Rolph Stewart Grant

posted by John Winn

West Indies played no tests between their victory at Sabina Park in 1935 and 1939 when they visited England for a three match series, a tour which was cut short by the outbreak of war in September of that year. Rolph Grant, the youngest of ten children had made his international debut in the 1935 series playing under his brother Jackie's captaincy but with Jackie retired it was Rolph who led a side that included what had become household names like Headley and Constantine.

The Grant family had settled in Trinidad from Canada and were a wealthy merchant family. Rolph trod the family path to Queens Royal College and Cambridge University where he made his first class debut v Kent at Fenner's in 1932. He was not a regular in the side but gained his blue in 1933 and curiously played for the West Indians v the University that year. Michael Manley, the former Jamaican PM writing in his 'History of West Indies Cricket' described Rolph as 'a man of great decency and intelligence' but in his qualifications for captaincy he was 'far more importantly the son of a wealthy and powerful Trinidadian family...the families who were accustomed to ruling who were accustomed to produce the sons who were capable of leading.'

This evocative photograph shows Martindale and Sealy* leaving the Oval on August 22nd at the end of the third test, just ten days before Poland was invaded precipitating Britain's participation in the war. The sun sets not just on the Oval but on test cricket which would not return for seven years until India visited in 1946. For 14 of the players in this match it was to be their last test match. Amongst them was RS Grant who was never to play first class cricket again. Before closing one should pay tribute to his other sporting talents for he was also a soccer blue and an international goalkeeper (like his brother Jackie he was an outstanding fielder). As a side line he was heavyweight boxing champion of Trinidad. Although his Wisden obituary gives him twice as much space as his older brother there is no reference to his pugilistic skills. 

* Although not shown on the photograph but also leaving the field is Len Hutton who was 165 not out at the close. Those lucky enough to be there on that historic day had seen Hutton and Hammond join in a stand of 264 in three hours. If it was to be their last glimpse of cricket what a memory.