Percy Goodman

Percy Goodman in 1906

Percy Arnold Goodman (3 October 1874 at the Sandford, St Philip, Barbados – 25 April 1935 at Elbank, St Lawrence, Christ Church, Barbados) was a West Indian cricketer who toured with the both the first two touring sides to England in 1900 and 1906. He was one of the top West Indian batsmen of his day and was also a useful medium pace bowler, especially in his younger days. "A big finely-built man, Goodman perhaps carries a little more flesh than a cricketer would elect to bear in a hot climate.[1]"

He was educated at The Lodge School, Barbados and made his debut in important matches playing for Barbados as a 16 year old in the 1891-92 Tournament in Barbados, the precursor of the Inter-Colonial Tournament. He top scored with 74 in the match against Trinidad and in the Tournament took 17 cheap wickets in the 3 matches. In the 1893-94 Tournament match against Trinidad he took 10 wickets in the match for just 31 runs and scored 30 himself in his only innings when still only 18 years old.

His performances against Priestley's side and Lord Hawke's team in 1896-97 and in the Inter-Colonial Tournament led to his selection for 1900 tour. He was described before the 1900 tour as "Twenty five year of age. Good all-round cricketer, fine field in the slips. Member of the Pickwick Club".[2] On the tour he was fourth in the batting averages at 28.15 but his bowling proved ineffective. He was said to have "a good defence and when a loose ball came along he hit it very hard".[3]

In 1904-05 he was chosen for the combined West Indies team against Lord Brackley's team and then got his maiden first class century with 103 against the tourists for Barbados.

He led the West Indian first class batting averages in 1906 with 31.94 and scored centuries against Yorkshire and Northamptonshire. As in 1900 his bowling proved ineffective. Before the tour he was described as "another excellent bat, also a good change bowler, field at slip"[4] and "he has a good defence and can hit hard. He makes a pretty cut and uses his wrist well. He can bowl medium pace right hand with a break from leg. A capital slip".[5]

His next important matches were in the 1908-09 Inter-Colonial Tournament when he scored 180, 115 and 16* in his 3 innings. He continued playing until 1912-13 ending his career with an excellent batting average of nearly 31 and a bowling average of 13.58.

His brother Clifford was a successful bowler and his other brothers Gerald and Walter also played first class cricket.

References

  1. ↑ Cricket: A Weekly Record of the Game, 1913 page 41
  2. ↑ Cricket: A Weekly Record of the Game, 1900 page 44
  3. ↑ Wisden, 1901 page xcvi
  4. ↑ Cricket: A Weekly Record of the Game, 1906 page 178
  5. ↑ The West Indian Tour of England 1906 by Gerry Wolstenholme, page 7

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