Former West Indies and Barbados cricketer Thelston Rodney O’Neale Payne was an “unsung hero, a consummate employee and a great human being.”
Those were but a few of the words used to describe the 66-year-old former wicketkeeper-batsman, who passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital this morning following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Payne was one of Barbados’ most loved and respected cricketers and cricket coaches and once news of his death broke, sadness enveloped the entire cricketing community, especially the close-knit St Catherine, St Phillip community where he was revered.
Payne played a solitary Test match against England in 1986 and seven One Day Internationals for the West Indies.
He also played 68 first-class matches and scored 3391 runs at an average of 36.85.
Director of Sport at the National Sports Council (NSC) Neil Murrell, where Payne worked for over three decades, had nothing but praise for a man he said had made a significant contribution to cricket in Barbados.
“Thelston Payne worked at the NSC for 33 years from 1984 until his retirement in 2017. He was the cricket coach and he worked mainly in the primary schools all over Barbados but he was generally assigned to schools in St Philip.
“He really was instrumental in the development of primary cricketers as well as secondary school cricketers throughout Barbados, because he also helped in development squads and on more than one occasion he traveled to Trinidad, St Kitts and the UK with these squads to help further their development,” Murrell said.
“He was a consummate employee because he was not only a very good coach, but he was also jovial and friendly with all staff. He also was a livewire at events and loved by all at the NSC. His contribution to cricket development goes beyond the primary and secondary schools and he was very much the heart and soul of the St Catherine’s Club.”
Mario Rampersaud, who was coached by Payne and went on to represent Barbados, credited Payne for his cricketing achievements.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Rampersaud, who spent five years at St Catherine’s and is currently in the US playing for The Philadelphians in Major League Cricket, described Payne as a great human being.
“Me and coach Payne shared fond memories. He was basically a role model to me, an idol to me. Coming from St Patrick’s Primary School, he was my first coach and he went on to coach me at the Lodge School and at St Catherine’s.
“I remember when I made my debut in the Elite Division at the age of 15 against Maple and we won that Cup and it was a real ecstatic and elated feeling to share that moment with him. I remember when we won the Elite Cup and he was a part of that too,” Rampersaud recalled.
“Me and Coach Payne shared a lot of similarities in that we were left-handed batters and we were wicketkeepers together and under his coaching I also went on to play for Barbados. He taught me so much not only as a player, but he helped to harness my skills and he was a great human being.”
Rampersaud also credited Payne for the development of St Catherine wicketkeeper batsmen, Patrick Browne and Tevy Walcott, who went on to represent Barbados, with Browne also playing for the West Indies.
In subsequent press releases, both Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) expressed condolences at Payne’s passing.
Newly elected CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow described him as an “unsung hero” who “served the game at all levels for over four decades.”
“During his playing career, he was a dynamic keeper and stylish batsman and was part of the great era of West Indies cricket when we dominated world cricket, under Sir Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv Richards.”
“After his playing days were over, he made a meaningful contribution as a coach and mentor in Barbados at the grassroots level. He also played a key role in the development of many players. His contribution will be remembered and we will remain grateful to this stalwart of cricket,” Dr Shallow said in a press release.
Meanwhile, in a press release the BCA said, “His invaluable contribution to the cricketing landscape in different capacities over many years will be always appreciated on this island and also in the wider cricketing world.” ]]>
