Joe Solomon, born on August 24, 1930, passed away on December 8, 2023, leaving behind a legacy etched in the annals of cricket. A prominent figure in West Indies cricket during the 1950s and 1960s, Solomon was not only a reliable middle-order batsman but is forever etched in memory for his crucial role in the historic tied Test match against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane in 1960.
In this match, Solomon’s exceptional run-out of Australia’s Ian Meckiff during the final over created a moment of unparalleled drama. As the fearsome West Indies bowler Wes Hall thundered in, Australia needed six runs for victory with three wickets standing. Solomon’s exceptional run out on the penultimate delivery, a brilliant run-out of Meckiff, led to the first tied Test in the sport’s history. The Telegraph aptly noted that the outcome had been decided by “the judgment of Solomon”.
Born into a Catholic family of Tamil extraction in Port Mourant, British Guiana (now Guyana), on August 24, 1930, Solomon displayed a passion for cricket from a young age. His late entry into first-class cricket at the age of 26 didn’t hinder his meteoric rise. Notably, he became the only cricketer to score centuries in his first three first-class matches.
Solomon’s international career spanned from the 1958-59 tour of India and Pakistan to his final series against Australia in 1965. Despite his historic fielding moment in Australia in 1959-60, where the hosts ultimately won the series 2-1, Solomon and his team were celebrated as heroes, receiving a ticker-tape parade in Melbourne.
Beyond his playing days, Solomon contributed to cricket administration, taking on roles with the Guyana and West Indies cricket boards, including that of a selector. In 1978, he managed the West Indies team on a tour to India, navigating the challenges posed by the loss of key players to Kerry Packer’s breakaway series.
Joe Solomon’s impact extended beyond the cricket field, as he worked in the sugar industry and mentored young players from the sugar plantations. Following his cricket career, he moved to New York in the 1980s.
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In 1959, Solomon married Betty Dharry, who predeceased him. His passing leaves Cammie Smith, aged 90, as West Indies’ oldest surviving cricketer. The cricketing world mourns the loss of Joe Solomon, a player whose contributions and moments of brilliance will forever be cherished in the sport’s rich history.
