Every cricketing nation enjoys a golden period of world domination. So it was for the West Indies when Sir Clyde Walcott, who died on 26 August, 2006 aged 80 arrived on the scene.

Sir Clyde was one of the fearsome so-called 3 Ws – Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell being the other two – whose prowess with bat and ball transformed the Windies into a cricketing superpower.

But he was more than just a record-breaking batsman, wicket keeper, slip fielder and medium fast bowler.

He was also one of the game’s great thinkers and speakers. Following his retirement he managed the Windies and became heavily involved in cricket administration and was rewarded with the chairmanship of the International Cricket Council – the first non-English, non-white man to hold the position.Clyde Leopold Walcott was born on 17 January, 1926 in Bridgetown , Barbados , a stone’s throw from the Kensington Oval, within 18 months and a mile of his future team mates Weekes and Worrell.

His father was a printing engineer with the local newspaper and he was sent to Combermere , the finest school on the island before moving to Harrison College at 14.

He first played for Barbados – a fete achieved by his brother and son – in 1942 as a 16 year old.

Four years later he created a world record after scoring 314 in an unbeaten fourth wicket 574 run partnership with Worrell against Trinidad .

His Test call up came two years later but it wasn’t until 1950 that the 6 feet 2 inches, 15 stone powerhouse really made his mark with an unbeaten 162 at Lords in the second innings of the second test against England .

The West Indies went on to win the match and their first ever series in England .

Sir Clyde, who married in 1951 and had two sons, rewrote the record books again in 1955 when he notched four consecutive centuries, five in the series and 827 runs from 10 innings against the Australians.

He was made Wisden cricketer of the year in 1958 and by his retirement from the game had rattled up 3,789 runs, 15 centuries - top score 220 - for an astonishing average of 56 in 44 test matches.

Himself, Everton Weekes and Frank Worrell ushered in an exciting new era of Caribbean cricket and were role models to future stars Rohan Kanhai and Clive Lloyd.

The foundation was laid for the West Indies to become dominant on the international scene for years to come.

Sir Clyde retired somewhat prematurely at 33 following a wrangle over money with the West Indies Board and put all his energies into management and administration of the game he loved: “Cricket has done so much for me that I can’t do enough for cricket,” he once said.

Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding, another player helped by Sir Clyde said: “Another good man gone – he is not just a legend in the West Indies but a legend of the world.”