Derek Sealy was something of an infant prodigy. When he first played for West Indies, against England at Bridgetown in 1929-30, he was 17 years 122 days, at the time the youngest-ever Test cricketer. He still is the youngest to have played for West Indies. He was to become more than a very good, quick-footed batsman, occasionally bowling effectively at medium pace and twice (against England in 1939) keeping wicket in Test matches. He epitomised the natural cricketing ability of so many West Indians, his cap at a rakish angle, the bat seeming to be an extension of himself, often smiling, always friendly. As a boy, in his first Test match, he was placed in the order between Headley and Constantine and scored 58 against an England attack which included Voce, Rhodes and Stevens. In Australia in 1930-31 he had a disappointing tour and was not chosen to go to England in 1933. In 1934-35, by when he was 22, he averaged 45 in the four Test matches against Bob Wyatt's England team, only Headley, with whom he added 202 for West Indies' third wicket at Kingston in the fourth Test match, doing better. In England in 1939 he made his highest first-class score, 181 in three and a half hours against Middlesex at Lord's, although more was expected of him as a batsman than he achieved. Sealy, wrote Wisden, not unlike Headley in appearance at the wicket, and somewhat similar in forcing tactics, showed less ability to score when playing back, but he gave some attractive displays. In 1941-42, for Barbados against Trinidad in Bridgetown, he had a large share in a remarkable record, taking 8 for 8 runs as Trinidad were bowled out for 16 on a sticky wicket. After the war, having moved to Trinidad, he made no particular impact on West Indian cricket. He continued, however, to bring happiness wherever he went. In 11 Tests he scored 478 runs (average 28.11), with a highest score of 92 against England at Port-of-Spain in 1934-35, and took 3 for 94. His overall first-class record was 3,831 runs at an average of 30.40 and 63 wickets at 28.60 apiece.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

• The original Indian hero (Sep 11, 2003)

Derek Sealy © Wisden Cricket Monthly

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