Hollies and Bob Berry made better use of the conditions.However, the defeat was only the beginning of the historic streak.
Lords of Lord’s
The second Test at Lord’s became one of the most iconic matches in West Indies cricket history. West Indies scored 326 in the first innings, mainly thanks to Allan Rae’s century. Ramadhin and Valentine then bowled out England for just 151.West Indies declared their second innings at 425 for 6, setting England a target of 601 runs.At the start of finals day – Thursday – there were very few spectators at Lord’s. Most of them were West Indians and there were less than 100 in the crowd.England went on to 281 for 4 chasing an almost impossible target.They lost another five wickets by lunchtime. Shortly after 14:18, Johnny Wardle was trapped lbw by Frank Worrell and the West Indies completed a 326-run victory, their first Test win over England in England. Ramadhin was the star of the match.He finished with figures of 5 for 66 in the first innings and 6 for 86 in the second. Valentine supported him with figures of 4 for 48 and 3 for 79.The West Indies also won the remaining two Tests – by 10 wickets in Nottingham and by an innings and 56 runs at The Oval – to wrap up the series 3–1.
West Indies spin bowler Sonny Ramadhin demonstrates his mysterious grip to an intrigued Donald Bradman in Brisbane during a Test Match in the early 1950s. (Photo/Getty Images)
My two little friends…
The win at Lord’s was iconic. But more iconic were the celebrations that followed.According to The Times, a small group of West Indies supporters ran onto the pitch with “guitar-like instruments”. They danced, sang calypsos, and made music using trash can lids and even a carving knife scraped on a cheese grater.Among these supporters were Lord Kitchener and Lord Beginner, who arrived in Britain aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948 as part of the first great wave of Caribbean immigrants.Lord Kitchener sang calypsos throughout the test match. After the victory, he came up with lines that celebrated the heroes of the day:Walcott, Weekes and Worrell kept their nameWith amazing shots throughout the gameBut England were beaten purely out of timewith spin bowling Ramadhan and Valentine’s Day.These lines eventually became part Cricket, beautiful cricketone of the most famous songs associated with West Indies cricket.There has been some confusion as to who actually wrote the song. It was recorded and published by Lord Beginner, but there is strong evidence to suggest that it was created jointly by Lord Beginner and Lord Kitchener.Former Southwark mayor Sam King, who was present at Lord’s that day, recalled the moment in an interview with The Guardian in 1998.“I wanted to go home, about 20 voices said, Sam, you can’t go home, man. Kitchener’s gonna do a song.” I said: What?’ They said: Just come. We sat down in the grass and Kitchener says, “Cricket, beautiful cricket,” and somebody says, “Put Ramadhin in here, man.” And he put in Ramadhin, he went through it and in 30 minutes he wrote the song Cricket, lovely cricket at Lord’s, where I saw it. Yardley won the toss, but Goddard won the Test with those little mates of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine.’ I was there. That was history.”Whether written by one person or collectively, Cricket, Lovely Cricket has become part of West Indies cricketing folklore. The first stanza of the calypso reads:Cricket beautiful Cricket,By the Lord where I saw it;Cricket beautiful Cricket,By the Lord where I saw it;Yardley tried his bestBut Goddard won the test.They provided plenty of entertainment for the crowd;Second Test and West Indies won. With those two little friends of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine.
More than a one series wonder
Ramadhin remained one of the mainstays of the West Indies until the 1950s. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 1953–54 home series against England, taking 23 wickets at an average of 24. Two years later in New Zealand, he took 20 wickets at an average of 15.When the West Indies returned to England in 1957, Ramadhin was still their biggest bowling weapon.In the first Test at Edgbaston, he produced the best innings figures of his Test career, 7 for 49. In one spell after lunch, he took 6 wickets for just 9 runs in eight overs.However, England responded tactically in the second innings.Peter May and Colin Cowdrey repeatedly reached forward and used the pads to stifle Ramadhin’s spin, believing that lbw decisions would not be given.With two West Indies bowlers injured, skipper John Goddard held Ramadha’s bowling almost continuously. Ramadhin bowled 98 overs in that innings, which remains a Test cricket record. Despite many appeals, the umpires did not give any lbw in this innings.Ramadhin later became eligible to play county cricket after settling in England and joined Lancashire in 1964.He also played Minor County cricket for Lincolnshire into his forties and continued to play league cricket into his nearly 50s.After representing Lancashire and spending years in the Lancashire leagues as a professional, he settled permanently in North West England after his retirement.He died on February 26, 2022, aged 92. A star of his time, Ramadhin, the first Indian to play for the West Indies, took 158 wickets from 43 Tests in a 10-year international career.
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