At the age of 75, former West Indies cricketer Bernard Julien, who played a part in the team’s historic World Cup victory in 1975, passed suddenly in Northern Trinidad.
Between 1973 and 1977, Julien, a right-hand hitter and a dynamic seamer, participated in 24 Test matches and 12 ODIs, amassing two hundreds and claiming 50 Test wickets. He played a significant role in the 1975 World Cup, helping the West Indies get to the final with four-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. He also contributed an undefeated 26 in the title match against Australia at Lord’s.
In addition, Julien had a history of success at Lord’s, having scored a game-winning 121 against England in a 1973 Test match. The next year, he took five wickets at the same location. He joined the rebel tour to South Africa during the apartheid era in the early 1980s, which abruptly ended his worldwide career.
“As we honour Bernard Julien, we also recognise the importance of reflection and inclusion. The time has come to view that chapter of our history not through exclusion but through understanding,” Dr Kishore Shallow, the President of Cricket West Indies, said in an official statement.
“To the family, friends, and loved ones of Bernard Julien, we extend our deepest condolences. His passing reminds us that a life devoted to purpose never truly leaves us. Cricket West Indies stands with you in this moment of loss, and we hope Bernard knew he was valued and loved by the cricketing family he helped to shape, and that he found peace knowing his contribution will always endure.”
