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By Neto Baptiste
Legendary batsman and former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards joined with the cricketing world in sending condolences to the family and friends of former Montserrat and Leeward Islands batsman, Charles “Jim” Allen, who passed away on July 2.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo sports show, Sir Viv remembered Allen for his aggression as a batsman, adding that they shared many memorable partnerships.
“It’s a great loss to us, as a teammate for myself as well. Jim was a very outgoing guy and I remember the time we spent together with Leewards and we also spent some time with the Windwards together when we won the tournament in itself. Spending time with him in Australia during World Cricket, those were some really good times and it was just rather unfortunate with what took place in the latter stages of his life. It is not all of us who can hold it down but it’s a great loss. Jim would beat ball; Jim was an aggressive batsman, an individual I would have shared a lot of partnerships with and we did put some hurt on a few bowlers,” he said.
Reports are that Allen passed away at about 6.15 pm on Wednesday, July 2 in Montserrat. He was 73.
Allen debuted for the Montserrat national team in 1969, and his first-class debut came on January 15, 1972 for Leeward Islands against Windward Islands in Roseau, scoring one and 82.
Former national, Leeward Islands and West Indies youth player, Zorol Barthley, also offered condolences to Allen’s family, adding that he enjoyed watching the former player bat.
“What I remember getting up to as a young fella, is going to Antigua Recreation Grounds to watch the Hesketh Bell Trophy, the Leeward Islands tournament and seeing Jim Allen put some bat on Antigua; for three consecutive years, Jim Allen scored hundreds against Antigua and one day, he took a particular liking to Andy Roberts. I just want to say condolences to the people of Montserrat and to Jim Allen’s family,” he said.
Allen became the first professional Montserratian sportsperson when he began playing in England during the northern summer, turning out for teams in the Lancashire and Cheshire Leagues.
Allen’s best season was 1976/77, where he scored 559 first-class runs with a highest score of 150.
This form led to a lucrative offer to join the World Series Cricket competition when it commenced in Australia in late 1977. Following the end of World Series Cricket, Allen returned to the West Indies for the 1978/79 season, where he scored his highest first-class score of 161 against Jamaica.
Upon his retirement, Allen had scored 3,067 first-class runs at an average of 34.07.
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