Young Windies cricketer 'Collie' Smith dies in car accident

By A. C. de Silva

STAR CRICKETER DIES: Remember that outstanding cricketer Collie Smith of the West Indies? Well, he really could not show his true self with the bat as a road accident snatched him away in the prime of his life.

His erstwhile friend Garfield Sobers was at the wheel of the car and a third cricketer Tom Dewdney too was in the vehicle when it met head-on with a 10-ton cattle wagon near Stone Staffordshire on that fatefull day in London in September 1959. He died in hospital.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica on May 5, 1933, Smith "Collie" to all, a name he traced back to the day when his grandmother changed his nickname of "Carl" to "Carlie" to distinguish him from his best friend.

The popularity of "Collie" Smith could be gauged by the fact that on the day of his funeral in Kingston Jamaica, the Police were forced to use battons to hold back many thousands who wanted to carry the coffin during the last stage to the grave site.

So severe were the crowds that Smith's mother and father and the chief mourners did not reach the graveside and even after the body was committed, there were so many spectators milling round the grave which prevented mourners from laying their wreaths - among them a tribute from Frank Worrell, West Indian Test cricketer and his wife. Mourners included the Governor General of Jamaica - Sir Kenneth Glachburne, Mr. Norman Manley - Prime Minister and other members of State. At some stops the coffin was bourne by members of the Jamaican and West Indies Cricket Control Board members and teammates.

Smith (26) whose full name was O'Neill Gordon Smith, was noted for his infectious enthusiasm. Along with Sobers, he helped the West Indies to go a long way towards building a side to be feared as much as were the Carribeans when Weekes, Worrell and Walcott - the famous Ws - were at the top of their form.

"Collie" Smith was such a versatile cricketer that he had centuries in his first Tests against both Australia and England. He scored 104 in the second innings of his first Test against Australia in 1955, having made his presence felt earlier by hitting Lindwall, Miller Johnstone, Davidson, Johnstone and Benaud for 169 in the opening match of the Australian tour.

He competed the 'double' by scoring 161 at Birmingham in 1957 off an England attack that included Statham, Trueman, Bailey, Laker and Lock. Smith played in all five Tests against England that year, topping the averages with 396 runs, average 30.60 and Englishmen expected him to add further to their worries on the coming tour.

As the figures point out, he was a punishing right-handed batsman, a scintillating strokemaker and a splendid fielder. He was also a useful off-break bowler.

He played 26 Tests, made 1,331 runs (ave. 31.69) and took 48 wickets for 1,629 runs (ave 33.86). He had not reached his prime when that nasty accident took away his life.

Outstanding cricketer

Garfield Sobers - his erstwhile friend says: "I did not drink a lot.

But this sudden sad episode changed my life for some time and forced me to drink." He was three years elder to me. and potentially one of the most outstanding cricketers the country has produced", says Sobers.

During the 1957 tour of England, he showed his class. "we used to call him "The mighty mouse" or "The wayside Preacher" because he liked reading the lesson in Church", added Sobers.

Collie Smith was a admirer of England's opening batsman David Sheppord who went into the Church and became the Bishop of liverpool. Collie Smith was such a great pal of Sobers that the duo shared a room on tours in England and also in Pakistan.

On the night of 6th of September, "I picked him and Tom Dewdney up to travel through the right to a charity match the next day in London. Tom Dewdney was a big Jamaican - a fast bowler who played a Tests between 1955 and 1958," said Sobers.

The West Indian star allrounder Sobers said that he was "blinded" by the crash but none of them lost consciousness. Collie Smith was such a nice guy and he promptly said:" Don't worry about me. Look after the big fellow" he told Sobers, referring to Tom Dewdney.

Sobers had a cut eye and a severed nerve in a finger on his left hand. In hospital when Sobers inquired about Collie Smith, the doctors and nurses said that Smith was coming along fine-his spinal cord was damaged. Three days later, however, Collie Smith died.

Sobers was stunned and sad that he had lost a good friend. In a passing farewell message, Sobers said:" Collie provided the stabilising influence in my life. Now that Collie has gone, I have nothing else to do _ I drank heavily."