Published: Sep 28, 2013, 01:41 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 25, 2014, 01:22 AM (IST)
Eddie Hemmings. Photo Courtesy: Sportsworldcards
On September 27, 1982, Eddie Hemmings, representing International XI picked up all 10 wickets of West Indies XI at Kingston. This remains the only 10-wicket haul ever achieved on Caribbean soil in an innings. It was also the most expensive 10-for of all-time. Sarang Bhalerao takes a look back at Hemmings’s incredible feat.
The occasion was Shell/Air Florida Cricket Festival in 1982. West Indies XI locked horns with International XI at Sabina Park, Kingston. International XI batted first and began well with Duleep Mendis and Greame Fowler scoring 82 for the first wicket before the former was caught by West Indies XI skipper Clive Lloyd off Sylvester Clarke. Alan Butcher fell soon for two, out leg-before by Andy Roberts.
Barbados-born English cricketer Roland Butcher was caught by Jeff Dujon off Malcolm Marshall to leave the visitors at 98 for three. Visiting skipper John Wright was dismissed by leg-break bowler Robert Haynes.
For the visitors, Fowler top-scored with 63 and Jack Richards batting at No 7 scored 62. For West Indies, Clarke picked up five for 26 in his 21 overs.
On the third day, Eddie Hemmings became the 67th bowler in First-Class cricket to pick up all 10 wickets in an innings — the first instance of this occurrence in West Indies.
Gordon Greenidge was the first to fall for 43 caught by Karsan Ghavri. George Powell, the left-handed Jamaican, was soon dismissed for 16 caught by ‘keeper Richards off Hemmings. Rowe scored 47 before he fell when the score was 198. For the home team, opener Desmond Haynes top-scored with 96 and skipper Lloyd scored 60. When Hemmings picked up his fourth wicket, he reached 750 First-Class wickets.
When Eddie Hemmings (second from right) picked up his eighth wicket, he surpassed his previous best of seven for 33 in First-Class matches © Getty Images
Hemmings, 33, had made his Test match debut against Pakistan just one month prior to achieving this extraordinary feat. In that game, he had picked up just three wickets.
When Hemmings picked up his eighth wicket, he surpassed his previous best of seven for 33 in First-Class matches. The 10th wicket of Clarke ensured that Hemmings joined the elite list of bowlers who picked up all 10 wickets in an innings. This effort of 10 for 175 became the most expensive 10-wicket haul in an innings in First-Class cricket.
The wily off-spinner went on to represent England till 1991, representing the Test team 16 times. He played 33 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
Brief scores:
International XI 262 (Graeme Fowler 63, Jack Richards 62; Sylvester Clarke 5 for 26) drew with West Indies XI 419 (Desmond Haynes 96; Eddie Hemmings 10 for 175).
(Sarang Bhalerao hails from a family of doctors, but did his engineering. He then dumped a career in IT with Infosys to follow his heart and passion and became a writer with CricketCountry. A voracious reader, Sarang aspires to beat Google with his knowledge of the game! You can follow him on Twitter here)
