Barbados cricket bids farewell

The local and regional cricketing fraternity was on Monday sent into mourning, when it was announced that former national captain Kenroy Da Costa Williams had died. Born in Harlington, St Philip, Williams passed away at the age of 40 after a brief battle with cancer.

The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) was swift to share sympathies with the family and friends of the late Barbados and West Indies B batting all-rounder, who was also a member of the St Catherine Sports and Social Club in his home community of St Philip. He was an employee at the Ministry of Agriculture.

For St Catherine, he was named Best All Rounder in the Sagicor Super Cup, during which he excelled with bat and ball.

An aggressive and powerful right-handed batsman and offbreak bowler, Williams, a graduate of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic played 15 years at the regional level. He compiled 915 runs in 29 First Class matches, including four half-centuries and a career-best knock of 82. He also took 47 wickets in that format, with a best of 5-50.

In 19 List A fixtures, Williams amassed 240 runs and took seven wickets. He also played a solitary match for the Jamaica Scorpions in the 2019 regional T20 competition. He last played as a wicketkeeper for Charlotte Strikers in the Vincy Premier T10 League in 2020.

Among the career highlights for Williams would have been his Player Of The Match award against the Windward Islands in the 2017-2018 West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament. His 55 runs and seven wickets (3-21 and 4-36) helped hand the victory to Barbados.

The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) also shared the sentiments of its members and leadership.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Kenroy Williams,” said Wavell Hinds, WIPA president and CEO. “Kenroy was an exemplary sportsman on and off the field, he fought a good fight. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him. To Kenroy’s family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternity, please accept our deepest condolences”,

(PR/TF)