Gordon Greenidge

Sir Cuthbert Gordon Greenidge KCMG MBE (born 1 May 1951)[1] is a Barbadian former first-class cricketer, who played Tests and One Day Internationals for 17 years for West Indies.

In 2009, Greenidge was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[2]

Greenidge began his career in English county cricket before he played for Barbados. He played for many seasons with Hampshire in the English County Championship, where he batted as an opener with Barry Richards. He was therefore eligible to play for England until he opted for the West Indies.[3] He later made an appearance for Scotland. During his first-class career, he scored a total of 37,000 runs with 92 centuries.

Born in St. Peter, Barbados, Greenidge played as an opening batsman for the West Indies. He began his Test career in 1974 against India at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. Greenidge and Desmond Haynes formed a prolific opening partnership. The pair made 6,482 runs while batting together in partnerships, the third highest total for a batting partnership in Test cricket history as of 2019.[4]

During the 5th test of the 1983 series between West Indies and India, Greenidge became the first and, as of 2019[update] only, person in test history to be retired not out. He had to leave the match in Antigua while on 154 to visit his gravely ill daughter, who died two days later, in Barbados.[5]

Greenidge scored two double centuries against England in the 1984 summer Test series. This series was dubbed the “Blackwash” because West Indies won by a margin of 5-0. Greenidge scored 214 not out in the second innings of the second Test at Lord’s in June 1984 and followed up with 223 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in late July. The 214* was achieved on the fifth and last day of the match as West Indies successfully chased 342 for victory. It remains the highest run chase at Lords.

Greenidge became the first player in One Day International (ODI) history to score a century in his 100th ODI when he scored 102* against Pakistan in 1988. In that game he achieved that milestone as captain, with his century eventually going in vain as West Indies lost that match.[6][7]

Gordon Greenidge’s career performance graph

In total, Greenidge played in 108 Test matches, scoring 7,558 runs[8] with 19 centuries, and in 128 ODIs, including the 1975 and 1983 World Cup Finals, scoring 5,134 runs and 11 centuries.

Gordon Greenidge decided to pursue a coaching career and became the coach of the Bangladeshi national cricket team in 1996.[9] He was appointed the head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team in 1997. Under his guidance, the Bangladesh men’s cricket team won the 1997 ICC Trophy beating 22 other nations. This also ensured the qualification of Bangladesh to the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, which was the first ever appearance in top-level cricket. Participating in their very first cricket world cup changed Bangladesh cricket forever and lead to Test cricket status for the Bangladesh national cricket team in 2000, which meant Bangladesh was promoted to full ICC member status and began playing Test cricket matches. Soon after winning the 1997 ICC Trophy, Gordon Greenidge was conferred honorary citizenship of Bangladesh for these outstanding achievements of winning the 1997 ICC Trophy and simultaneously qualifying for the cricket world cup.[10][11]

Greenidge is currently on the West Indies selection committee for Test matches, along with Viv Richards.

Greenidge’s son Carl is a former cricketer who coaches at Bancroft’s School with John Lever. He has a grandson, Reiss Greenidge, who is a footballer and currently plays in Norway for Sogndal.[12]

He received citizenship of Bangladesh for his great contribution as a coach of Bangladesh National Cricket Team.

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 2020 New Year Honours.[13]