Rohan Kanhai

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = West Indian
country = West Indies
country abbrev = WI
name = Rohan Kanhai
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman
bowling style = Right-arm Medium
tests = 79
test runs = 6227
test bat avg = 47.53
test 100s/50s = 15/28
test top score = 256
test overs = 30.3
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = N/A
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = N/A
test catches/stumpings = 50/-
ODIs = 7
ODI runs = 164
ODI bat avg = 54.66
ODI 100s/50s = 0/2
ODI top score = 55
ODI overs = -
ODI wickets = -
ODI bowl avg = -
ODI 5s = -
ODI best bowling = -
ODI catches/stumpings = 4/-
date = 22 August
year = 2005
source = http://content.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52287.html

Rohan Bholalall Kanhai (born December 26 1935 in Port Mourant, Berbice, British Guiana) is a former West Indian Cricket player. He is widely considered as one of the best batsmen of the 1960s. An ethnic Indian, Kanhai featured in several great West Indian teams, playing with, among others, Sir Garfield Sobers, Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs, and Alvin Kallicharran. C. L. R. James wrote in the "New World" journal that Kanhai was "the high peak of West Indian cricketing development", and praised his "adventuresome" attitude. [" [http://www.guyanaundersiege.com/Leaders/Kanhai.htm Rohan Kanhai: A study in confidence] " by C. L. R. James] Kanhai was part of the West Indian team that won the inaugral World Cup.

Kanhai made his Test debut for the West Indise in England in 1957 and kept wicket for his first three Tests in addition to opening the batting. Gerry Alexander took over the gloves for the last two Tests. A right-handed batsman, Kanhai scored 6,227 runs in 79 Tests at a robust average of 47.53, with his highest score of 256 coming against India in a Test at Calcutta. When Kanhai retired, his batting average was the fifth-highest of all West Indian cricketers with more than 20 Tests. He was famous for his unorthodox shots, most notably the "falling hook" shot, in which he finished his follow through lying on his back.

Throughout his first class cricket career Kanhai played for British Guiana, Guyana, North of South Africa (SACBOC), Tasmania, Transvaal (SACB), Trinidad, Warwickshire, and Western Australia.

In his county cricket career for Warwickshire, he also played alongside Kallicharran, John Jameson, and Dennis Amiss. Kanhai scored 11,615 first class runs for Warwickshire at an average of 51.62, which is the highest for any batsman who played for the county for a considerable time. [ [http://www.thebears.co.uk/history/alumni/rohankanhai.shtml Rohan Kanhai profile] at Warwickshire County Cricket Club official website.]

The Indian opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar named his son Rohan after Kanhai, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/3407527.stm "Famous son steps out of shade"] by Scott Heinrich, "BBC Sport" website, 18 January, 2004, retrieved 2 December, 2005.] and wrote of Kanhai, "To say that he is the greatest batsman I have ever seen so far is to put it mildly." [ [ "Rohan Kanhai, An Appreciation"] by Albert Badeo.]

There is a pub in Ashington, Northumberland named after him due to his stint there when he was West Indies captain. [cite web | url = http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubfinder/details.php?OutletNumber=83 |title = The Rohan Kanhai, Ashington | work = pub-finder | accessdate = 2007-04-28]

References