By George Dobell – Senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
Sir Everton Weekes in 2013
Sir Everton Weekes, (< see stats here) last member of the legendary Three Ws, has died at the age of 95.
Alongside Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Frank Worrell, Weekes formed a formidable batting unit in the West Indies team. All three were born within a couple of miles of one another – rumour has it they were delivered by the same midwife – within 18 months in Barbados between August 1924 and January 1926, and all made their Test debuts within three weeks in early 1948.
While all went on to enjoy outstanding careers – Worrell became West Indies’ first black captain and was later a senator in Jamaica, while Walcott averaged 56.68 in Test cricket and later became the first non-white chair of the ICC – Weekes was, arguably, the best batsman of the three.
At one stage, between March and December 1948, he registered five successive Test centuries and insisted that, but for an umpiring error when he was adjudged run-out for 90, it would have been six. He passed 1,000 Test runs in 12 innings – one fewer than Sir Don Bradman – and finished with an outstanding final Test average of 58.61.
ALSO READ: Archive: Tony Cozier on 90 years of Everton Weekes
Although there is no confirmation of the family’s wishes at this stage, his final resting place could well reunite him with Worrell and Walcott – both of whom are buried at The Three Ws Oval on the outskirts of Bridgetown in Barbados. A plot has been left vacant for Weekes should he wish to join them.
Weekes played the last of his 48 Tests against Pakistan in 1958 – the same series in which Sir Garfield Sobers posted his then world-record 365 not out – and in 1995 he became the last of the three Ws to receive a knighthood.
He was the father of three sons and one daughter – one of whom, David Murray, went on to play 19 Tests as West Indies’ wicketkeeper between 1978 and 1982.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of an icon,” said Cricket West Indies in a tribute. “A legend, our hero. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and many fans around the world.”
Weekes had been taken into intensive care in June 2019 after suffering a heart attack.
THE THREE W’s from BARBADOS
May 1957
Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott attend a party at the West Indian club in London © The Cricketer International
Comments
Wow 95 !
3 W’s that will live forever in hearts and minds
of cricketing fans !
Three bajan that proved “temperament”
in batting was an essential ingredient !
Best bus drivers in London in 60’s
RIP
…
The great man fell just short of the most important century of his career- 95- before he was run out.
Well batted, Sir Everton.
Can you imagine any professional sports person today driving a bus for a living. The sport ‘professionals’ of today are only interested in the money. Sad.
Obituary: Sir Everton Weekes – a West Indies legend
By Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport
Sir Everton Weekes was the last survivor of the famous ‘Three Ws’ – a trio of West Indies batting legends whose lives and careers became irrevocably entwined.
Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott were all born within 18 months, and within three miles of each other in Barbados – and were even delivered by the same midwife.
All three made their debuts in early 1948 against England, were the middle-order mainstays of the great West Indies side of the 1950s – and were all subsequently knighted for services to cricket.
READ MORE: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/52154051
The three Ws were truly greats in the game of cricket. Bless their souls. If I recall correctly, Everton has a son who played in a major sport in North America. I’m not quite sure what sport precisely. The point is, he inherited his father’s competitive genes.
Ramesh
He was a giant!