Lawrence Rowe turns 75-Technically best West Indied batsmen of all?

[Harsh Thakor]

It is a matter of great regret that Lawrence Rowe could never reach the stature or limelight of Carribean giants like Sobers, Lara or Viv Richards. Few ever possessed the gift of the gods as Rowe. or was more an embodiment of cricketing art. On January 8^th, we celebrate his 75^th birthday.

It is my firm view that had Rowe completely tapped his potential he would have been an all-time great player.

 Arguably, technically he was the best or most correct of all West Indies batsmen. I can hardly think of any Caribbean batsmen with more organised a technique. I am considering even the likes of Frank Worrell and Rohan Kanhai.

The flow Rowe’s strokes had the composure of lark singing and the beauty of moonlight. Rowe could accumulate gigantic scores with remorseless grace and clinical batting skill. At his best Rowe transcended heights in batting prowess rarely scaled.

Rowe was an enigmatic, elegant, composed right-hander, opening or high in the order. He relished sunshine, and was a master of back-foot shots that were conducive or ideal on hard pitches and less comfortable on slower seaming surfaces. His hooking and pulling was instinctive and mercurial.. Regretfully his career was marred by problems with his eyesight, a variety of injuries and, perversely, an allergy to grass.

Batting Highlights

Between 1972 and 1980 when Rowe played for the West Indies, he had everyone literally on the edge of the seats or with the goosebums.. Rowe manifested batting art. batting making the most  breathtaking; innings enjoyable.

Rowe became eulogised as a cricketing genius  when, in his debut match against New Zealand at Sabina Park in 1972, he made a double century, 214, in his first innings, and 100 not out in his second innings. On debut, perhaps none more embezzled, or gave touches of reaching heights of a Bradman or Headley.

Later, his dauntless and spectacular 302 at Kensington Oval in Barbados in 1973-74,against England, left Bajans and West Indians startled with his original style of batting. Overall,in that series he averaged majestic 88,amassing 616 runs.Dennis Amiss and Geoff Boycott rate that innings of Rowe as the best they ever witnessed in a test match. Arguably, for sheer virtuosity, it has rarely ever been surpassed. It possessed every ingredient of a perfect test innings, be it technique, stroke making, defence, composure, concentration or innovation. It gave vibrations of a famous monument being constructed, containing the most majestic strokes.

On the 1975-76 tour of Australia when West Indies had a 5-1 drubbing. Rowe gave glimpses of the talent he was endowed with.,in his 107 at Brisbane and 67 at Sydney. However he was inconsistent, fading out after an initial spark, to average 24.54 at the conclusion.

 

In Kerry Packer WSC cricket, Rowe executed some astonishing and most dazzling batting exhibitions.

Rowe was not at his best in England in 1976-76, averaging 42,with 70 his highest score

In Kerry Packer WSC, Rowe’s 175 at MCG comprised one of cricket’s classics-executing a stunning range of strokes, to manifest the ultimate bating connoisseur.. Even 30 years later, people classed it as the best batting they’ve ever seen. Overall in Packer Word Series Cricket, Rowe averaged an impressive 43.85 and aggregated 570 runs, including g 2 centuries and 2 fifties.. Only 4 batsmen, averaged more. in World series cricket.

After a long patch of inconsistency in the late 1970’s.Rowe redeemed himself when scoring a Century at Christchurch, in 1980.

Analysis of Greatness

Just how great was Lawrence Rowe?. Old scorecards and statistics can give you some idea, do scant justice to him. Lawrence Rowe  in test cricket scored 2047 runs  at an average of 43.55,in 30 test matches. ,scoring 7 centuries. These figures are hardly staggering, compared to the Carribean giants.

Lawrence Rowe feasted in his hometown: at Sabina Park, four Tests brought him three centuries, including a unique double and single hundred on debut, and an average of 113.40. In the rest of the Caribbean he averaged 43, and less than 30 abroad.

 

In his autobiography, Michael Holding described Rowe “What struck me most was that he never, but never, played at a ball and missed,” he wrote. “Everything hit the middle of the bat, and whatever stroke he chose to play (and he had them all) would have the desired result. His technique was superb, his eyesight like a cat’s and he had all the time in the world to play with captivating ease and elegance. I have not seen such perfection since.”

In the view of cab driver cricket fan in West Indies who had grown up on stories of the three Ws — Weekes, Worrell and Walcott — and had watched Sobers, Hunte, Kanhai and Lloyd. Rowe belonged to their league. Andrew Miller, of  Cricinfo colleague from the UK, Hallam described Rowe’s 302 against England in 1974,as the ultimate masterpiece.. This was the man whose nickname Sir Vivian Richards had painted on his backyard fence in his transition stage and was also the same man who Richards overshadowed when he came into the limelight in the mid-1970s.

. Rowe knew how he would be remembered, and as a result, even factual reminiscences sounded like a desperate plea for recognition from a man who had largely been obliterated out of the game’s history.

Quoting Rowe “After my debut series in 1972, they were comparing me to [George] Headley and [Don] Bradman, but injuries robbed me of a chance at greatness,” I was more naturally talented than Viv, but he accomplished a lot more. He had a full career.”

