West Indies' first ever Test win in 1930

The endearing image of a band of amateur cricketers playing with luminous lustre and athletic excellence, and bursting with flashes of adventurism to take your country or region to its first ever Test victory would always be written in letters of gold.

February 26, 1930, turned out to be an epochal evening for Caribbean fans when a fairytale story turned into reality with West Indies upsetting the apple-cart by defeating England (earlier known as MCC when they were touring) at Georgetown to win their first ever Test match. That day was the apogee of their brief cricket history.

Even back in the 1920s, the likes of George Headley, George Francis and all-rounder, Learie Constantine, married athletic brilliance and eclat to leave you spellbound. However, not many expected them to beat an experienced England side in 1930, especially, with their batting being heavily dependant on Headley.

Of course, England didn't exactly send their best side. Veterans like Wilfred Rhodes, George Gunn, Nigel Haig and company were past their best. In fact, Gunn, the Nottinghamshire great, had last played for his country back in 1912 against Australia at Sydney and by the time England toured the West Indies, he was over 50. Rhodes was 52 and Andrew Sandham, who always played in the shadows of Jack Hobbs at Surrey was nearing 40.

Yet, compared to the squad that toured New Zealand in 1929-30, this unit looked stronger on paper. Patsy Hendren, Bill Voce, Les Ames and Bob Wyatt were selected. The only noticeable names missing from the tour of New Zealand were Frank Woolley, the left-hander who played with elegant splendour, and KS Duleepsinhji.

Yes, authorities from Jamaica reportedly went all the way to England to request them to allow Jack Hobbs to tour the Caribbean, but the precious jewel of English cricket was already 47 and was eventually rested. The MCC set-up for the tour of Caribbean in 1930 was captained by Freddie Calthorpe.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat. Clifford Roach, an attacking batsman from the island of Trinidad led the way with grandiose flamboyance gushing from his flashing blade. He went onto make 209 in just under five hours. It has to be remembered that Roach was the first West Indian to reach the three-figure mark and he accrued that century in the first Test of the series at Bridgetown, Barbados.

Headley himself, with lordly grandeur compiled a century. The exceptional cricketer with his breathtaking fluency is believed to have touched fabulous peaks in an enthralling partnership of 192 with Roach. England though, didn't help their cause by dropping Roach's opening partner, Errol Hunte, as many as four times. The last five wickets though, fell for just 44 runs, as the Caribbean outfit was bowled out for 471.

It was then left to the pace duo of Constantine and Francis to unleash those spine-chilling thunderbolts with fielders crowding the batsmen like a pack of vultures from slips to gully. The torch-bearer of West Indies' quick bowling, Constantine, took four wickets as did Francis to bowl out the visitors for a mere 146 runs. Only Hendren, known for those thunderous hook shots stood up to the pace duo with an innings of 56.

If Constantine was known as a complete pace bowler of his time (Constantine even bowled a fine slower delivery) then, Francis could bowl with venomous pace and had a lightning-like toe-crushing yorker up his sleeve. He showed a glimpse of that vicious delivery when Rhodes' stumps were sent somersaulting in the air. Curiously, Francis had to take leave from his employers to play this game.

With a first innings lead of 326 runs, it was again left to Headley to stand like an atlas of a submerging ship and holding firm against the wrath of seething oceans and a blustery wind rising to levels of a tornado fury.

Headley responded with a hundred in second innings as well. It was just the start of a glorious career that would see a chest full of magnificence from the great willowy-wielder. It was Snuffy Brown, the all-rounder from Barbados who gave him valuable support with a fine half-century. As expected, England, didn't exactly get through their overs at the speed of light.

England were left with a monstrous target of 617 runs to chase down and script a surreal victory. The Middlesex star, Hendren, was at it yet again, as with his supreme skills, he scored a regal hundred made up of 21 crunching boundaries. However, rest of the batsmen just couldn't come to terms with the pace duo of Constantine and Francis, as West Indies celebrated their first Test victory by a margin of 289 runs with unfettered joy.

Constantine and Headley with impassioned soldier-like perseverance were the architects of what was truly a historic victory in the glorious chapter of West Indies cricket!