Fmr. Guyana, West Indies cricketer dies

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 June 2014, 17:15 by GxMedia

Former Guyana and West Indies cricketer, Ivor Mendonca died on Saturday after a battle with cancer.

He was 79.

Compton Mendonca confirmed that his brother died Saturday morning at the Davis Memorial Hospital, D’urban Backlands, Georgetown.

Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie paid tribute to the former wicketkeeper and right hand batsman who passed away as a result of throat and prostate cancer. “The Guyana Cricket Board extends its condolences to his friends and family. Mendonca was one of the best wicketkeeper batsmen in the 50s and 60. He was always exemplary in his conduct and my personal knowledge of him is that he was a coach helping with the grooming of young players,” he told Demerara Waves Online News.

Mendonca, who was born in Bartica, played for the West Indies in two Test matches against India in 1962. He also played for then British Guiana from 1958 to 1959.

He was the uncle of English Footballer Clive Mendonca.

ESPNCricInfo says Mendonca was a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman who had the misfortune to be at his peak at a time when there was no vacancy in the West Indies squad. His two Test appearances came when Jackie Hendriks was injured, in the second and fourth Tests against India in 1961-62. In his debut, at Kingston, he scored 78 and took four catches and a stumping; in his other Test he again made five dismissals. But despite this, Deryck Murray was preferred for the 1963 England tour and Mendonca was not chosen again. His second Test outing was also his final first-class appearance.