Roy Fredericks was a diminutive left-handed opening batsman, who stood up to the mighty fast bowlers of 1970s with aplomb. He made his First-Class debut for British Guinea in the 1963-64 season. In 1966-67 and 1967-68, he had a couple of excellent seasons in First-Class cricket and that resulted in him being picked for the Test series against Australia in 1968.

However, it was only in his 15h Test that Fredericks composed his first hundred. It came against New Zealand at Kingston, Jamaica. He then essayed a century in a closely fought Test match against England at Edgbaston in 1973.

Even now though, cricket lovers romanticize Fredericks pulling and hooking Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee with bravado to notch up a sparkling knock of 169 in just 145 deliveries in a Test match played at the WACA in 1975-76. Remember, it was a series that Australia won 5-1 and going into that match, the regular opener Gordon Greenidge was dropped and not many wanted to open the batting against the hostile pair of Lillee and Thomson. The legend has it that eventually Lance Gibbs put his hands up and said he could open the batting. Only then, Julien came forward to pair with Fredericks at top of the order.

His hundred inspired rest of the batsmen and they won their only Test of that series. Both Thomson and Lillee went for more than six runs per over. Former Australian captain, Lindsay Hassett, on commentary said that it was the finest innings he had seen. Fredericks played his last Test series against Pakistan in 1977. He was a junior minister in the Guyanese government. He also was involved in coaching.

By Bharath Ramaraj