Legendary batsman Everton Weekes, the last of the famed West Indies ‘Three Ws’, died Wednesday at the age of 95 and was hailed as “a founding father” of the sport in the Caribbean.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of an icon. A legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes,” tweeted Cricket West Indies.
“Our condolences go out to his family, friends and many fans around the world. May he rest in peace.”
Barbadian Weekes was part of a feared post-World War II West Indies team which also featured Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell.
Walcott died in 2006 while Worrell passed away in 1967. All three had been born within a mile and a half of each other over an 18-month period.
Today, the national stadium in Bridgetown is named the Three Ws Oval.
Weekes played 48 Tests between 1948 and 1958, scoring 4,455 runs at an average of 58.61. His highest Test score was 207.
“A most amazing pioneer in West Indies cricket,” said CWI president Ricky Skerritt.
“A tremendous gentleman and a wonderful human being. He was literally a founding father of our cricket. May he rest in peace.”
Skerritt hailed Weekes’ “amazing legacy as both a great cricketer and a great human being. He was the last of the famous three Ws to pass to the great beyond.
“I had a personal relationship with Sir Everton, I had the opportunity last year to go to visit him at his home in Barbados when he had come out of hospital after he had had a very serious illness.
“We had a chance to chat about his career. He was a most amazing man and just one of the most humble and decent and wonderful people you could ever meet.”
