The world of cricket stands hushed with the simultaneous departure of two stalwarts of West Indian cricket. December 8, Friday, turned out to be a black day with the demise of  Joe Solomon and Clyde Butts. The two luminaries had taken their final bow leaving a void among the sports fans. 

Butts passed away at the age of 66 while Solomon had been 93 and both of them had left an indelible mark on the cricketing community. In the wake of the back-to-back tragedies, cricket fans are reminiscing about their contributions to the sport. 

Butts, a stalwart spinner and leader of West Indian cricket

The former West Indies off-spinner and the Guyana captain of the 1980s, Clyde Butts had delivered the best performance in seven Test matches that transpired between 1985 to 1988. His portfolio in cricket includes a successful first-class career adorned with 348 wickets at an average of 24.19 that included 23 five-wicket hauls. 

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Following his retirement, the cricketer transitioned into coaching and management roles. In an interview with ESPN Cric Info, Dr Kishore Shallow, Cricket West Indies president drew attention to Butts’ dedication towards cricket even after he retired from the sport, saying, “In retirement, his unwavering commitment to coaching reflected his dedication. He tirelessly invested hours, nurturing young talent and passionately fostering their development within the sport.”

Butts served as the manager of the Under-19 West Indian cricket team before making his way to the selection board as the chairman. It was during the time when the cricket team witnessed a noteworthy performance during the triumphant 2012 ICC T20 World Cup campaign. 

The batting mastery and fielding prowess of Joe Solomon 

Passing away at 93, Solomon left behind a legacy that spanned through the golden era of West Indies cricket. In between the period of 1958 and 1965, he played a total of 27 matches and amassed 1,326 runs owing to his extraordinary batting style. While he was a part of the West Indies tour to India, he accomplished an unbeaten 100 runs during his fourth Test that took place in Delhi.  

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Even though he debuted a bit late, at the age of 26, his indomitable spirit led him to the pinnacle of success and helped him to secure centuries in all the first three innings including 114 not out against Jamaica, 108 against Barbados, and 121 against Pakistan. Besides batting, Solomon’s prowess as a fielder played a crucial role in the famous tied Test match against Australia in 160, where he saved the team with a match-defining run-out. 

Even though there prevails a time gap when the two cricketers had been active, both of them became ambassadors and statesmen in cricket, transcending their roles as sportsmen. As the world of cricket grapples with double loss, Clyde Butts and Joe Solomon will be forever remembered for and beyond their on-field exploits. 

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