A solid wicketkeeper and useful batsman, Simpson Guillen, better known as Sammy, is one of only 14 men to play Test cricket for two countries (the two most recent being Kepler Wessels and John Traicos). Guillen played 5 Tests for the West Indies in Australia in 1951-52 before taking up residence of New Zealand and playing for Canterbury. Just under four years later he played three Tests for New Zealand against the West Indies (they raised no objection despite Guillen not having fully completed the four-year residency in his adopted country). There was no animosity either. "They all formed a ring, took their caps off and gave me three cheers," he later recalled. "I could have been out right there and then, I felt so emotional." The last act of his career was a historic one: Guillen stumped Alf Valentine to seal New Zealand's first ever Test victory, for which they had waited 26 years and 45 matches. He retired immediately after the match.
Martin Williamson