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Lawrence
Evan Maxwell was easily one of the most durable and respected
cricketers, who played in the Barbados Cricket Association First
division championship.
Born January 17, 1941 at Bayfield in the eastern parish of St. Philip,
Maxwell was a tall, bespectacled off-spin bowler, whose guile and
ability to take wickets on all sorts of surfaces stood out.
In a Division One career spanning more than two decades, he represented
Police with distinction, taking over 800 wickets, including 390 at 15.93
runs apiece between 1980 and 1993 when he last played at the amazing age
of 52.
One of his best First division seasons was in 1983 when he grabbed the
most wickets overall (63) at just 11.47 runs each to help spur Police to
the first of a hat-trick of titles under the captaincy of Leslie Reifer.
Maxwell followed with 56 wickets at an average of 15.33 in 1984 and took
35 at 15.75 apiece in 1985 to underline his reputation as one of the
best spin bowlers in the island.
It was a very telling period in the history of Police as it marked a
resurgence in titles. They were also champions in 1987 and later in 1998
and 1999, along with four other cups in 1964, 1966, 1969 and 1976.
A former Police captain as well, Maxwell represented Barbados in 16
first-class matches during a chequered career from 1969 to 1979. He took
34 wickets at 37.08 runs each with best figures of five
for 73 against the Combined Islands at Victoria Park in St. Lucia in
1978. Affectionately called "Jammie", Maxwell also had the
honour of captaining the island in the first two matches of the 1979
Shell Shield championship against Jamaica at Sabina Park in Kingston
(first innings points to Barbados) and the Combined Islands at the
Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's (victory for Barbados).
It was a very rewarding year as Barbados captured the title with David
Holford taking over as captain after returning from an overseas tour.
Maxwell toured England with the national team in 1969. He also played
two limited overs matches for Barbados towards the end of his career.
A true disciplinarian, Maxwell not only rose to the rank of a sergeant
in the Royal Barbados Police Force but he was also manager of the
Barbados cricket team for the 1995 Red Stripe Cup first-class
championship which the island won with one match to spare. He again
managed the team in 1996.
Maxwell continued to represent Police in the Intermediate division after
parting company with the First division side. He eventually hung up his
boots in 2000 at the age of 59, representing Police in the Barbados
Cricket League competition. He has retired from the Police Force and now
works at one of the island's leading wholesale companies, R.L. Seale
& Co. Ltd.
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