Elquemedo Willett Park

Elquemedo T. Willett Park, known as Grove Park until 2010, is a sporting complex in Charlestown, the capital of the Caribbean island of Nevis. The venue's primary use is as a cricket ground, and it serves as a home ground for both the Nevis and Leeward Islands cricket teams (and historically also for the Combined Islands side).

Elquemedo Willett Park
Charlestown
Charlestown (Lesser Antilles)
Ground information
LocationCharlestown, Nevis
Coordinates17°8′06″N 62°37′34″W
Establishmentunknown
Team information
Nevis (1949–)
Leeward Islands (1977–2009)
Combined Islands (1980)
As of 18 May 2015
Source: CricketArchive

History

Cricket was introduced to Nevis (and the other members of the British Leeward Islands colony) in the late 19th century. Nevisians had represented Saint Kitts in the Hesketh Bell Shield (later known as the Leeward Islands Tournament) from its establishment in 1913, and Grove Park was frequently used for matches in that competition after Nevis was admitted separately in 1949.[1][2] The inaugural first-class match played on the ground came in January 1977, when the Leeward Islands team played its annual fixture against the Windward Islands. Another Leewards–Windwards game was hosted in March 1979, during the 1979–80 season, and the following season the ground hosted its first Shell Shield game, with the Combined Islands playing Guyana. First-class fixtures became more common after the Leewards and Windwards teams were admitted separately to the Shell Shield for the 1980–81 season.[3] In the seasons where no four-day match was played at Grove Park, a fixture in the West Indian domestic one-day competition was generally played instead.[4]

During a Busta Cup match at Grove Park in February 2001, Ryan Hinds, playing for Barbados against the Leeward Islands, took 9/68, which as of May 2015 remains a record for West Indian first-class cricket.[5] Another notable match played at the ground was the game between the Leeward Islands and Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) during the 2008–09 season. Both teams posted first-innings totals of over 500 runs, and each side had a player who scored a double century – Omar Phillips made 204 for CCC, and Runako Morton scored 231, a ground record, for the Leewards.[6] That match was the second first-class game played at Grove Park during that season, the first and only time that has occurred. The most recent first-class game at the ground was played in January 2010, a neutral fixture between CCC and Barbados.[3] The ground remains the only venue on Nevis to have hosted first-class matches.[7]

In July 2010, Grove Park was renamed in honour of Elquemedo Willett, the first Nevisian to play for the West Indies. The renaming ceremony was a major event for the island, with several members of the island's administration participating, including the Premier of Nevis, Joseph Parry.[8] Outside of cricket, the venue has hosted football and athletics tournaments at both national and regional levels.[9][10]

Records

First-class

List A
  • Highest team total: 220 all out by Leeward Islands v Windward Islands, 1993/94[15]
  • Lowest team total: 124 all out by Leeward Islands v Jamaica, 1987/88,[16] and also by Leeward Islands v Trinidad and Tobago, 1991/92[17]
  • Highest individual innings: 80 by Ridley Jacobs for Leeward Islands v Windward Islands, 1993/94[15]
  • Best bowling in an innings: 4/22 by Casper Davis for Windward Islands v Leeward Islands, 1993/94[15]

See also

References
  1. (2 July 2013). "100 YEARS OF LEEWARD ISLANDS CRICKET" Archived 19 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine – West Indies Cricket Board. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  2. Other matches played on Grove Park, Charlestown – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  3. First-class matches played on Grove Park, Charlestown – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  4. List A matches played on Grove Park, Charlestown – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  5. Rick Eyre (11 February 2001). "Ryan Hinds sets new WI regional bowling record" – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  6. Leeward Islands v Combined Campuses and Colleges, Regional Four Day Competition 2008/09 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  7. Grounds in Nevis in West Indies – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  8. "Grove Park Renamed in Cricketer’s Honour" Archived 19 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Nevis Island Administration. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  9. Jaedee Caines (14 October 2005). "Nevis Football Kicks Off At Grove Park" Archived 25 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – The Saint Kitts-Nevis Observer. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  10. (16 June 2006). "National coach to prepare teams for competition" Archived 25 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine – The Saint Kitts-Nevis Observer. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  11. Grove Park, Charlestown – highest team totals in first-class cricket – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  12. Grove Park, Charlestown – lowest team totals in first-class cricket – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  13. Grove Park, Charlestown – centuries in first-class cricket – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  14. Grove Park, Charlestown – seven wickets in an innings in first-class cricket – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  15. Leeward Islands v Windward Islands, Geddes Grant Shield 1993/94 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  16. Leeward Islands v Jamaica, Geddes Grant/Harrison Line Trophy 1987/88 (Zone B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  17. Leeward Islands v Trinidad and Tobago, Geddes Grant/Harrison Line Trophy 1987/88 (Zone B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
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