George Challenor

CHALLENOR, MR. GEORGE, the West Indies batsman of high renown, died at Barbados on July 30, aged 59. He visited England three times first in 1906 when only 17, and gave promise of future triumphs by scoring 108 at Nottingham. He excelled for the team which came in 1923, scoring 1,556 runs--more than twice as many as anyone else in the side obtained--average 51.86, with eight three-figure innings, the highest being 155 not out against Surrey at The Oval. With 66 out of 121, which gave his side victory by ten wickets, Challenor made his match aggregate 221 without being dismissed; his batting in each innings was brilliant. Generally he was regarded as reaching the standard set by the best English batsmen that season, only Hendren and Mead returning higher averages. He was elected to membership of M.C.C. as a special compliment, although unable to take part in the customary qualifying matches. West Indies did not play England that season, but in 1928 they lost all three matches in the rubber by an innings. Challenor did not find his former brilliance, his highest score being 97 in an aggregate of 1,074, average 27.53, and in six innings against England his total runs reached only 101. Of medium height and powerful build, he drove to the off and cut with perfectly timed strokes, besides punishing any loose balls with pulls or on-drives. His admirable batting did much toward raising cricket in West Indies to Test match standard.