Sir Gordon Greenidge formally knighted

One of West Indies greatest opening batsmen of all times is officially Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.

Sir Cuthbert Gordon Greenidge KCMG MBE was knighted by Governor General Dame Sandra Mason this afternoon during a ceremony held at Government House. Sir Gordon was initially bestowed with the accolade when the New Year’s honours were announced last year January.

The 70-year-old Greenidge once considered the most destructive opening batsmen in world cricket and who formed the most enduring opening international partnership with fellow Barbadian and Hall of Famer Desmond Haynes for more than a decade, had some advice to share with young cricketers shortly after the ceremony.

“Be committed to the job, work hard at the job. Work on your skills and as I always say to most youngsters who I speak with, don’t just brand yourself as a one-dimensional player. And I think too many players these days want to play the shorter version of the game.

Born in Black Bess, St. Peter before migrating to England where he was an outstanding batsman for the Hampshire County, Greenidge later played first-class cricket for Barbados and went on to represent the West Indies in Tests and One Day Internationals for 17-years. He also won two ICC World Cups in 1975 and 1979. He also won four trophies in his time at Hampshire, including the County Championship in 1973, with his five centuries and 1,656 runs key to Hampshire’s success.

He remains the last Hampshire batsman to score 2,000 first-class runs in a season and when he left the club he held Hampshire’s record scores in all three limited-overs competitions.

Greenidge said that the players of today need to develop their skills and should focus their attention more on the longest format of the game.

“You need to develop the skills of the game itself. Preferably the longer version of the game which would give you what you need to be able to perform well at all levels of this game of cricket. So, yes, play the longer version of the game. You need to because the skill level of our game is missing,” Greenidge stressed.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb