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Philbert Blair visits DCC
(Kaieteur News) – One of the most feared fast bowlers in regional first-class cricket, Philbert ‘the tearaway’ Blair returned to where it all started recently, the house of legends, the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) for a visit with some of his old colleagues.
Statistician Charwayne Walker, who was present, informed that Blair, who born in Hopetown, West Berbice, started his illustrious career at DCC in 1965. He made his first class debut in 1968 against the touring MCC team at the GCC Bourda in 1968.
Philbert Blair (4th left) at DCC with Mark Harper, Roger Harper, Alvin Lloyd, Robin Kendall, Derrick Griffith, Charwayne Walker and Derrick ‘Bright Colours’ Mangal during his visit.
The following year, 1969, he had a sensational regional debut first class season, taking the most wickets, 23 from just 4 matches with five wickets hauls against Jamaica at Sabina Park and Barbados at GCC Bourda and Trinidad at GCC Bourda.
Walker noted that, He was selected for the West Indies in 1969 when they toured the United Kingdom with the late great Sir Garfield Sobers at the helm.
Blair experienced the adverse weather and had some difficulty adapting to the peculiar conditions of playing in England that tour.
Alvin Lloyd and Philbert Blair (right).
The following year 1970 he returned to the regional first-class scene with a bang capturing a five-wicket haul against Trinidad at the Queen’s Park Oval. Why he was not selected for the 1971 Indian series, the 1972 New Zealand series and the 1973 Australia series after playing an integral role with the new ball when Rohan Kanhai and Guyana lifted the Shell Shield for the first time, is anyone’s guess.
A frustrated Philbert Blair retired from the first-class scene in 1974.
Philbert Blair (middle row 3rd left) with the Sir Gary Sobers led West Indies team in England in 1969.
The million-dollar question still being asked by Guyanese and regional cricket fans, is why was one of the most feared pacers in regional first-class cricket from 1969 to1974 was denied a test cap. Walker questions, was Grayson Shillingford, Uton Dow and John Shepard that superior to Blair.
Philbert Blair still remembers his first match for the maroon men in 1969 bowling the great Colin Millburn against the D. H. Robbins eleven at Saffrons Eastbourne.
He clean bowled Colin Millburn, Mike Smith and Roger Prideaux. He finished with 3 for 59 from 11 overs.
After his playing days, Philbert Blair, worked in the insurance business at GCIS. He lived in the USA for several years but returned to his homeland and is presently residing at Grove on the East Bank where he has a farm.
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