Constantine and Headley
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:32 pm
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By the end of that tour, Learie Constantine, a black man, had challenged those views with the outstanding quality of his cricket in every department. His spectacular fielding, batting and bowling earned him superlative tributes in the press, and resulted in a contract to play for Nelson Cricket Club in the Lancashire league.
Then came George Headley, another extraordinary batsman, whose class was compared to Don Bradman's. Together these two forced the cricketing elite to reconsider its view about the ability of black cricketers.
By the end of that tour, Learie Constantine, a black man, had challenged those views with the outstanding quality of his cricket in every department. His spectacular fielding, batting and bowling earned him superlative tributes in the press, and resulted in a contract to play for Nelson Cricket Club in the Lancashire league.
Then came George Headley, another extraordinary batsman, whose class was compared to Don Bradman's. Together these two forced the cricketing elite to reconsider its view about the ability of black cricketers.