Sammy Guillen

Sammy Guillen

Guillen in 1956
Personal information
Full name	Simpson Clairmonte Guillen
Born	(1924-09-24)24 September 1924 Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Died	1 March 2013(2013-03-01) (aged 88) Christchurch, New Zealand
Batting	Right-handed
Role	Wicket-keeper-batsman
Relations	Victor Guillen (father) Noel Guillen (brother) Justin Guillen (grandson) Logan van Beek (grandson)
International information
National sides	West Indies (1951–1952) New Zealand (1956)
Test debut (cap 73/78)	22 December 1951  West Indies v Australia
Last Test	9 March 1956  New Zealand v West Indies
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1947/48–1950/51	Trinidad
1952/53–1960/61	Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 8 66 Runs scored 202 2,672 Batting average 20.19 26.98 100s/50s 0/1 3/14 Top score 54 197 Balls bowled – 120 Wickets – 1 Bowling average – 49.00 5 wickets in innings – 0 10 wickets in match – 0 Best bowling – 1/1 Catches/stumpings 13/3 111/34
Source: CricketArchive, 23 July 2016

Simpson Clairmonte "Sammy" Guillen (24 September 1924 – 1 March 2013) was one of the few men to have played Test cricket for two countries. Guillen was a right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper. He played five Test matches for the West Indies and three for New Zealand in the 1950s, including New Zealand team's first victory, over the West Indies. He sealed the win by stumping Alf Valentine in what was his final Test.^[1]

Born 24 September 1924 at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Guillen came from a family of cricketers which include: Victor Guillen (Simpson's father, a Test umpire in the West Indies),^[2] Noel Guillen (Simpson's brother, whom the Queen's Park Oval's outdoor practice nets are named after),^[3] Jeffrey Guillen (a well-known real estate mogul who played cricket competitively throughout his teens and well into his 30s; Noel's son), Charles Guillen (a former player who played a major factor in the coaching of West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo) and Justin Guillen, an all-rounder for Trinidad and Tobago. His grandson Logan van Beek^[4] plays for the Canterbury Wizards in cricket and for the Christchurch Cougars in the NBL. Internationally, he represents the Netherlands in cricket.

Simpson resided in Christchurch with his wife Val Guillen, a former wicketkeeper for the province of Canterbury women's team. In 2004 he published his memoirs, Calypso Kiwi.^[5]

On the death of Colin Snedden on 24 April 2011, Guillen became the oldest surviving New Zealand Test cricketer; he was also the second-oldest surviving West Indian Test cricketer. He died at Christchurch on 1 March 2013.^[6]

Guillen held the further rare distinction of also playing in the final of New Zealand's premier association football competition, the Chatham Cup, gaining a runners-up medal for Western AFC in 1954. Unsurprisingly for a wicket-keeper, his position in the Western side was goalkeeper.

• List of cricketers who have played for more than one international team

• Sammy Guillen at ESPNcricinfo
• Obituary by Bryan Davis