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Seymour Nurse: 10 interesting facts to know about the talented West Indian batsman

Seymour Nurse is a West Indian cricketer who could have done wonders if born in a different era.

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Born November 10, 1933, Seymour Nurse is a West Indian cricketer who could have done wonders if born in a different era. Nurse was an aggressive right-handed batsman who could bowl occasional off-spin. On his 82nd birthday, Suraj Choudhari throws light on ten things about Nurse’s cricketing career. 

1. Born in the wrong era

Nurse could have arguably achieved more than what he had only if he would have born in a next era. During his playing days, that bunch of West Indian cricket was filled with batting talent. Despite having all the ingredients to excel in international cricket, Nurse just managed to feature in 29 Tests for West Indies.

2. Footballer

Nurse also flirted with football before turning his focus totally on cricket. He represented Barbados, and threw the towel he gave up football due a mistimed leg injury. He was also instrumental in finding a football club called Black Spurs.

3. Domestic performance chiselled his path into the Test side

Nurse’s prolific run in the domestic circuit helped him sculpt a spot into the West Indian Test side. He was in great form and in match against MCC at Kensington Oval knock of 213 made his unavoidable.

4. Replaced legendary Frank Worrell

During the England tour of West Indies in February 1960, Frank Worrell suffered an unwanted injury that kept him out of the third Test.  Looking at the form Nurse was in he was roped into the side for the third Test of the series at Sabina Park and hence he donned the whites for the first time on this occasion.  

5. Widen Cricketer of the year

Nurse was also named as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1967 for his terrific outing with the bat.  

6. Signed off on a high

Nurse bid farewell to international cricket with a scintillating 258 which came against New Zealand at Ami stadium in March 1969. This also turned out to be his finest performance in Test cricket too. What a landmark for any cricketer to achieve! This is also the highest Test knock for any batsman in their ultimate innings.

7. Terrific record

In handful of games which he played, Nurse managed to score a plethora of runs. In 29 Tests, Nurse amassed 2523 runs at a staggering 47.60 with 6 glorious centuries to his name.  He also had 11 fifties which is evidence to the fact that he had it all in it to attain stardom in international cricket.

8. Fourth innings specialist

Few cricketers are known for their prowess in the fourth innings of a Test. Nurse had the composure and mettle to bat in such difficult conditions. His average of 72.40 with couple of centuries in the fourth innings corroborates the belief.

9. Coach

How often are cricketers seen steeping into the shoes of a coach once their playing days are over! Post-retirement, Nurse rendered his pristine cricketing knowledge by taking up the job of a coach. He took up the job as a coach for Barbados.

10. Legends

As a coach of Barbados, many cricket greats such as Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Roland Holder, Carlisle Best, Sherwin Campbell, Pedro Collins, and Dwayne Smith grew under the watchful eyes of Nurse.

(Suraj Choudhari, an avid cricket follower who plays the sport at club level, is a staffer with Criclife)

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