Raynor credits his success to 'old timers'

The spotlight shone brightly upon legendary cricketer Sheridan Raynor at a award ceremony at the Fairmont Southampton on November 10.

During the gala event the former Southampton Rangers and Bermuda all rounder received an Excellence Award in recognition of his outstanding domestic and international cricket career.

Raynor is the first cricketer to score 1,000 runs in any domestic counties competition and in the 1960s became the first Bermuda batsman to score a century (133 not out) in an international match on a tour of England.

But his career is perhaps best defined by the courageous century (156 not out) he thumped playing for Bermuda against the West Indies, which he achieved despite breaking his thumb after being struck by fast bowler Charlie Griffith, then regarded as the fastest bowler in the world.

Raynor, who is the son of late St. George’s Cup Match opening batsman Reginald Steede, also displayed bravery on another tour of the U.K. in the early 1970s when he soldiered on with a broken jaw after being struck by England pacer Bob Willis.

“It was important for me to continue batting even with the jaw fracture as I didn’t want team members following me to be intimidated,” he recalled.

In the 1960s legendary West Indies all rounder Sir Garfield Sobers requested that Raynor have trails with the Windies Test team along with younger sibling Lee and star wicketkeeper Dennis Wainwright. Unfortunately, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) deemed the trio ineligible to play for the Windies’ Test team.

England and Gloucestershire batsman Tom Graveney also extended an invitation for Raynor to have trials in the UK at county level.

Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) founder Alma "Champ" Hunt proclaimed prior to his death that Raynor “could’ve played in any Test team in the world”.               

Raynor crafted his trade in the humble settings of his family’s service station at Raynor’s Drive before his career took flight at Southampton Rangers.

“In the back of the service station we had practice nets and through the days when the old man used to slip off to town and we would slip outside and have ourselves a good practice,” he smiled. “He always looked vexed, but never said anything.”

Taking the advice of senior cricketers to heart also reaped reward for the former cricketer.

“I always listened to the old timers – that was my secret,” Raynor added. “They have been where you are trying to go.”

The former star cricketer also cites his strong Christian upbringing as a source of inspiration – especially whenever on tour.

“When we went to the hotels there was always a bible in my room on the dresser,” he recalled. “I would pick the bible up and read and pray that I would be at my best. I never prayed to win the match, I only prayed to be at my best and the team be at their best.”    

During a tour of the U.K. in the 1960s Raynor shared in a double –century partnership with Wainwright playing for a local select against a pick of English county players.

The former Somerset Cup Match skipper, who has been inducted into the local sports hall of fame, is also first batsman to score a century on the existing turf batting strip at Somerset Cricket Club.