Jeff Stollmeyer was arguably among the finest batsmen of his generation. A crisp strokemaker who was a treat to watch, he was perhaps too aggressive for an opening batsman of his era but it worked well for the Trinidadian who amassed runs on a consistent basis, cementing his position as one of the side’s most reliable batsmen. Stollmeyer also became captain, albeit with not the same degree of success as his batsmanship, and was largely criticized for his overtly defensive methods as skipper. His tall frame meant that he could easily deal with deliveries that were on the shorter side with deft strokes square of the wicket on either side but Stollmeyer’s favorite zone was the drive through extra cover and mid-off, shots that he aced with inimitable ease.

As impactful as Stollmeyer was on the field, his role off it was equally impressive. He played a key role as an administrator after his retirement and played a crucial part in the upliftment of cricket among the blacks in West Indies. It was a time when the whites were getting preference in selection right from grade cricket and Stollmeyer was a part of the group that tried to initiate a change. His might and efficiency as a selector eventually landed him the big role of Board president and he continued to work for the equality of races in the sport. Such was the progress and impact of his acts that unfortunately, it was detrimental to his life. A brutal gunfire attack on him and his family saw multiple deaths, including his after being heavily wounded.

Written by Hariprasad Sadanandan