| Jack Noreiga was a former Trinidad and Tobago and | | | | second match of that series, Noreiga claimed an |
| West Indies off-spinner who played First Class cricket | | | | astounding nine wickets for 95 runs-the best innings |
| between 1961 and 1975. Although he holds a West | | | | bowling figures for a West Indian in Tests. In addition, |
| Indian record, few might recall his exploits-mainly | | | | the Trinidadian offspinner was the only W.I. bowler to |
| because he only ever played one Test series for the | | | | capture nine wickets in an innings. However, that was |
| Caribbean side. Unlike his compatriot, Andy | | | | not a match-winning effort as India took a 1-0 series |
| Ganteaume, Noreiga was not a one-Test wonder, but | | | | lead with a thumping seven-wicket win in Port of Spain. |
| rather a one-series wonder. | | | | The third match, played on a placid pitch in |
| Born in St. Joseph, Trinidad on April 15, 1936, Jack | | | | Georgetown, Guyana was a meandering draw in |
| Noreiga made his First Class debut for Trinidad and | | | | which Noreiga took a solitary wicket. In the fourth Test |
| Tobago in the 1961/62 season as a 25-year old right | | | | at Port of Spain-also a drawn match-Noreiga took his |
| arm off-break bowler. His belated start in First Class | | | | second five-wicket haul to take his Test tally to 17 |
| cricket was well surpassed by his surprising entry into | | | | wickets from 4 matches at an average of exactly |
| Test cricket at the ripe age of 35. Noreiga must have | | | | 29.00. |
| been a surprise selection to the regional team for the | | | | What made Noreiga's record so remarkable was his |
| 1971 home series against India. According to veteran | | | | age, that he only played one series and he was a |
| Caribbean commentator, Tony Cozier, Noreiga was | | | | fringe player for Trinidad and Tobago. He only played |
| "little more than a reliable club offspinner" prior to his | | | | 17 matches for Trinidad between 1961 and 1975, taking |
| selection to the T&T and West Indies teams in | | | | 68 wickets at an average just below 30. When he |
| the 1970/1971 season. | | | | retired from First Class cricket, he became involved in |
| The offspinner made his Test debut against India at | | | | coaching in Trinidad. Noreiga passed away on August |
| Kingston in February 1971, when he was 34 going on | | | | 8, 2003 at age 67. His record left an indelible mark in |
| 35. He bowled economically-taking one wicket in the | | | | the annals of West Indies cricket and might well stand |
| only innings that India had to bat. The West Indies held | | | | for quite some time. |
| on for a draw after India enforced the follow-on. In the | | | | |