Lester King (cricketer)

West Indian cricketer

Lester King

King in 1968

Personal information
Full name|

Lester Anthony King

Born| 27 February 1939 (1939-02-27)
Saint Catherine, Jamaica
Died| 9 July 1998 (1998-07-10) (aged 59)
Kingston, Jamaica
Batting| Right-handed
Bowling| Right-arm fast
International information
National side|

* West Indies

Test debut| 13 April 1962 v India
Last Test| 28 March 1968 v England
Career statistics
| Competition | Test | First-class

|
|

Matches | 2 | 62
Runs scored | 41 | 1,404
Batting average | 10.25 | 20.64
100s/50s | 0/0 | 0/6
Top score | 20 | 89
Balls bowled | 476 | 9,742
Wickets | 9 | 142
Bowling average | 17.11 | 31.42
5 wickets in innings | 1 | 3
10 wickets in match | 0 | 0
Best bowling | 5/46 | 5/46
Catches/stumpings | 2/– | 38/–

Source: ESPNcricinfo, 31 October 2022

Lester Anthony King (27 February 1939 – 9 July 1998) was a West Indian international cricketer from Jamaica who played in two Test matches, one in 1962 and the other in 1968.[1] On his debut, in April 1962, he took 5 for 46 in the first innings of the Fifth Test against India at Sabina Park, Kingston.[2] He played first-class cricket for Jamaica from 1961 to 1968.[3]

## Cricket career

[edit]

King was a right-arm fast bowler who had played only two first-class matches before being selected to play Test cricket. Despite taking seven wickets in a West Indies victory in his first Test, he lost his place in the team to Charlie Griffith, who formed a powerful Test pace attack with Wes Hall and Garry Sobers throughout the 1960s.[1] He toured England in 1963, India in 1966–67, and Australia and New Zealand in 1968–69, without playing a Test on any of his tours.[1]

King was one of four West Indian fast bowlers who played a season of domestic cricket in India in 1962–63 in order to give Indian batsmen more experience of playing fast bowling.[4] He played for Bengal and East Zone, taking 19 wickets in six matches with a best return of 5 for 146 in Bengal's victory in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Hyderabad.[5] He played Lancashire League cricket for Rawtenstall in 1964 and 1965.[1]

## See also

[edit]

* List of West Indies cricketers who have taken five-wicket hauls on Test debut

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Lester King". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
2. ^ "5th Test: West Indies v India at Kingston, Apr 13–18, 1962". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
3. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Lester King". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
4. ^ Mihir Bose, A History of Indian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, London, 1990, p. 231.
5. ^ "Bengal v Hyderabad 1962-63". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 September 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Lester King at ESPNcricinfo