West Indies and Guyana cricketer whose fielding brilliance led to the first ever tied Test match
The West Indies cricketer Joe Solomon, who has died aged 93, was the man whose run-out of Australia’s Ian Meckiff brought about the first ever tied Test match – in Brisbane in 1960.
Solomon’s contribution to one of the most celebrated cricket matches in history was especially impressive given the nerve-jangling circumstances of its finale. With the scores level and one wicket remaining, Australia needed just one run from the last two balls for victory. When Lindsay Kline pushed into the infield off the penultimate delivery from Wes Hall he looked to have done enough for the win. But Solomon hared in, picked up the ball perfectly and, with just one stump to aim at, knocked down the wicket with a direct throw before Kline’s batting partner, Meckiff, could get over the line.