Denis St Eval Atkinson the former West Indies cricket team captain died from cancer at the age of 75 on 9th November in southern Barbados. He was born on 9th August 1925 in Barbados, Trinidad.

The World Record:
Denis Atkinson whose cricket career spanned 1948 to 1958 playing in 22 Test matches is more remembered for his part in a world record stand in 1955. In fact his 347 runs seventh wicket partnership with CC Depeiza is still a world record. Leading the Caribbean team in that Test he scored 219 to save his team from a certain defeat. The West Indies were tottering at 156 for 6 and were facing a huge Aussie total of 668 when he associated with Depeiza (122) to produce the record stand which ultimately lifted the West Indies total to 510. Atkinson continued to fight back and returned to claim five Australian wickets for 56 runs in the second innings. This brilliant all round performance of scoring a century and claiming five wickets in a match until then was the fifth such instance in test cricket history.

Successful home series against England, 1953-54:
Earlier, in the home series against England in 1953-54 he scored 53 in the second test at Bridgetown which the West Indies won by 181 runs and later went on to score 74 and 53 not pot in the fourth drawn test at Part of Spain.

Led from the front in New Zealand, 1955-56:
Again his contribution was significant when he led the West Indies team in New Zealand in 1955-56. During the series he scored 85 at Christchurch, clamed 5 wickets for 56 and scored 60 at Wellington and then returned his best bowling figures in an innings, 7 for 53 in the fourth and final test at Auckland. Incidentally this valiant bowling effort went in vain as the Kiwis recorded their first victory in test cricket.

Hanif-His most prized wicket:
Brothers Denis and Eric Atkinson became the first West Indian pair to play in the same test (against Pakistan) at Bridge Town, Barbados in 1958. It was during this match that Denis claimed the most prized wicket of his entire career when he dislodged Hanif Mohammad after the 'Little Master' had played a monumental and marathon knock of 337 runs consuming 970 minutes. It was a historical moment as Hanif was just 27 runs away from the then world record when he edged an out-swinger and was caught behind the wicket by FCS Alexander to the utter disbelief of the West Indians. His figures of 62-35-61-1 in Pakistan's second innings total of 657 for 8 declared compared to other bowlers, including Roy Gilchrist, Eric Atkinson, OG Smith, Alf Valentine and Gary Sobers, were very respectable. This was his last test match.

Test Career Record

Period	Matches	Runs	Highest	Avg	100's	50's	Ct	Wkts	Avg	5wi	Best
1948-58	22	922	219	31.79	1	5	11	47	35.04	3	7-53

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