At the conclusion of World War 2, it took some time for cricket to re-establish itself across the globe and the West Indies didn’t return to the Test Match arena until 1948 when they defeated England (touring under the MCC banner) 2-0 in a four-match series in the Caribbean.

They then embarked on trips to India, Pakistan and Ceylon (as it then was), improving with each game they played.

During this period some new and exciting talent had been unearthed, with three young Barbadians forcing their way into the Test side for the first time.

Coincidentally, all three had been born within seventeen months of each other and all within a mile of the Kensington Oval in Barbados – the most famous sporting venue on the island.

Later, they became universally known as ‘The Three Ws’ – and that stadium was even named after them – but at the time of the 1950 tour of England, Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell were just like the rest of the party, keen and eager to make an impression and hoping to win a series on these shores for the first time.

"The leg breaks of Cecil Williams skittled Notts for 240 in their first innings and following-on, Worrell also claimed five wickets, although a defiant century from Reg Simpson delayed the inevitable."

Of the three, Weekes had been quickest to show his international pedigree, emphatically proving what a high-class batsman he already was.

Spread over four matches – between the final home Test against England (MCC) and into the first three Tests on the Indian tour, he had become the first batsman to score centuries in five consecutive Test match innings. The sequence ended when he was run out for 90 at Madras in the 4th Test.

John Goddard of Barbados captained the 1950 tour party, who arrived in Nottingham directly after being defeated in the opening Test of the summer at Old Trafford.

Losing that match by 202 runs was particularly hard on a young spinner by the name of Alf Valentine. The 20 year old slow left-armer had forced his way into the starting eleven for Manchester by taking thirteen wickets during the previous warm-up match, against Lancashire.

On the opening morning of the series Valentine, thrust into the attack early on, took the first five England wickets before lunch and ended with eight for 104 on his international debut.

Valentine repeated his exploits of the previous week by, again, taking a total of thirteen wickets and was well supported by another spinner making his senior bow, 21 year old Sonny Ramadhin.

Neither spinner was included in the match against Nottinghamshire which was again spread between Saturday and Tuesday, with the Sunday being a rest day.

The Notts’ bowlers, nine of whom were used, were certainly in need of that rest day, having been hit for 525-5 from the 130 overs they bowled on the opening day.

At 80-2 with both openers gone, Notts would have been satisfied with their early progress but they were then put firmly on the back foot in a stand of 163 for the third wicket.

Only the run out of Frank Worrell for 83 brought a temporary halt to the onslaught but the day belonged to Everton Weekes, who scored a mammoth 279.

Charlie Macartney’s Trent Bridge record score of 345, compiled during the Australians’ 1921 tour, had appeared under threat until the tiring Weekes was bowled by Joe Hardstaff.

Incredibly, Weekes innings of 279 wasn’t even his highest score of the tour. At Fneer’s, against Cambridge University, he took the students attack for a career-best 304 not out.

On the whole tour Everton de Courcy Weekes batted 33 times and helped himself to a staggering 2,310 runs at an average of 79.65.

During the final two days of the Nottinghamshire match the West Indians picked up the twenty wickets they needed to complete their second success on the ground.

The leg breaks of Cecil Williams skittled Notts for 240 in their first innings and following-on, Worrell also claimed five wickets, although a defiant century from Reg Simpson delayed the inevitable.

Winning at Trent Bridge was the perfect tonic for the tourists, knowing that they would be back playing again there soon – in their maiden Test match in Nottingham.

17,19,20 June 1950
West Indians 525-5 dec (Weekes 279, Worrell 83)
Notts 240 (Stocks 68, Williams 5-54) and 224 (Simpson 109, Worrell 5-57)
West Indians won by an innings and 61 runs

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England v West Indies - Investec Test at Trent Bridge

England face West Indies in an Investec Test Match at Trent Bridge from Friday 25 May - Tuesday 29 May. Adult tickets cost £35-£50, all under 21s tickets cost £20, under 16s tickets cost £10 (£8 for day four) and family tickets cost £80 (2 adults, 2 under 16s).

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Dave Bracegirdle is a broadcaster, sports writer and author who provides ball-by-ball commentary of all of Nottinghamshire's LV= County Championship matches.