Cyril Clairmonte Depeiaza (10 October 1928 – 10 November 1995) was a West Indian cricketer. Depeiaza was born in Mount Standfast, Saint James Parish, Barbados. A wicketkeeper, he played in the Barbados Cricket League. He played first-class cricket for

Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate) ...

from 1951–52 to 1956–57, and toured New Zealand with the West Indian team in 1955–56. He played the last three Tests against Australia in 1954–55, and the first two against New Zealand in 1955–56. In the first Test of the New Zealand tour he did not keep wicket –

Alfie Binns Alfred Philip Binns (24 July 1929 – 29 December 2017) was a West Indian cricketer from Jamaica who played in five Tests between 1953 and 1956. He played as wicketkeeper in all five Tests. Career Binns attended St. George's College and repr ...

was preferred – and he bowled for the only time in his first-class career. In a brief international Test career, he is best known for a world Test record 7th wicket partnership with

Denis Atkinson Denis St Eval Atkinson (9 August 1926 – 9 November 2001) was a West Indian cricketer who played 22 Test matches as an all-rounder, hitting 922 runs and taking 47 wickets. He also played first-class cricket for Barbados and Trinidad. Atkinso ...

of 347 in which he made his only first-class hundred of 122.West Indies v Australia, Bridgetown 1954–55
/ref> The pair came together with the score at 147 for 6 in reply to Australia's first innings of 668. Their partnership record still stands. During the partnership he was hit on the chest numerous times by short balls from

Keith Miller Keith Ross Miller (28 November 1919 – 11 October 2004) was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. His ability, irreverent m ...

and

Ray Lindwall Raymond Russell Lindwall (3 October 1921 – 23 June 1996) was a cricketer who represented Australia in 61 Tests from 1946 to 1960. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He also played top-flight rugby league ...

, leading to a suggestion from the father of his Barbados team-mate

John Goddard John Goddard may refer to: * John Goddard (engraver) (fl. 1645–1671), engraver *John Goddard (cricketer) (1919–1987), West Indian cricketer *Johnathan Goddard (1981–2008), American football player *John Goddard (adventurer) John Goddard (Ju ...

that he wear a piece of protective foam rubber around his chest. This was the first known instance of a chest protector used in Test cricket. Following the innings, the crowd collected $1000 for him. Nicknamed "The Leaning Tower of Depeiaza" because of the way he leaned forward in his defensive shots, Depeiaza worked as a customs clerk.Sobers, p. 46. He moved to England and played league and Minor Counties cricket in the 1960s and 1970s. He died in 1995 at

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

References

Sources

* Sobers, G. (1988) ''Twenty Years at the Top'', MacMillan London, .

External links

* 1928 births 1995 deaths Barbados cricketers Barbadian cricketers West Indies Test cricketers Northumberland cricketers Wicket-keepers {{Barbados-cricket-bio-stub