Nelson Betancourt
Encyclopedia
Nelson Betancourt - was a cricketer
who was a useful batsman and an occasional wicketkeeper and bowler. He was born in Trinidad
on June 4, 1887 and died there on October 12, 1947, aged 60.
His career, at first glance, was a long one spanning the years 1905 to 1930 but in truth he played only sporadically, with long periods of cricket inactivity. His first-class debut came in Trinidad’s victory over Jamaica
at Sabina Park
, Kingston
in August 1905, but it was more than two years before he made his second appearance. His highest score, 71 not out, was scored against British Guiana
in an Inter-Colonial tournament
in 1928/29 but this was the only time that he surpassed fifty runs in an innings.
Betancourt’s sole Test
for the West Indies came against England at Port of Spain
, Trinidad in February, 1930, this being the second Test of the series. In a match won by the visitors, he captained the West Indies (on account of the home team’s policy of having a different, indigenous captain for each match of the series) and scored 39 and 13. At 42 years and 242 days old, Betancourt remains the oldest Test debutant for the West Indies. His death in 1947 went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared within the covers of Wisden for him.
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who was a useful batsman and an occasional wicketkeeper and bowler. He was born in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
on June 4, 1887 and died there on October 12, 1947, aged 60.
His career, at first glance, was a long one spanning the years 1905 to 1930 but in truth he played only sporadically, with long periods of cricket inactivity. His first-class debut came in Trinidad’s victory over Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
at Sabina Park
Sabina Park
Sabina Park is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club, and is the only Test cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica and is often referred to as "The Holiday Home of Cricket"....
, Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in August 1905, but it was more than two years before he made his second appearance. His highest score, 71 not out, was scored against British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
in an Inter-Colonial tournament
History of cricket in the West Indies to 1918
-Historical background:The development of cricket in all countries has been shaped by historical events but perhaps nowhere else is this more so than in the West Indies where not only colonialism but also slavery shaped society....
in 1928/29 but this was the only time that he surpassed fifty runs in an innings.
Betancourt’s sole Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for the West Indies came against England at Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad in February, 1930, this being the second Test of the series. In a match won by the visitors, he captained the West Indies (on account of the home team’s policy of having a different, indigenous captain for each match of the series) and scored 39 and 13. At 42 years and 242 days old, Betancourt remains the oldest Test debutant for the West Indies. His death in 1947 went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared within the covers of Wisden for him.