Latest update September 11th, 2026 10:26 AM
WI ICC CWC 1975 Winners Celebrations – The Almost Forgotten Four!”
By Colin Croft – Former Guyana, Lancashire CCC & West Indies Cricketer
WI 1975 ICC CWC Winning Squad.
Kaieteur Sports – My very recent sojourns around Europe’s sports have been wonderful. England v West Indies ODIs. ICC WTC 25. England v India 2025 Test Series. “Tour de France 25”. British Grand Prix 25. Wimbledon Championships 25. Women’s Soccer Euro Trophy 25. UK PCA 25. Exciting 2025 summer’s travels. Being in arenas for “real” atmosphere is the real thing!
Colin E. H. Croft
Two big events are already inked for 2026 in UK; ‘God spare life!’ Aviation’s biggest display – Farnborough Airshow (July 2026), and ICC Women’s T-20 World Cup 2026. All aboard!
Celebrations for WI’s 50th anniversary of winning ICC CWC 1975 are still in mind amid concerns about WI’s Test future, but some winning players seemed to have been diminished.
I asked my former fast bowling partner Sir Andy Roberts, who won ICC CWC 1975 and ICC CWC 1979, as to why the four WI players featured herein – Rohan Kanhai, Vanburn Holder, Maurice Foster and Bernard Julien – have not been mentioned as prevalently, if mentioned at all, as those personally appearing for accolades.
Sir Andy assured that while headlines may not have mentioned those four names regularly, rest assured that he, and others who had attended the soirees, had always made sure to include these four cricketers’ names.
VANBURN ALONZO HOLDER
Former West Indies Fast Bowler Vanburn Holder.
Former 1st Class fast bowler and ICC umpire John Holder, former 1st Class and WI Test all-rounder John Shepherd, and yours truly, recently visited “Vannie” at his hospital hospice in Worcester, UK. That visit was enlightening. Life is not meant to be easy!
Vanburn Holder is one of WI’s most unheralded former cricketers. I would bet that many of CWI Directors and Officers, and especially present WI cricketers, will not know much about “Vannie”, or could not recognize him in a photograph. Some WI players, not so long ago, did not even know who Sir Clyde Walcott was!
“Vannie” participated in every game that WI played in ICC CWC1975. Pacy attack – Sir Andy Roberts, late all-rounder Keith Boyce, all-rounder Bernard Julien, “Vannie”, off-spinner Lance Gibbs, and “medium-dobblers” Sir Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards – good even for Tests!
10 October this year, “Vannie” will be 80. Debuting at 21, he played 1st Class and Tests 1966 to 1986; 20 years for Barbados, Orange Free State (Boer Republic in RSA, now Free State), Worcestershire CCC, and Minor Counties. Those types of cricketers are becoming extinct!
313 1st Class games; 950 wickets; good returns when one of four or five bowlers. 40 Tests; 109 wickets; avg. 33.3 RPW; 12 ODI’s, avg. 23.8 RPW, 4.0 RPO. He helped Worcestershire CCC win UK’s County Championships 1974, captaining them too. Excellent effort but playing was not enough. “Vannie” became a UK 1st Class umpire in 1992, retiring in 2012.
Vanburn Holder was mentor to late WI fast bowler Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and yours truly. “Vannie” played in my 1st Test; 1977 v Pakistan. He was the “buffer” when Sir Wes Hall and Sir Charlie Griifith had exploded as WI fast bowlers, late 1960s to early 1970s. “Vannie” helped everybody! What a remarkable person he still is!
MAURICE LINTON CHURCHILL FOSTER
Former West Indies All-Rounder Maurice Foster v Australia 1973.
Jamaica’s and WI’s all-rounder, who turned 82 on 09 May this year, Foster’s cricketing prowess is generally not known either. Late 1960s, early 1970s, Foster plus Barbados’s Peter Lashley and Robin Bynoe, and T&T’s Michael “Joey” Carew, were “Caribbean ball-beaters” – runs like rain. They all performed wonderfully in regional cricket, but when selected in WI XI’s, they all normally failed miserably at that highest level.
Foster was also a regional table tennis champion. Former Guyana, Glamorgan CCC and WI opening batsman, late Roy Fredericks, his good friend, was also good at table tennis. I first met Maurice Foster when I played my first senior cricket game for Guyana; Jamaica 1972.
Foster is one of few WI cricketers who never played for counties or clubs in UK. 112 1st Class games; 1963 – 1978; 6731 runs, avg. 45.17; 132 1st Class wickets, avg. 30.72 RPW.
In fourteen sporadic Tests, Foster scored 580 runs, avg. 30.52; only one Test century; 125 v Australia, 1973; Sabina Park; nine Test wickets @ 66.6 RPW.
John Shepherd, Collis King, Maurice Foster, late Keith Boyce and Bernard Julien, had all been competing for all-rounder places in WI’s ICC CWC 1975 squad. Shepherd missed out.
