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VASBERT DRAKES :
A GENUINE QUICK
Vasbert Drakes spent just the one season with
Nottinghamshire but he certainly made his mark
during that 1999 campaign. Quick enough to be
labelled a genuine fast-bowler, he arrived at Trent
Bridge having been ignored by the West Indies’
selectors since appearing in five One Day
Internationals against Australia in 1995.
He had previously played two seasons of county cricket
for Sussex and then had three winters with Boland in
South Africa, thereby ruling himself out of
international recognition as he didn’t meet the
selection criteria by not playing in the West Indies’
domestic tournaments.
Enlisted to spearhead the Notts’ bowling attack he
made his championship debut for Jason Gallian’s side
at Grace Road, Leicester and didn’t have to bowl a
single ball in the contest, as three of the four days were
lost to rain.
Celebrated as a potential match-winner in
limited-overs cricket, his most startling performance
for Notts came in a contest that had been virtually con-
ceded.
Playing against Derbyshire at Trent Bridge the home
side had mustered 269-7. Nevertheless, it didn’t look
like being enough as the visitors began the final over
on 260-5, requiring just ten runs to win.
To everyone’s sheer astonishment Vasbert then pro-
duced a once-in-a-lifetime finish. He yorked Phil De
Freitas with the first ball of the over and then removed
Adrian Rollins’ middle stump with the next.
He needed the assistance of the umpire to get his hat-
trick – James Pyemont palpably out lbw – and then, for
good measure, a full length delivery took out the leg
stump of Simon Lacey. Four wickets in four balls – the
only time it has happened for a Nottinghamshire
bowler in the shortened format of the game.
a dot ball and a single ended the over by the way,
enabling Notts to defeat their closest rivals in the
most dramatic of fashions.
Vasbert later played for Warwickshire and
Leicestershire, as well as finally achieving his dream,
by going on to make twelve Test appearances for the
West Indies.
MICK NEWELL
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Ca l ypso Kings : Vasber t Drakes