Alvin Kallicharran

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Alvin Isaac Kallicharran, BEM (born 21 March 1949) is a former Guyanese cricketer who played for the West Indies from 1972 to 1981. A left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner, he appeared in 66 Test matches and 31 ODIs. In Tests he scored 4,399 runs at an average of 44.43, including 12 centuries with a best of 187. In ODIs he made 826 runs at 34.41, with a top score of 78. He also played county cricket for Warwickshire and domestic cricket in Guyana, Berbice, Queensland, Transvaal and Orange Free State.

Kallicharran was part of West Indies squads that won the first two Cricket World Cups, in 1975 and 1979. One of his famous innings was 158 against England, a score briefly interrupted by a controversial run-out on the final ball of the second day; England later withdrew the appeal and Kallicharran continued. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983 and captained the West Indies during 1978–79 after Clive Lloyd resigned over the Kerry Packer affair. He later played in South Africa’s domestic cricket.

Kallicharran is of Tamil origin and was born in British Guiana. His brother Derek played first-class cricket for Guyana and the United States, and his nephews Mahendra Nagamootoo and Vishal Nagamootoo also played cricket. In later years he has coached youth cricket in the United States, helping in the Triangle Cricket League in Morrisville, North Carolina, and in 2019 mentored Puducherry’s men’s and women’s teams. He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to cricket and charity.