Remembering Adjodha Persaud, former 1st class cricketer

Dear Editor,
I have just learnt sadly of the passing of Adjodha Persaud in Florida, USA, formerly of the Everest Cricket Club in Guyana, following closely after the demise of former national cricketer Milton Pydana.
Adjodha hailed from the West Coast of Demerara and was employed at the Toolsie Persaud Ltd Lumber sales department, where he worked until migrating to the USA in 1979. He joined the Everest Cricket Club in 1971 and represented it until departing these shores, playing for a very successful Case Cup (first division) side which won this cup and also the Rothmans Knockout Cup along with other competitions. He played under the captaincy of David Persaud and Lal Munilal before ascending to the captaincy of the club subsequently.
Adjodha was widely recognised by his peers as a top-class off-spinner and probably the best of his era, but for Lance Gibbs, whose long and enduring presence in the West Indies team all but prevented Adjodha from possibly representing the W.I.  Adjodha was a very competent batsman and made valuable contributions on many occasions.
In his younger days he represented the West Coast Demerara under 16 side and was known as ‘Boy Wonder’. He excelled in his various encounters with opposition throughout the country and decided to join the Everest to try and climb the steep ladder to get onto the national team, which he managed to do. He played first-class cricket for Demerara, Guyana, and the West Indies President’s eleven (1977 and 1978) as well as representing Warwickshire’s second eleven in the UK circa 1972. Adjodha’s performances earned him a place in Guyana’s national team versus England in 1974, Pakistan in 1977 and Australia in 1978. On one memorable occasion in the 1976 Jones Cup finals, Adjodha, along with Keith Glasgow (Ball Oil), set a West Indies first-class batting record for the eighth wicket.
Prior to migrating, Adjodha was offered a contract to play in the Yorkshire Cricket League in England; however, this offer was turned down since he decided to proceed to the USA with his family.
Some names of cricketers still residing in Guyana who would have faced Adjodha and would be aware of his tremendous skills as an off-spinner are Lloyd Harper, Eddie Nicolls, Ovid Glagow, Paul Chan-A-Sue, and Mark and Roger Harper.
This short tribute contains information provided by two of his best friends, Robin Barry and Mohamed Rahaman, both residing in Canada.
May his contribution to first-class cricket be long remembered.
Om Sadgati

Sincerely,
Christopher Persaud