CHALRESTOWN, Nevis – HE is quiet and soft-spoken, even unassuming, but when he begins to talk about the game he loves his eyes light up like those of the exuberant school boys he now coaches at the Charlestown Primary School.
Elquemedo Willett has come a long way from the 16-year-old who first appeared for Nevis in the Leeward Islands cricket competition. He is however just as excited about the game as he was back in 1969. When SKNVibes visited him at Charlestown Primary, he was on a break and was glued to his radio listening to the West Indies battle England in the first Test in Jamaica. He willingly left off listening to tell of his playing days which he said started “since he knew himself”.
“I played with the older boys of Government Road at Bucco Park, even before I went to primary school.”
The man who became the first person from the Leeward Islands to represent the West Indies, reminisced on the days of playing cricket anywhere they could find an open plot; using anything that remotely resembled a ball and bat, including milk tins and coconut branches.
Willett was a student of the Charlestown Boys School and during vacation time he played cricket with his friends from sun-up to sundown, only stopping to do their chores.
There was no organised cricket for schools in those days, so the schools sent out challenges to each other with a lot of the games being played at Bran’s Park. Cricket was also played where the Shiloh Baptist Church is now located.
Willett, who fancied himself a batsman in those days (he favoured the Barbadian Peter Lashley), eventually got his break in club cricket when his cousin left for St. Thomas. His cousin’s departure opened up the position for a spinner in the Government Road team. The 16-year-old was so impressive in that game, which was the last of the season, that he found himself in the Nevis team for the Leeward Islands tournament in Antigua later in the year.
In those days, the competition was played in one island and only four teams – St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua and Montserrat - participated.
Two years later, in 1971, Elquemedo was in the Leeward Islands and Combined Islands teams. Another two years down the road and he was in the West Indies team to oppose the 1973 Australians.
The then 19-year-old first heard of his selection while playing against Jamaica in St. Vincent. He said there was a buzz among the crowd and he knew that something was up. Then one of his team mates told him that he had been selected.
He was overjoyed and even more so when on returning to Nevis he was accorded a motorcade and presented with a car by Nevis Development Society.
Elquemedo recalls how he was surprised at the quickness of the Australians on their feet. “Sometimes you would try to flatten them out but they would still get to the pitch and play you easily. They were very difficult to bowl to.”
He is proud however to proclaim that he captured the wickets of both Ian and Greg Chappell at some point during that series: “I clean bowled Greg Chappell in Guyana and I got Ian Chappell in Trinidad.”
Elequemedo also toured England that year and did well in the tour matches, capturing eight wickets against Glamorgan and five against Gloucestershire, although he didn’t play any of the Tests.
His next assignment was the tour of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1974, but then as quickly as it begun his Test career was over. He was never considered again.
He continued to play for the Combined Islands until they split in 1980, and Nevis and the Leewards until 1989. He was also captain of the Leewards team for a period including 1988, the year when Curtly Ambrose announced his arrival on the regional scene.
Willett, who started coaching in 1980, is now employed with the Education Department and, apart from his current posting, has coached at every primary school on Nevis.
He prefers to coach the primary school students rather than the older ones who are “pretty much set in their ways”. He is however open to anyone who needs advice.
His sons, Tonito and Akito, have both played for Nevis and Leewards and he said they took to the game naturally. He didn’t have to push them.
Elquemedo believes there is not as much passion for the game among today’s youth as it was in his time: “I don’t see that dedication. I don’t think you will find many cricketers today who would want to play from sun-up to sundown.”
He said that a lot of money is involved in the game these days, but even that does not seem to be enough motivation.
