Glad Patrick Patterson is fine, says former WI fast bowler Winston Davis
Former West Indies pacer Patrick Patterson. pic/MiD DAY Archives
West Indies speed merchant Patrick Patterson, who terrorised batsmen in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was in the news recently when an Indian Express journalist finally found him after chasing him across three tours to the Caribbean.
Patterson was rumoured to be lost and even admitted into an asylum in Jamaica until the writer met him in Jamaica, negating all theories over him being lost.
Far away in Worcester, England while Patterson was coming to terms with tough times after his playing days were over, his former fast bowling colleague Winston Davis was fighting his own battle -- against paralysis -- caused by a branch of a tree falling on his neck 20 years ago while helping to build a church at St Vincent in the Caribbean.
Patto in good health
Paralysed neck-down, Davis, 59, still moves around at his Bewdley home in a wheelchair. Recently, this writer emailed the article written on Patterson to Davis. "I'm really happy to read that Patto seems fine and in good health. Of course, there were rumours flying around (of being lost and put into an asylum), but it's good to see that someone took the trouble to inquire about him and eventually meet him," Davis told mid-day yesterday.
Asked whether he too thought that Patterson, 55, was lost and in a poor way, Davis said: "I didn't think about anything. I had my own crisis to deal with. I hope Patto is accorded the respect he got while he was playing for the West Indies and that he enjoys the rest of his life."
Davis played 15 Tests from 1983-84 to 1987-88 to claim 45 wickets while his best performance in one-day cricket was an amazing spell of 7 for 51 against Australia in the 1983 World Cup at Leeds.
"Patto was one of the best fast bowlers produced by the West Indies. Lots of people make too much about pace. Well, it's advantageous to have genuine pace, but if sighted early, you can negate pace. Patto had pace and could be deadly on his day on fast pitches," said Davis.
'D/N concept interesting'
The tall former fast bowler, who played three Test series against India, witnessed Day Two action of the ongoing pink ball Test at Edgbaston. "I was there for around four hours and from where I was sitting I didn't find much of a difference between playing with a pink ball and a red one. But going by all accounts, there will be some increased interest in Test cricket. In England, you don't get too much darkness, but in Australia it's different. The concept is interesting," said Davis.
Some of his former West Indies teammates like Sir Viv Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Richie Richardson are in England while Joel Garner is the West Indies team manager. However, with him seated at the opposite end of the Edgbaston ground pavilion, Davis couldn't meet them.
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