Jim Allen (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Jim Allen
female =


country = West Indies
fullname = James Charles Allen
nickname =
living = true
partialdates =
dayofbirth = 18
monthofbirth = 8
yearofbirth = 1951
placeofbirth = Harris Village
countryofbirth = Montserrat
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath =
yearofdeath =
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath =
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-hand batsman
bowling = Right-hand Medium
role = Batsman, occasional wicketkeeper
club1 = Leeward Islands
year1 = 1971/72–1982/3
type1 = First-class
debutdate1 = 15 January
debutyear1 = 1972
debutfor1 =
Leeward Islands
debutagainst1 = Windward Islands
lastdate1 = 3 March
lastyear1 = 1983
lastfor1 =
Leeward Islands
lastagainst1 = Windward Islands
type2 = List A
debutdate2 = 16 January
debutyear2 = 1974
debutfor2 =
Leeward and Windward Islands
debutagainst2 = MCC
lastdate2 = 26 January
lastyear2 = 1983
lastfor2 = Leeward Islands
lastagainst2 = Guyana
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = FC
matches1 = 55
runs1 = 3067
bat avg1 = 34.07
100s/50s1 = 5/19
top score1 = 161
deliveries1 = 157
wickets1 = 3
bowl avg1 = 30.00
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = 1-14
catches/stumpings1 = 42/1
column2 = List A
matches2 = 15
runs2 = 366
bat avg2 = 30.50
100s/50s2 = 1/1
top score2 = 102*
deliveries2 = 6
wickets2 = 1
bowl avg2 = 6.00
fivefor2 = –
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 1-6
catches/stumpings2 = 6/–
date = 26 November
year = 2007
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/23/23198/23198.html CricketArchive

James Charles "Jim" Allen (born 15 August 1951) is a former Montserratian first-class cricketer who represented the World Series Cricket West Indians and is considered the greatest ever Montserrat sportsperson.Fergus, H. (1996) "Gallery Montserrat: Some Prominent People In Our History", Canoe Press, Montserrat. ISBN 976812525X.]

Born in Harris Village, Montserrat, Allen starred in Montserrat cricket from a young age and made his debut for the Montserrat national team in 1970, and his first-class debut on 15 January 1972 for Leeward Islands against Windward Islands at Roseau, scoring one and 82. An attacking right-hand batsman with an unorthodox, open–chest, wide-legs batting stance, Allen was soon considered a more exciting batsman than his Leeward Islands team mate Vivian Richards.Hector, L. (2001) " [http://www.candw.ag/~jardinea/ffhtm/ff010824.htm Fan the Flame] ", 24 August 2001. Accessed 9 November 2007.]

Allen became the first professional Monserratian sportsperson when he began playing in England during the northern summer, turning out for teams in the Lancashire and Cheshire LeaguesDurand, H. (2001) " [http://www.montserratreporter.org/news0801-3.htm 50th Birthday Event Celebrates Jim Allen] ", Montserrat Reporter. Accessed 9 November 2007.] . Allen's best season was 1976/77, where he scored 559 first-class runs at 50.81, with a highest score of 150. This form led to a lucrative offer to join the World Series Cricket competition when it commenced in Australia in late 1977. The only member of the West Indian squad not to play Test cricket, Allen appeared in one SuperTest, against the Australians, scoring eight and 12.

Following the end of World Series Cricket, Allen returned to the West Indies for the 1978/79 season where he scored his highest first-class score of 161 against Jamaica. Allen was forced to retire from cricket in 1983 following an eye injury sustained during a match. Upon his retirement, Allen had scored 3,067 first-class runs at 34.07. He also took three wickets at 30.00 with his right arm medium pace and took 42 catches and a stumping.

Since his retirement, an annual lecture series, held on his birthday, has been established in Montserrat to honour Allen. Additionally, a number of Montserratian artists have written poems about Allen and there are calls to name a local street or erect a statue of Allen in front of the government headquarters in the de facto Montserrat capital Brades. [Montserrat Reporter (2003) " [http://www.montserratreporter.org/members/fra0803-5.htm Mike Findlay Lionizes Montserrat’s Jim Allen] ", Montserrat Reporter, 29 August 2003. Accessed 8 November 2007.] Allen's importance to Montserrat was encapsulated by local writer Professor Howard Fergus, who said "He (Allen) had made all Montserratians see, feel and know that they, in spite of all, could scale any height of achievement accomplished by those overbrimming with opportunity."

Allen's brother George Allen and son Davon Williams have both also played first-class cricket for Leeward Islands [" [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/23/23198/23198.html Jim Allen] ", Cricket Archive. Accessed 10 November 2007.] .

References