Derick Parry was an offspinner whose batting was almost good enough to classify him as an allrounder - he ended with a career average of 26.86 without ever making a hundred. He didn't pull up too many trees in his 12-Test career, but the fourth Test in Trinidad against Australia in 1977-78 was his finest hour by a long way. Parry dug West Indies out of a hole with a Test-best 65 in the second innings, then took 5 for 15 - the last four all bowled - as Australia collapsed to 94 all out. It was Parry's only five-for, and it gave West Indies the Frank Worrell Trophy. His chance came about because of the Packer defections. His debut started poorly - he was dismissed first ball, and then his first delivery was a wide. But he rallied with a second-innings fifty, and was selected to tour India in 1978-79 but didn't enjoy a happy trip. He managed 170 runs in the six Tests and took nine wickets, but nevertheless remained in the squad for trips to Australia and New Zealand, England, and Pakistan. The return of the World Series players and the plethora of fast bowlers ended his international career, and his disenchantment caused him to throw in his lot with the rebel West Indies side which toured South Africa in 1982-83 and 1983-84. He received a life ban from the West Indies board, although he played for Cambridgeshire for several seasons.
Martin Williamson