New Delhi:
Even a die-hard fan of criket will not be familiar with the name of Cecil Wright. However, when Wright retires from playing cricket on September 7, it will truly be the end of an era.
Wright will finally say hang up his boots after a playing career of 60 years and at the ripe age of 85. He will turn out for his final game playing for Uppermill against Pennine League side Springhead in England.
However, Wright is from the Jamaica and started playing his cricket there. In his twenties, Wright represented Jamaica against Barbados where he lined up against Garfield Sobers and Wes Hall.
He then moved to England in 1959 for greener pastures and started playing in the Central Lancashire League for Crompton.
'Cec', as he is affectionately known, stayed on in England and settled down after meeting his future wife Enid.
Wright, who also played with Vivian Richards and Joel Garner, has taken over 7,000 wickets during a career spanning more than 60 years. At one point he took 538 wickets in five seasons, averaging one every 27 balls.
Wisden, the bible of cricket, referred to Wright's stamina as "pretty good going".
But finally even he has accepted that the time has come to pull up stumps on his career.
"I wish I knew the reason for my longevity, but I couldn't tell you what it is," he told The Daily Mirror, who estimated that he had played in over two million games.
He once attributed his staying power to his love of traditional no-frills Lancashire food such as hot pot.
"To be honest I eat anything that's going but I don't drink much, just the odd beer," he was quoted as saying.
