Lindeners get to pay final respects to cricket legend Basil Butcher

Jan 16, 2020 Sports

Lindeners got the chance to pay their final respects to the late Berbice, Guyana and West Indies batsman Basil Butcher, who died on December 16 at age 86, yesterday at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground.

President of the Mackenzie Sports Club Avery Trim at left and Assistant Secretary of the Club Mr. Norris King among the pall bearers.

Barbados vice president Calvin Hope, Charlie Griffith Mrs. Butcher and Anand Sanasie at the viewing.

Here Basil (Jr.) Comforting Mrs. Pamela Butcher at yesterday’s viewing.

A special viewing was held in the community for the man who helped to produce national players from the Mining Town at both the junior and senior levels with Dr. Vincent Adams being the first to make it to senior level.
Persons from Linden joined officials of the MSC and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and family members of the late Butcher to bid their final goodbyes.
Butcher, a classy right-hander from Port Mourant, made 31 centuries and 54 fifties from 169 First-Class matches at an average of 49.90. He made seven tons from 44 Tests with a highest score of 209 not out at an average of 43.11.
Butcher was the cricket coach for MSC after being appointed by the Bauxite Industry DEMBA in 1965, while still a member of the West Indies team. He eventually took up residence with his family in the mining town where he played for MSC until the early 1980s.
Butcher was also instrumental in the making of Mashramani for Guyana’s Republic celebrations in 1970 along with the Mackenzie Jaycees. The same year he was named as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year.