Sammy Guillen

Sammy Guillen
Personal information
Full name Simpson Clairmonte Guillen
Born (1924-09-24)24 September 1924
Port-of-Spain
Died 1 March 2013(2013-03-01) (aged 88)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Batting style Right-hand bat
Role Wicket-keeper-batsman
Relations Victor Guillen (father)
Noel Guillen (brother)
Justin Guillen (grandson)
Logan van Beek (grandson)
International information
National side
Test debut 22 December 1951 
West Indies v Australia
Last Test 9 March 1956 
New Zealand v West Indies
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1940–1950 Trinidad
1953–1961 Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 8 66
Runs scored 202 2672
Batting average 20.19 26.98
100s/50s 0/1 3/14
Top score 54 197
Balls bowled - 120
Wickets - 1
Bowling average - 49.00
5 wickets in innings - 0
10 wickets in match - 0
Best bowling - 1/1
Catches/stumpings 13/3 111/34
Source: CricketArchive, 23 July 2013

Simpson (Sammy) Clairmonte Guillen (24 September 1924 – 1 March 2013) was one of the few men to have played test cricket for two countries. He played five Tests for the West Indies and three for New Zealand in the 1950s, one of which was the New Zealand team's first victory, over the West Indies.

Guillen held the further rare distinction of also playing in the final of New Zealand's premier association football competition, the Chatham Cup, gaining a runners-up medal for Western AFC in 1954. Unsurprisingly for a wicket-keeper, his position in the Western side was goalkeeper.

Born 24 September 1924 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Guillen came from a family of cricketers which include: Victor Guillen (Simpson's father, a Test umpire in the West Indies),[1] Noel Guillen (Simpson's brother, whom the Queen's Park Oval's outdoor practice nets are named after),[2] Jeffrey Guillen (a well-known real estate mogul who played cricket competitively throughout his teens and well into his 30's; Noel's son), Charles Guillen (a former player who played a major factor in the coaching of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo) and Justin Guillen,[3] an up-and-coming all-rounder who seems destined to follow his Great Uncle Simpson's footsteps. His grandson Logan van Beek[4] plays for the Canterbury Wizards in cricket and for the Christchurch Cougars in the NBL. Internationally, he represents the Netherlands in cricket.

Simpson resided in Christchurch with his wife Val Guillen, a former wicketkeeper for the province of Canterbury women's team. On the death of Colin Snedden on 24 April 2011, Guillen became the oldest surviving New Zealand Test cricketer (he was also the second oldest to represent West Indies). He died on 1 March 2013 in Christchurch.

In 2004 he published his memoirs, Calypso Kiwi.[5] He died in Christchurch on 1 March 2013.[6]

See also

References

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