Roy Fredericks - West Indies Opener

The late Roy Clifton Fredericks was an attackinginnings. The highlight of his Test career coincided with
left-handed opener for Guyana and the West Indieshis highest Test score. On a fast WACA pitch in
in the late 60s and early 70s. Towards the end of hisPerth and against the might of Dennis Lillee and Jeff
Test career, the Guyanese opener was part of aThompson, Fredericks scored 169 off 145 balls to
West Indian team that started to dominate cricket.help the West Indies to an innings victory over
He also had the distinction of winning the first WorldAustralia. That match was their only Test victory on
Cup in 1975. Fredericks attacking instincts-particularlythat 1975/76 tour as the Caribbean team lost 5-1.
against hostile fast bowling-is the stuff of cricketAlthough Fredericks was typically an attacking
legend. Long after his playing days were over, onebatsman, he could stay at the crease for a long
can still hear remarks about his exploits. The opener'speriod as well. In a 1973 Test match against England
demolition of Lillee and Thompson at the famedat Birmingham, the opener faced 443 deliveries to
WACA Ground in Perth, Australia forms a significantscore 150 runs. At First Class level, playing for
part of his legacy.Guyana, West Indies and Glamorgan, Fredericks
Born on November 11, 1942 in Berbice, Guyana,amassed 16,384 runs at an average of 45.89. He
Fredericks made his debut for Guyana as a 21 yearscored 40 centuries and 80 half-centuries in 391
old. His flamboyant stroke-play at the top of theinnings at that level.
batting order earned Fredericks a Test debut inFredericks managed to play 12 ODIs, since the
1968-versus Australia at Melbourne. Although theshorter form of the game was not as common as it
West Indies lost that test match by an innings andis now. He played the eighth international one-day
30 runs, the diminutive left-hander had a solid debut,game in history and the first for the West Indies in
scoring 76 and 47 runs in the first and second innings1973. One of his memorable innings was not his
respectively.highest score of 105, but when he scored 7 against
Fredericks went on to play 59 Tests for the regionalAustralia at the Oval in the 1975 World Cup. In the
team between 1968 and 1977. He accumulated 4334process of hooking Dennis Lillee, for a massive six,
runs at an average of 42.49. The Guyanese openerFredericks' follow through on that violent hook hit the
scored eight centuries and 26 half-centuries in 109stumps and he was out hit wicket.