West Indies Players - Junior Murray

When West Indies wicketkeeper Jeff Dujon retired,standards, his batting was way behind as well. A
the selectors tried to find an immediate replacement.Test batting average of 22.39 and an ODI average
One of the candidates for the post was Juniorof 22.60 is hardly anything to boast about. Murray
Murray. To state that the former Windward Islandsmanaged to score a solitary Test century- his only
wicketkeeper did not fit the bill perfectly is ancentury at international level. He made that unbeaten
understatement. Instead, for nine years- between101 batting in 7th position against New Zealand at
1992 and 2003- Murray played musical chairs with theWellington in 1995.
Caribbean side.Murray normally batted at 7th position for the
Born on January 20th, 1968, Murray became the firstmajority of his Test career. For the Windward
player from the tiny island of Grenada to representIslands, he batted in a higher position- usually
the West Indies at the highest level. He had thisbetween positions 4 and 6 in the batting order. He
honour when he made his Test debut in Sydneywas a more reliable batsman at First Class level,
during the 1992/93 tour of Australia. Unfortunately, innever playing for teams other than Grenada,
the 33 Tests and 55 ODIs that Murray played sinceWindward Islands and the West Indies.
that tour, he failed to earn enough distinctions inAfter a productive regional season in 2002, Murray
front or behind the stumps.was a surprise selection for the India's tour of the
West Indies cricket fans often found that MurrayWest Indies. He displaced the redoubtable Ridley
was clumsy behind the stumps. His awkwardnessJacobs, who was suffering from a temporary loss of
often led to him dropping simple catches in the field.form at the time. Unsurprisingly, Murray failed
There was not a pair of wicketkeeper's gloves thatspectacularly against better bowling and was not
could conceal Murray's shortcomings at the best ofparticularly impressive behind the stumps. He was
times. Yet, he still managed to take 99 catches andnever selected to the Caribbean team again, having
effect three stumpings in his Test career.satisfied selectors that his performances at regional
If Murray's wicket-keeping fell short of Dujon'slevel were very flattering.