IN local cricket, a good overseas professional's enthusiasm, skills and abilities tend to rub off on the local players, and they are important in bringing in the crowds. 

Andrew Lyght was one such pro, whom I had the pleasure of playing with at Crook in 1983. 

Andrew, born in Georgetown, British Guyana, in July 1956, was 26 when he arrived in Crook that year. His calypso style of batting soon had people flocking to the ground and evening cup ties were often played in front of hundreds of people, as top clubs like Chester-le-Street were put to the sword.

Andrew could attack and hit the ball, but he also had a solid defence. 

His motto was: "If you wanna score runs, you gotta take blows." 

His head was right over every ball and he didn't fail very often. 

The Northern Echo: Andrew Lyght

Gordon Pratt or Joe Cushlow usually opened with him in 1983, apart from one game, around this time of the year at Ashington, when skipper asked me to open with him in a midweek cup-tie

I soon became aware of the difference in class between us, and here was my problem.

If you were batting with Jonty Raine at North Bitchburn and the ball was snicked to third man or fine leg, he would amble down the wicket and call: "Easy one."

At Ashington, on a warm, humid night, when the ball went to third man or fine leg, Andrew came racing down the track shouting: "Two, two." 

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After 20 to 25 minutes of this madness, I was well and truly lathered. My heart was flip-flopping and my glasses were so steamed up, I couldn't see the ball properly. I asked the umpire for a few minutes break but that didn't make much difference so it was a case of hit out or get out.

The bowler from the bottom end came in, I stepped down the track and gave it everything. The result was the death rattle as my stumps were re-arranged. It was the first and only time that I was pleased to be clean bowled.

Later in the season, unknown to us players, a supporter had placed a bet with a local bookie that Andrew would score a double hundred in a 45 over Durham County League game on a weekend. I have no idea of the size of the bet or the odds that he got. 

There were not many games left in the season and I can't remember the opposition but Crook batted first and both the team and Andrew were going well. After about 35 overs, Andrew was close to 160 not out and the team roughly 250-5, so there were enough overs left for him to complete his double hundred.

Then a wicket fell and I walked to the crease.  

I had not been there long when Andrew hit the ball to deep mid wicket and we ran two with no problem, but just as we turned for the third run I could see the opposition fielder about to pick the ball up. 

I cried "No" as Andrew came hurtling back down the track for run number three.  He turned, tried to get back, but was run out.

There are times when you just want a great big hole to appear and swallow you up. 

The Northern Echo: Andrew Lyght

Andrew never made a double hundred in 1983, and I never got a Christmas card from the chap who placed the bet.

But Andrew had a brilliant season, hitting seven hundreds. In total, he scored 2,447 runs at an average of 76.47, and took 151 wickets at 10.07.

His best season after that was in 1987 when he scored 2,507 runs at 45.58, hit two hundreds and took 144 wickets at 12.63.

His career record at Crook in six seasons was 12,636 runs at 50.78, 14 hundreds, and 467 wickets at 14.17.

He played with Crook until 1988 when ill health meant he needed frequent hospital visits. Despite being unavailable for some of the time that year, he still scored 920 runs at an average of 32.86 as well as taking 19 wickets at 29.05.

Crook secretary Alan Stewart said: "Andrew was well thought of at Crook Town CC and the club did everything possible to help him with his health issues, even managing to extend his visa so that he could have the best possible treatment at a hospital in Newcastle."

Eventually his cancer went into remission and he was able to return home before coming back to the UK to play for a club in Scotland. Unfortunately, the cancer returned and he passed away on April 16, 2001.

Back home in Guyana, where Clive Lloyd was his captain, he had played in 38 first class matches and 17 List A matches as well as touring with the West Indies Under 19 team. He may have opened for the West Indies but for the Desmond Haynes/Gordon Greenidge partnership.

In 2012, a commemorative game was played in Guyana in his memory, organised by the Friends of Guyana Cricket. The proceeds went to his son Andrew Lyght Jr and his daughter, Andrea. In New York, a memorial cup was held in his honour in 2017 and 2018. 

His nephew Christopher Barnwell played for Guyana and the West Indies while his cousin William Whyte was an all-rounder for Guyana and pro for Shildon BR in 1983.

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  • With thanks to Alan Stewart, the Crook Town CC secretary, for his help