Garner to be honoured during Caribbean Week

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner will be honoured during Caribbean Week which will be hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) from June 16 to 21 in the United States.

According to a CTO media release, the 71-year-old, affectionately known to friends and associates as ‘Big Bird’ (or simply, ‘Bird’) will join the line-up of delegates heading to the event in New York City.

Garner will participate in a cricket ceremony and watch party on Monday, June 17, at the Caribbean-owned-and-S’Aimer NYC restaurant during an event supported by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

He will be honoured for his contribution to the sport and tourism development during the ceremony, which will be attended by Cayman Islands’ minister of tourism and sports, and CTO chairman, Kenneth Bryan, and Barbados minister of tourism and international transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill.

“It’s important that we recognise the significance of cricket and sports in tourism development, and especially important that we honour our legends,” Cayman Islands director of tourism and CTO director, Rosa Harris, said. “Their contributions have been invaluable in promoting our region.”

Standing six feet, eight inches tall, Garner was a formidable presence for batsmen in the 1970s and 1980s, renowned for his blistering pace, towering bounce, and devastating yorkers that often sent stumps flying.

He ended his international career with 259 wickets at 20.97 apiece in 58 Tests and 146 scalps at 18.84 each in 98 One-day Internationals.

He played his final Test in 1987, and he was the last of the West Indies pace attack – once dubbed, ‘The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse’, – that comprised Sir Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and Colin Croft to retire.