Reon King - West Indies - Batsman

Genuine pace, accuracy coupled with an upright action, Reon King had all the ingredients of becoming the torch-bearer of the West Indian pace bowling attack after the retirements of Walsh and Ambrose but with injuries playing truant his career was curtailed.

King made his first-class debut for Guyana in 1996 and it took him just 2 years to gate-crash into the West Indies team. King was handed his ODI debut versus India in the 1998 ICC Knockout Trophy. A few months later, he began his Test career with the disastrous tour to South Africa, where West Indies endured a whitewash.

Often hustling the opposition with pace and bounce, King bagged 76 and 53 wickets in 19 Tests and 50 ODIs respectively. Not to mention, King was frugal(4.16 rpo) in the limited overs format. He wouldn't buy a little kid a candy.

Unfortunately he faded into the oblivion following the tour to England to 2000. He sustained a heel injury, which aggravated the situation further.

When his playing career seemed done and dusted King was recalled into the team in 2004/05. Nonetheless, he was nowhere close to the force he was.

After the exit from the international stage, King provided audio commentary on both regional and international games in the Caribbean.

Lesser known facts:
1. King was signed up by Durham County Club in England in 2004.
2. He headed the Guayana Cricket Board's selection panel in 2009.

By Deivarayan Muthu