Full name Lionel Sydney Birkett
Born April 14, 1905, Strathclyde, St Michael, Barbados
Died January 16, 1998, St James, Barbados (aged 92 years 277 days)
Major teams West Indies, Barbados, British Guiana, Trinidad
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium
Relation Brother - TS Birkett
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 4 | 8 | 0 | 136 | 64 | 17.00 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| First-class | 26 | 42 | 3 | 1295 | 253 | 33.20 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 0 |
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 4 | 4 | 126 | 71 | 1 | 1/16 | 1/16 | 71.00 | 3.38 | 126.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 26 | 1139 | 504 | 9 | 2/6 | 56.00 | 2.65 | 126.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Test debut | Australia v West Indies at Adelaide, Dec 12-16, 1930 scorecard |
| Last Test | Australia v West Indies at Melbourne, Feb 13-14, 1931 scorecard |
| Test statistics | |
| First-class span | 1924/25 - 1944/45 |
Wisden obituary
Lionel Sydney Birkett, who died on January 16, 1998, aged 93, was vice-captain on West Indies' first tour of Australia, in 1930-31. He made 64, opening the batting at Adelaide on his debut, but his form deteriorated, and he did not play in the last Test when West Indies scored a surprise win. Birkett had attracted attention by making 253 for Trinidad against British Guiana a year earlier, and his batting - learned among the Barbadian elite at Harrison College - was always elegant. But his cricket had to be fitted in with his peripatetic work in the sugar business: his career comprised 26 first-class matches spread over 20 years, for Barbados, Trinidad and British Guiana as well as the West Indians. After the Australian tour, Birkett did not play again until 1937. He was the oldest living Test player before he died, a title taken over by Alf Gover of England.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