I had recently heard that “Fos” had had a fall at home, fracturing a lower limb. News on his well-being or even whereabouts have been difficult to come by.
I had been told that “Foster’s health and whereabouts are well guarded secrets.” As far as I know, he is recuperating well. We can only wish MLC Foster the best!
BERNARD DENIS JULIEN
As a young cricketer, “BD” was always under pressure, as Julien was suggested to be the “new” Sir Gary Sobers. What an expectation to live up to.
Former WI All-Rounder Bernard Julien.
Definitely, however, if ever there had been a “beautiful boy” to have played cricket for WI, Bernard Julien was that guy. The ladies swooned wherever he played!
In only his third Test, Julien made his first of two Test centuries; 121; this one at Lord’s, v England in 1973. Sir Gary also made a century; 150 no., retired, his last Test century. Captain Rohan Kanhai made 157. WI totaled 652-8, winning by an innings and 226 runs.
Like Sir Gary, Bernard Julien, 75 last 13 March, (Intelligent parents. He is Pisces), was a good left-arm medium-fast bowler, orthodox or unorthodox left-arm spin. Unlike Sir Gary, Julien batted well right-handedly and could field and catch well anywhere.
Julien was a fantastic all-around cricketer. In these T-20 days, he would have been a mega-zillionaire from franchise cricket!
Julien played for T&T 1969 – 1983; WI 1973 – 1977; and Kent CCC 1970 – 1977. He played in my only official Test in Guyana; Bourda 1977 v Pakistan (drawn).
After playing a useful part in WI’s successful ICC CWC 1975, while I was in T&T doing navigation studies, also in 1975, Julien played for our T&T regional championship team, Paragon Cricket Club. He taught us well.
24 Tests, 866 runs, avg. 30.92; 50 wickets at 37.36 PRW. 195 1st Class games, 5790 runs, avg. 24.53; 483 1st Class wickets at 28.71 RPW, somewhat underwhelming for a cricketer who had been so naturally talented. He did bowl his heart out for Kent CCC, so that may have affected his returns for T&T and WI.
Like Maurice Foster, not much is known generally about Bernard Julien, his existence or his present health. The Government of Trinidad & Tobago had given him a home in upscale Valsyn in 2018. I had heard that Julien had had serious health issues, with suspected throat cancer, but could not confirm same. All that we could do is to wish “BD” the best of luck!
ROHAN BHOLALALL KANHAI
Former West Indies Captains Rohan Kanhail & Sir Garfield Sobers – Bourda Cricket Ground 1968 v England.
If one were to select an “All-WI’ batting line-up – five or six batsmen – Rohan Kanhai, who will be 90 come Boxing Day, 26 December 2025, would merit serious considerations for inclusions, especially if a pseudo wicket-keeper is preferred. Kanhai or Sir Clyde Walcott could feature. Both had been temporary WI wicket-keepers.
Kanhai’s importance to WI cricket’s history cannot be overstated. His extensive career, as player then Coach, included for Guyana, T&T, Warwickshire CCC, Tasmania, Western Australia and Transvaal; 1954/55 – 1977; an extremely productive career.
Rohan Kanhai justifiably became WI captain v Australia 1972/3, in the Caribbean. He was Guyana’s captain when I made my senior debut for Guyana; Jamaica 1972.
What a cricketer Kanhai was, always pushing the batting envelopes!
421 First Class games; 29, 250 runs; avg. 49.40. 79 Tests; 6,227 runs; avg. 47.53. 15 Test centuries and 28 half-centuries. Highest Test score 256, v India 1958. Wow!
Kanhai played in only seven ODI’s, as that format was just emerging as his retirement loomed. However, his 55 in ICC CWC 1975 Final, in a partnership of 149 with captain Sir Clive Lloyd, rescuing WI from 50-3 to 199-4, v Australia, was crucial to WI’s winning 291 – 8 (60 overs). Sir Clive, who insisted on Kanhai’s inclusion, made a “Man of the Match” 102.
Kanhai’s stroke-play was innovative. His “falling down” sweep shot, even to faster bowlers, allowing him to finish on his back while the ball smashed into the square-leg fence, is still marveled around the world. He had the biggest pair of batting pads that I have ever seen.
I tried diligently to get information on Rohan Kanhai these last few months. While I was unsuccessful, I am assured that he is as well as can be expected, but that, apparently, he does not travel (fly) much anymore. Again, all that we could do is to wish Rohan Bholallall – “The Lall” – Kanhai, all the very best.
These four deserve kudos for their inputs into WI cricket and especially WI’s ICC CWC 1975 success. Hopefully, their histories could inspire future WI successes. Cheers. Enjoy!
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- and yours truly, CWI Directors and Officers, John Shepherd, Pacy attack, Rohan Kanhai, Sir Andy Roberts
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Those were the days Colin and these were the men. It is very sad that there is little or no info on these men who brought so much pleasure to West Indians; CWI need to let the public know about the WELFARE of their PLATERS
LOVELY ARTICLE AS USUAL