Alexander - more than a performer on the field

Dr Franz 'Gerry' Alexander was the former West Indies captain, wicketkeeper/batsman and Jamaica football captain. But to some Wolmerians, this outstanding Jamaican was more than an excellent performer on the field of play.

At cricket, he was an outstanding wicketkeeper and reliable batsman whom some analysts have chosen to their all-time West Indies team.

Gerry preceded the great Sir Frank Worrell as captain and was sufficiently humble to relinquish the captaincy and assume the vice- captaincy under Sir Frank.

On that memorable tour to Australia, Gerry was one of the outstanding performers, totalling 484 runs - including one century (108) - at an average of 60.5, which topped the batting for the five-match Test series.

Alexander's character was exhibited in every facet of his life.

In cricket, it was seen in his batting as time after time he saved the team from possible defeat with his 'never-say-die' approach.

It is said that one youngster attending a game with his father expressed disappointment that he would not see Alexander bat because the West Indies did not need rescuing that day.

Wolmerians of the late 1950s and early 60s will remember Gerry, who along with Alan Rae and Jackie Hendriks, also former West Indies cricketers and Wolmer's alumni, always found time to play and share their knowledge of the game with them.

remove the shine

I can remember someone came up with the idea that the school team should open the bowling with their spin bowlers during the Sunlight Cup season, and that this experiment should be tried in a practice match against an old boys' team that included Messrs Alexander and Hendriks. To accommodate the bowlers, the ball should be rubbed in the dirt to remove the shine.

This plan was quickly discarded as both Alexander and Hendriks proceeded to pummel the ball to all parts of the field, not only removing the shine, but also changing the shape of the ball.

Those in the thoroughbred breeding industry who interacted with Dr Alexander will remember him for his unerring accuracy in the determination of pregnancy in broodmares. Others were good, but Gerry was the very best.

In a conversation with him just a few weeks before his death, I expressed the opinion that he was the most outstanding all-round sportsman in the history of Jamaican sports, having captained Jamaica in football, and Jamaica and the West Indies in cricket, along with having the distinction of earning his 'blue' at both cricket and football at Cambridge University, where he was a teammate of future England cricket captain, Peter H.B. May.

Added to this, Gerry was selected to the All-England amateur football team, a remarkable honour indeed.

This gentleman of genuine humility was quick to remind me of the feats of Lindy Delapenha, pointing out that Lindy's ability as a cricketer was never tapped. Furthermore, his potential as a runner went by unnoticed, since he concentrated his energies on football, excelling as a First Division player for Middlesborough and later representing the island in golf.

After receiving the news of Gerry's death, I called a former employee of the veterinary lab where Gerry had once served as the chief veterinary officer.

"Dr Alexander was a perfect gentleman," he said, "courteous to all and always shrouded in humility. He will be missed by all who came in contact with him."

Gerry Alexander was never envious of anyone's place in history and would always remind us that in evaluating sportsmen, their era of participation was of great significance.

He would say, "We had our time".

I will miss those conversations as he sipped his gin and tonic, and I the chaser.

- Freddie Jobson, Wolmer's Old Boy.