Tony Becca - FROM THE BOUNDARY

WEST INDIES cricket has been blessed with many great players.

In fact, from Learie Constantine and George Headley, through Sonny Ramadhin and Alfred Valentine, Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott, Gary Sobers and Rohan Kanhai, Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith and Lance Gibbs, Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran, Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, Andy Roberts and Michael Holding, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Malcolm Marshall, to Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies have produced some of the world's best.

With others like Manny Martindale and Herman Griffith, Jeffrey Stollmeyer and Allan Rae, Gerry Gomez, Roy Gilchrist, Conrad Hunte, Jackie Hendriks, Basil Butcher and Seymour Nurse, Roy Fredericks, Joel Garner and Larry Gomes, Jeffrey Dujon and Richie Richardson, West Indies cricket has been second to none - and that despite the fact that in spite of a magnificent bloom, there was one who the gods, for whatever reason, never allowed to flower.

That was O'Neil Gordon Smith who, born on May 5, 1933, died tragically in England in a motorcar crash on this day in 1959.

'Collie' to his family, to his friends and to his host of admirers, and the 'Mighty Mouse' to the world of cricket, Smith, based on his figures, 1,331 runs with four centuries at an average of 31.69 in 26 matches as a batsman, 48 wickets at an average of 33.85 as an off-spin bowler, was an ordinary Test cricketer.

attacking batting

Based on his talent, however, on his attacking batting - his brilliant strokeplay, his accurate, probing bowling and his brilliance anywhere in the field, he was one of the finest cricketers of his era, and at the time of his death, at age 26, promised to have become one of the greatest all-round cricketers of all time - as good as if not, believe it or not, better than the 'Great One' himself, the immortal Sobers.

It is said that great players do not do great things all the time. It is said that great players do great things when it matters most, and there were four times, once for Jamaica and three times for the West Indies, when 'Collie' rubbed shoulders with greatness with great performances.

On all four occasions, his team was in trouble. On all four occasions, probably agreeing with those who believe that offence skilfully exploited is the best form of defence, the naturally aggressive 'Collie' opened up, an his team lost one and drew three his team never won one of those matches, on three of those occasions he was the difference between defeat and face-saving draws.

At Melbourne Park in 1955, Australia scored 453 and Jamaica were sinking at 81 for five when Allie Binns joined Smith and together they shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 277 with Smith scoring 169 and Binns 151.

outstanding transformation

Against an attack that included Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, Bill Johnston, Ian Johnston and Richie Benaud, the revival of Jamaica that day is remembered as one of the outstanding transformations in the history of Jamaica's cricket.

At Sabina Park a few days later, the West Indies, following on after scoring 259 replying to Australia's 515, were 20 for one when Smith, after batting at number seven in the first innings, walked to the wicket and smashed 104.

At Edgbaston in 1957, Smith, batting against Fred Trueman, Brian Statham, Trevor Bailey, Jim Laker and Tony Lock, scored 161 in the first Test and it took a then world record fourth-wicket stand of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey to save the match for England.

Then at Trent Bridge in the third Test, after England had scored 619 for six declared, after the West Indies were dismissed for 372 and were falling at 89 for five, 'Collie' walked to the wicket and, including a straight drive off fast bowler Statham for six, blasted 168 to take the West Indies to safety.

But forhis unfortunate and tragic end, O'Neil Gordon Smith may have batted, bowled and fielded his way into the illustrious company of a champion like Sobers.

No one will ever know.

As we remember and salute him today, however, what is known is that the young man from Boys' Town was a truly gifted cricketer. He was bold and he was brave, he enjoyed the game and he entertained the fans; and on top of that, he was a wonderful person and an ambassador of the game - so much so that he was tipped to one day captain the West Indies.