CHARLIE DAVIS STILL BATTLING AGAINST THE ODDS
T&T TEST CRICKETER CONTINUES TO FIGHT
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
By David Brewster
Express
October 16, 2001
Pages 23 and 28
He is showing no signs of deterioration. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is unbeatable. But the rare disease, affecting only one in every 100,000, is facing a fierce battle from Charlie Davis.
It is now 16 years since the gritty Trinidad and West Indies batsman was stricken with MS. But he maintains his stable condition by walking and weight training at Queen's Park Oval.
MS, an incurable disease of the nervous system, is characterised by a gradual degeneration of body movements. Less than 40 in this country suffer with it.
Davis has never cried out "why me?". He has taken the disease philosophically, thanking God for the good times and the strength to fight it relentlessly.
He got the bad news in 1983. Davis had long noticed a twitching in the left eye. He thought it was the result of a blow he sustained from a fast rising ball, probably from one of Charlie Griffith's bouncers.
Later there was mild visual impairment, followed by a lack of co-ordination and tiredness.
When the disease was first diagnosed he said it was God's decision.
"If God wants it to be so, so be it. I have no say in the matter. I accept it. He still holds that view.
Davis said he was concerned that, because of its rarity, even local doctors were not up to date on MS. He dropped out of the 35-member support group here, blaming several members for being too obsessed on the affliction instead of putting up a stronger fight.
Despite his predicament, though, the ex-Test cricketer claims he has no regrets.
His two children, Ryan and Tracey, have completed studies at universities abroad and "were doing quite well."
Davis, however, refused to elaborate on his broken marriage and his dramatic loss of earning power as a result of MS.
Anne Marie (ex-wife), he said bluntly, was unable to cope with the disease. "She has remarried I prefer to leave it at that," he said.
Assuredly moving out on his own has been rough on this remarkable man, once a towering figure in West Indies cricket.
The high cost in car repairs and parts resulted in his vehicle being parked up. "I will like to move around some more. Go to see friends. Play a little bridge. But I can't because of lack of transport," he said.
Medical bills and other expenses have also left him reeling.
Davis will hate to read this, but the nation must assist him now in his toughest innings.
He was a national treasure, a dependable competitor who always gave 100 percent. His contribution cannot be measured in dollars and cents.
But the 57-year-old Davis said he was feeling fine and talked for hours when interviewed last week at his Rosalino Street apartment in Woodbrook.
Despite his ailment, he is still an excellent raconteur, with a knack of relating the colourful tales of bygone sporting days.
He talked about the jolly days at St Mary's College, when he captained both the cricket and football teams; his stint as a table tennis player for Casuals; his successful career as a tall scoring West Indian batsman and even his decade as a sales manager at West Indian Tobacco (Witco), when he was at the peak.
Describing Witco as probably the most efficient business house in the country, Davis related an incident involving identical twins Andrew and Anthony Clarke, who were also talented sportsmen.
"I was one of the few who could tell the difference between them. One day, Andrew, who worked with us, took a day off and he sent his brother to hold on for the day, instructing him to just sit in the office ... do nothing ... if asked a question refer the person to another supervisor ... and most of all - keep far away from Charlie. He did just that and to this day, nobody in Witco ever found out," Davis said.
Davis also related that for all his speed and hostility, the Barbadian fast bowler Griffith was really a harmless soul with a coward streak.
"Once we had a little row on tour. Pointing to my bag I joked that I was a Trini and always walked with my iron (gun). Griff was scared and actually called the manager to search the bag. That night he hardly slept a wink," he joked.
The modest Davis, who was honoured with a Humming Bird (Silver) in 1993, said he never considered himself a "great batsman".
Statistics, however, give a different picture.
In his 15 Tests, he compiled 1,301 runs, averaging 54.20. His highest score was 183 versus New Zealand in Bridgetown in 1972.
In first-class cricket he made 5,538 runs, averaging 41.32, with 14 centuries, capturing 63 wickets with his medium-pace bowling.
Davis was also the outstanding West Indian batsman in the 1971 series against India, scoring 529 runs (average 132,25) in four Tests.
He certainly showed greatness in the second Test in Port of Spain.
Davis fought a lone battle in a losing cause, batting with resolution against the trickey Indian spinners Erapali Prasana and Srinivasan Venkataraghavan to finish unbeaten on 71 and 74 respectively.
He followed this with an unbeaten 125 in the third match at Georgetown and contributed 79 in a total of 501 for five declared in Bridgetown, before hitting another century in the fifth and final Test in Port of Spain.
A year later this superb batsman amassed 466 runs (average 58.25) in the series against New Zealand, hitting 90 in the second Test at Port of Spain, as many of his colleagues fell to injudicious strokes.
He followed this with his highest Test score, 183, in the third match at Bridgetown, in a partnership with Sobers that saw the pair on 254 for the sixth wicket.
His innings lasted 10 hours, after he was dropped in the slips for 18.
Davis' maiden Test century was scored at Lord's in 1979. He was involved in a mix-up with Gary Sobers, which resulted in Sobers' dismissal. Davis atoned for his error by hitting a century.