Derick Kallicharran, who played
the first of his 39 First-
Class games in 1979 against
Barbados, says playing Shell Shield
cricket was tougher than what is being
played in the Caribbean now and in his
opinion, the standard is way lower.
The 63-year-old Berbician, averaged
24.72, with a best of 88 against
Windwards in St. Vincent in 1985 while
taking 98 wickets with a best of 6-60
against Jamaica.
“Pitches in every Island was different
and brought out the best in all the
players. Each player was always going
to fight to keep their spot in the team
that he represented.
During those days, it was an honour to
play for your country and we also did it
with pride, heart and discipline. It wasn’t
about the money that some these
people are getting” said Kallicharran,
who toured Zimbabwe with West
Indies B team in 1983 and Kenya in
1994 and India, Pakistan, Malaysia in
1996 with the USA team.
“I don’t know if West Indies Cricket
will ever go back to what it used
to be. The cricket board needs to
look back on what brought success
in 70’s, 80’s and part of 90’s and
start with preparing pitches like it
was before. Players must earn their
selection and not be given to them”
added Kallicharran.
Born in Port Mourant to Isaac and
Paidamah Kallicharran, Derick
attended Tain Primary school and
then Chandisingh High School,
renamed Corentyne High School.
“Growing up in Tain Settlement was
always fun, even though not from a
wealthy family, we were very happy
and contended.
I certainly miss those days; playing
softball cricket, marbles, stealing
mangoes and other fruits in the
neighbourhood.
Port Mourant being a small area
and growing up, you were told to
respect everyone and also playing
cricket brings everyone together”
said Kallicharran who has five
brothers and six sisters.
“While at Tain school I played inter-house
cricket as a 10-year-old, then inter-school.
Coming from a cricketing family, where my
dad, brothers and uncles played the game, so
I got involved” Informed Kallicharran, whose
brother is former Test player Alvin Kallicharran
while his nephews are former Test spinner
Mahendra Nagamootoo and ex Guyana Keeper
Vishal Nagamootoo.
“Cricket became everything to me as I got
older and I wanted to be better than anyone
else.
I got lots of help from a local village business
family in Tain and my sisters, who bowled to
me in our backyard.
I started going to Port Mourant Community
Centre as a kid and we could only do the fielding,
when the seniors are practicing. Eventually, we
got our own area to practice that we built with
supervision from the late Isaac Surinarine.
It was a gradual process to be able to start
practising with seniors. we were brought up
the proper way to play cricket.
It was not coaching, but discipline to the game
of … not much of that is going into cricket
these days at all levels, including West Indies”
Kallicharan added.
Kallicharran started playing for Port
Mourant at a very young age and played
in Boys club.
“Being at PMCC, it’s a process before you
can play for the first division team. Some
players were good enough so they played
first division in the Davison Cup.
I was 12th man for PMCC for almost
a year before I got my opportunity at
Blairmont when one of our players didn’t
show up.
I made use of that as I batted at 11 and
made 25 not out. My next game was
against Albion and that was the start of
my career at Port Mourant.
Playing in Berbice with and against some
of the best in the country, you learn
a lot, about the game and discipline.”
Kallicharran disclosed.
He explained how he became a leg
spinner. “We were called to under -19
trials in Georgetown, there was rain and
we were taken to Cultural Center tarmac
to practice.
I finished batting and a few of us were
standing and talking and Joe Solomon,
who one of the selectors at the time
asked me to come.
I bowled everything, off breaks, leg
breaks and another delivery that turned
the other way. I was asked to bowl it again
and again. Joe asked, do you know what
you are bowling? I said leg breaks and off
breaks.
He said no, it’s a google. I got picked as
bowler who could bat, instead of the
other way. This was 1977 and I had a
good tournament with both bat and ball”
Kallicharran explained.
After the 1978 under-19 Tournament
Kallicharran was selected for Shell Shield
trials.
After Sen Gopaul, who was the leg
spinner at the time made himself
unavailable, Kallicharran played against
Barbados in Barbados and it was there
he learnt the real lesson about batting
and bowling.
“I became a member of GCC in 1980
under the smartest captain I have
known, Steve Camacho. My time there
was short as there were two leg spinners
to pick from so I moved to Everest.
I played there with Clyde Butts, Len
Baichan, Zulfikar Hassan and Neville
Pertab. The members were superb
with the support they give us. My main
supporter was Tony Xavier, Mr. Juman
Yasin and David Persaud” Kallicharran
posited.
Kallicharran says the 1983 Geddes
Grant- Harrison Final, against Jamaica at
Bourda was a special memory.
“I had not played limited overs prior to
the final because Guyana had a few good
all Rounders in the team… William
Whyte, Kamal Singh, Roger Harper,
Garfield Charles.
On the morning of the game I found
out I was actually playing and White was
dropped.
We were 69-5 with Fredericks, Lyte,
Bacchus, Lloyd, and Lynch gone. That
was special because of the amount of
people that were watching and listening,
the opposition and most importantly,
Guyana wasn’t in a good position when
I went in to bat. I made 69 not out and
had two good partnerships with Pydanna
and Kamal Singh. We reached 211-8 and
won. I was MVP.
Just a few days before I was MVP in
the Shell Shield game against Jamaica”
disclosed Kallicharran.
He remembers other innings
he played, especially against Barbados
and Jamaica. Playing against Garner,
Marshall, Wayne Daniels, Roberts,
Holding, Walsh, Patterson.
In 1978 and 1979 Kallicharran played for
Smethwick Cricket Club in Birmingham
England, 1980 and 1981 for Horwich in
the Bolton league, 1982 and 1983 for
London Post in London and two years
in the Scottish League for Strathmore
Cricket Club.
In 1986, he moved to USA and played in
New York. I started with Richmond Hill
Vikings club that included Seu Shivnarine
and Randolph Ramnarace. He played
for Enmore club and Centurion and in
a Masters League for Bleachers, which
mainly consisted of Jamaicans.
While in the USA, Kallicharran worked
for Time Warner Cable as a Sales rep
for 15 years before he got into Real
Estate.
He has been happily married for 36
years and has a son, Matthew, who is in
College and does not play cricket.
He thanked all who helped him including
his close friend Roy Ramsammy and
family, all the various clubs he played
for and his wife.