Quoting Michael Holding “The thing is, the connoisseurs don’t really disagree. “Technically, he was one of the best,” Holding told me recently. “Not as strong a character or as big a personality as Viv, but he was top class.“If you are only dealing with batting skill and style, there aren’t many I would put above him. Obviously, his numbers don’t compare, but that’s because of what I mentioned earlier regarding character.”

Between 1972 and 1980 when Rowe played for the West Indies, he had everyone literally on the edge of the seats or with the goosebums.. Rowe manifested batting art. batting making the most  breathtaking; innings enjoyable.

Very hard or complex to diagnose why Lawrence did not bloom in the manner of icons like Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge or Clive Lloyd, particularly away from home. I am curious, whether he suffered from a complex, playing amongst such great stars.

In my view,Rowe in terms of pure game, stood amongst the most complete of all batsmen.

I firmly adhere that had Rowe done justice to his talent, he would have averaged around 50.Amongst Calypos batsmen I would rank Rowe almost on par with Rogan Kanhai and Brian Lara,in terms of sheer talent .Overall I rate Rowe just a shade below Rohan Kanhai, Frank Worrell and Clive Lloyd,and as the equal of Alvin Kalicharan.I am convinced that had Rowe played for a weaker team ,his record would have been on par with stalwarts like Zaheer Abbas,David Gower or Mohammad Azharuddin .

Regrettably, Rowe's actions off the field were in abject contrast to his brilliance on the field. By 1980, only eight years after his debut, Rowe's fortune began to dwindle. He was not picked for the 1981-2 England tour of the West Indies. He also developed problems with his eyes and suffered from hay fever, which made him allergic to grass.

 

In 1983, the apartheid regime of South Africa invited Rowe. It offered lucrative money before him and, before long, he agreed not only to be the captain of a cricket team to South Africa but to help harness other talents in the West Indies. In Jamaica, he induced Richard Austin, Herbert Chang, Ray Wynter and Everton Mattis to join him. From the wider Caribbean community, others also jumped at the apartheid bait. These included Alvin Greenridge, Ezra Mosely, Colin Croft, Emmerson Trotman, Wayne Daniel, Franklyn Stephenson, Sylvester Clarke, Gregory Armstrong, and Alvin Kallicharran.


Lawrence Rowe, despite the consistent protestations by freedom-loving and democratic-minded people in Jamaica and the West Indies, ignored all the calls not to betray his fellow African brothers and sisters suffering under the evil system of apartheid. He even had the audacity to return to South Africa in 1984.Rowe literally robbed the game and West I8ndies cricket of it’s dignity and epitomised the spirit of a pure mercenary.

For his sheer disrespect  for the racial segregation which existed in South Africa at the time, and for violating the international ban imposed on apartheid South Africa, Rowe and members of his rebel team were not only banned by the West Indies Cricket Board of Control but also by their clubs and country for life. It completely tarnished his reputation, with his name smeared with black mark.

[putrevus]

Rowe was good but he has over estimated himself way too much. He was not better than Viv Richards.

 

It is the greatness and  humilty of Viv Richards who never boasts about himself.Others speak about Richard's greatness.

 

Unlike Rowe who sold his soul for mighty dollar. Viv was too proud and he refused to tour Apratheid South Africa.

 

 

There is only one Viv Richards.

[SrinjayDutta]

heard so much about Rowe from ex-legends. Unfortunately, we do not have enough info to judge him.

[Tattieboy]

Lawrence Rowe was technically pleasing to the eye but talent in the Viv Richards or Brian Lara class surely you are having a laugh !! 

Rowe wasn't in the class of any of the west Indian great batsmen that he played with , Greenidge , Kanhai, Kalicharan or even Roy Fredricks. 

Yes he started off like he was going to be an all time great but that quickly evaporated he lacked what all greats possess, the mental fortatude to become a great . Was he a very good batter ? Yes for a few years  with some good big innings . Was he a West Indian great,  not in my opinion and to liken him to Richard's and Lara well that's a joke . 

[AKane]

2 hours ago, Tattieboy said:

Lawrence Rowe was technically pleasing to the eye

This. He looked good - very stylish.

 

Was totally exposed against the great Aussie fast bowling of Thomson, Lillee, Walker/Gilmour in 1975/76

 

6 matches 270 runs at average of 24.54

 

In fairness Richards had an average of 38.xx and Kalicharran too at 38.xx

Lloyd and Boyce headed the averages with 46.xx and 48.xx - Boyce with 2 not outs in 7 innings.

 

Two things they missed after seeing the Lloyd average - Sobers and Kanhai, who were better bats than Lloyd. 

 

Also WI until 1978 never toured Australia with "two" or more genuine fast bowlers. It was always Gilchrist or Hall (Griffith was removed by politics) or in 1975 Andy Roberts. First series for Holding here, if this was the Holding of 2 years later, it would have been a different series.

 

The moment the WI toured Australia with the quartet of Roberts/Holding/Croft/Garner - it was all over in 1978.