Rohan Kanhai
Rohan Kanhai first appeared before the Blackpool cricketing public in September 1957 when he played for the West Indian tourists in a drawn match at Stanley Park. He returned four years later, by then an established Test star with, at that time, 28 Tests and five centuries to his credit, for the 1961 Northern League season having signed for Blackpool as their professional.
It was February 1961 when he agreed to join the Blackpool club after three seasons as professional for Aberdeenshire CC, who were most disappointed to lose him. Financial constraints was the reason he was not re-signed and the Aberdeenshire chairman commented, ’Aberdeen’s loss is now the Blackpool club’s gain.’
At Blackpool Kanhai became the third successive Test player to become professional at Stanley Park, following in the footsteps of Pankaj Roy of India and Hanif Mohammad of Pakistan. And he proved to be a great success as in his first season he plundered 919 runs at an average of 65.64.
He scored three centuries, the highest 153 not out against Lancaster, as Blackpool finished in joint second position in the League with Fleetwood, behind champions Leyland. Blackpool also won the League’s Slater Cup with Kanhai being undefeated in the three games played, scoring 86, 74 and 58.
He surpassed his 1961 record in the 1962 season when he led Blackpool to the League title with 1,165 runs at 83.21, including six centuries, with a top score of 156 against Lancaster, and three half-centuries. It was at that time only the sixth occasion that a batsman had passed 1,000 runs in a Northern League cricket season. Incidentally the other five occasions also involved Blackpool professionals, the legendary Bill Alley, four times, and Hanif Mohammad.
Blackpool did not complete the double, however, as they were defeated in the Slater Cup final by Darwen with Kanhai scoring 52 of the all out total of 98; he also scored 60 and 81 in his other two innings in the Cup run.
He was unavailable for the 1963 season, when another West Indian, Cammie Smith, was signed as Blackpool professional but Kanhai’s two seasons with the club saw him score 2,084 League runs at an average of 74.42. He was a very occasional bowler and when he took 2-13 off five overs against Morecambe in June 1961, having just completed an 87-minute century in the Blackpool innings, the local press reported, ‘Blackpool’s most successful bowler was … that’s right, Kanhai.’
By then living on the Fylde Coast, he did return to Northern League cricket 19 years later when he became professional at St Annes in 1981. And he continued his run scoring exploits with 945 runs at 78.75 with two centuries and eight half-centuries to top the League’s averages as well as being the leading runscorer. He returned to St Annes for one further season in 1982 when he created a new club record, which still stands, of 1,085 runs at 60.27 with three centuries and eight half-centuries.
His two seasons at St Annes, therefore, saw him score 2,030 runs at 67.67 bringing his total Northern League runs over a four-season span to a phenomenal 4,114 runs at an average of 70.93.
Rohan Kanhai was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in May 2009 and, still resident on the Fylde Coast, he is nowadays an avid golfer.
It was February 1961 when he agreed to join the Blackpool club after three seasons as professional for Aberdeenshire CC, who were most disappointed to lose him. Financial constraints was the reason he was not re-signed and the Aberdeenshire chairman commented, ’Aberdeen’s loss is now the Blackpool club’s gain.’
At Blackpool Kanhai became the third successive Test player to become professional at Stanley Park, following in the footsteps of Pankaj Roy of India and Hanif Mohammad of Pakistan. And he proved to be a great success as in his first season he plundered 919 runs at an average of 65.64.
He scored three centuries, the highest 153 not out against Lancaster, as Blackpool finished in joint second position in the League with Fleetwood, behind champions Leyland. Blackpool also won the League’s Slater Cup with Kanhai being undefeated in the three games played, scoring 86, 74 and 58.
He surpassed his 1961 record in the 1962 season when he led Blackpool to the League title with 1,165 runs at 83.21, including six centuries, with a top score of 156 against Lancaster, and three half-centuries. It was at that time only the sixth occasion that a batsman had passed 1,000 runs in a Northern League cricket season. Incidentally the other five occasions also involved Blackpool professionals, the legendary Bill Alley, four times, and Hanif Mohammad.
Blackpool did not complete the double, however, as they were defeated in the Slater Cup final by Darwen with Kanhai scoring 52 of the all out total of 98; he also scored 60 and 81 in his other two innings in the Cup run.
He was unavailable for the 1963 season, when another West Indian, Cammie Smith, was signed as Blackpool professional but Kanhai’s two seasons with the club saw him score 2,084 League runs at an average of 74.42. He was a very occasional bowler and when he took 2-13 off five overs against Morecambe in June 1961, having just completed an 87-minute century in the Blackpool innings, the local press reported, ‘Blackpool’s most successful bowler was … that’s right, Kanhai.’
By then living on the Fylde Coast, he did return to Northern League cricket 19 years later when he became professional at St Annes in 1981. And he continued his run scoring exploits with 945 runs at 78.75 with two centuries and eight half-centuries to top the League’s averages as well as being the leading runscorer. He returned to St Annes for one further season in 1982 when he created a new club record, which still stands, of 1,085 runs at 60.27 with three centuries and eight half-centuries.
His two seasons at St Annes, therefore, saw him score 2,030 runs at 67.67 bringing his total Northern League runs over a four-season span to a phenomenal 4,114 runs at an average of 70.93.
Rohan Kanhai was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in May 2009 and, still resident on the Fylde Coast, he is nowadays an avid golfer.
No comments have been added yet.
