Roy Fredericks dies at 58

Former West Indies opening batsman Roy Fredericks died in a New York hospital at the age of 58 late Tuesday after suffering from throat cancer, SkySports reported Wednesday.

Fredericks, a small, pugnacious left-hander, played 59 Tests and scored 4,334 runs at an average of 42.49.

A former sports minister in his native Guyana, Fredericks is best remembered for a dashing 169 against Australia in the 1975/76 series, facing a bowling attack which included Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson in their prime.

On a fast Perth pitch he reached his century off 71 balls, with a six and 18 fours, in one of the great Test innings of all time.

A fine fielder, Fredericks also took 62 Test catches and seven Test wickets with his slow left-arm. He also played for Glamorgan between 1971 and 1973, scoring almost 3,000 first class runs for the Welsh county.

Fredericks was diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago and underwent surgery.

He will be remembered as one of the best opening batsmen produced by Guyana and formed a formidable West Indies opening pair with Gordon Greenidge.

Fredericks scored 4,334 runs in Tests at an average of 42.49, with eight centuries and 27 half-centuries. He began his Test career in 1968/69 in Australia.

In the first-ever World Cup Final between West Indies and Australia in 1975 at Lord's, he had the misfortune to hook a bouncer from Dennis Lillee for six, only to tread on his stumps in the process. But West Indies won the day.

His highest score in first-class cricket was the 228 he hit for Glamgoran against Northamptonshire at Swansea in 1972.

A fine left-hander, he displayed an adventurous approach to opening the batting, and his cavalier strokeplay delighted crowds around the world. He loved to hook fast bowlers, and was equally strong on the off-side with powerful cuts.

Fredericks was a fixture in the West Indies team until he joined Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket team in Australia in 1977/78 and continued playing for Guyana until retiring at the end of the 1982/83 season.

His successful county career with Glamorgan, ran from 1971 to 1974, the year he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

Mail Cricket Editor