West Indies Players - Joey Carew

Michael Conrad Carew, affectionately known aspost a five-wicket victory against the Kiwis. Carew
"Joey" Carew, was a left-handed opening batsmanplayed only 19 Test matches for the West Indies
for Trinidad and Tobago and the West Indies. Cricketbetween 1963 and 1972. However, his last 16 Tests
pundits would not necessarily consider Carew awere between 1968 and 1972. Carew amassed 1,127
legend of cricket or even a West Indian "great."runs at a fair average of 34.15, bordering on good
However, he was one of the most influential formerinstead of great. He was also a handy leg break
players- owing to his opinionated nature, role as abowler who managed to take eight Test wickets and
W.I. selector and influence in the development of oneover 100 First Class wickets.
of the world's greatest batsmen, Brian Lara.After his playing days, Carew remained involved in
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad on September 15th,the game, especially as a member of Queen's Park
1937, Michael "Joey" Carew made his First ClassCricket Club (QPCC). It was at QPCC that Carew
debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the 1955/1966oversaw the development of Brian Charles Lara, a
cricket season. He took a few years to gain the nodfellow right-hander who went on to set the cricketing
of West Indies selectors, making his debut in 1963 onworld alight with his batting talent. Carew was also a
the tour of England. He struggled in English conditionsWest Indies Test selector, a position he held on and
from the onset and played three Tests in five years.off for two decades. He relinquished that role in
His fourth Test match, in 1968, was when he2006- when he was convenor of selectors- amid
established himself as a regular opener. That matchsome speculation and mild controversy.
was also his first Test in the West Indies- a matchAs a footnote, Joey Carew was part of the W.I.
that was played on his home ground, Queen's Parkteam that were bowled out by Ireland at Belfast in
Oval in Port of Spain.1969. Responding to Maurice Foster's notion that Basil
After that, Joey enjoyed a successful tour ofButcher, the W.I. captain for that ill-fated match, was
Australasia in the 1968/1969 season, where hea "submarine captain because he seemed to prefer
scored his maiden (and only) Test century againstbatting underwater," Carew cheekily noted that
New Zealand at Auckland. That century helped theButcher was not fit to captain a submarine.
West Indies to stay in that match and eventually