Guyana's Fredericks dies at 57

Roy Fredericks, the Guyanan cricketer considered one of the best opening batsmen to play for the West Indies, has died in New York of throat cancer. He was 57.

Roy Fredericks, the Guyanan cricketer considered one of the best opening batsmen to play for the West Indies, has died in New York of throat cancer. He was 57.

Fredericks made his Test debut in the 1968-69 series in Australia and played 59 Test matches for the West Indies. He ended his career in the early 1980s with a Test average of 42.49.

Fredericks last played first-class cricket for Guyana in 1983 in the four-day Shell Shield series, scoring a double hundred as player-manager. He was Guyana's sports minister at the time.

"He was clearly one of the greatest opening batsmen to have ever played for the West Indies," said Clyde Butts, a former West Indies off-spinner and current national senior coach.

Fredericks flew to the United States two years ago to be treated for throat cancer. He returned after several months to his job as an administrator at the Sports and Culture Ministry, but had to return to the USA when his condition worsened this year. His body is to be flown to Guyana for burial. A date has not been set for the funeral.