One of the tremendous potential players who got unsuccessful because of a lack of commitment and dedication was David Murray. Undoubtedly, David Murray was a talented wicketkeeper and capable batsman who played three Test fifties and a first-class double hundred on the 1978-79 tour of India at Jamshedpur. He was known for his skills but because of his drug habit, he ruined his career. He belonged to a family where his father was also a well-known batsman for the West Indies team and his son was also a known former wicket-keeper like the father. Now, he lives in poverty in his hometown. In this blog, we will tell you about David Murray personal life and career in detail.
So read the article to know more about his life and how his career ended in brief.
David Murray Biography
David Anthony Murray was professionally known as David Murray. He is a former cricketer of the West Indies team. He played in nineteen Tests and ten ODIs from 1973 to 1982 as a wicketkeeper. He was a right-handed batsman and leg-break bowler but he especially played as a wicketkeeper. He was a leg-break bowler, meaning he bowled with his right arm with a wrist spin action. But he is especially known for wicket keeping which means he usually stood on the fielding side behind the wicket or stumps to take a catch, stump the batsman out and run out a batsman when getting a chance.
Early life and Family
David Murray was born on 29 May 1950 in Bridgetown, Barbados. He is currently 71 years of age. His father was Everton Weekes who was a West Indian batsman. His father was a right-handed batsman and was known as one of the hardest hitters in World Cricket. But unlike his father, Murray’s career was not that successful though he was a talented wicketkeeper. His father was known among “The Three Ws” of the West Indies team which included Frank Worrell, Clyde Walcott, and Everton Weekes (Murray’s father).
From a young age, he was a user of marijuana which is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant.
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Murray’s Professional Career
Murray spent most of his international career as an understudy to his Trinidadian counterpart Deryck Murray and in 1981 was usurped by Jeff Dujon of Jamaica. He was frustrated at his lack of opportunities.
After facing serious underlying drug problems, he was sent home from Australia in 1975-76. But six years later, in Australia, he played back-to-back Test matches with a broken finger but he was angry at being dropped for the one-dayers that followed and did not play again.
He threw in his lot with the West Indies Rebel tours to South Africa and got a lifetime ban in 1983.
Domestic and International Matches
In his domestic career as a wicketkeeper, he played for the Barbados team from 1970 to 1982. In his International Career, he played for the West Indies team. He made his International Test debut on 31 March 1978 in which the team played against Australia. He played his last Test match on 2 January 1982 against Australia. He made his ODI debut on 7 September 1973 against England. And he played his last ODI match on 5 December 1981 which was against Pakistan.
Career Statistics of David Murray
In his overall career, he played 19 Test matches, 10 ODI matches, 114 first-class matches, and 50 List A matches. He scored 601 runs in Test matches, 45 runs in ODI, 4503 runs in first-class, and 627 runs in List A matches. His batting average is 21.46 in Test matches, 9.00 in ODIs, 30.84 in first-class, and 24.11 in List A match. His top score is 84 in Test matches, 35 in ODI matches, 206 in first-class, and 78 in List A match. He has bowled 12 balls in first-class matches and 8 balls in List A matches.
Murray’s Personal Life
Murray has a son named Ricky Hoyte and his son is also a wicketkeeper who played for Barbados in the 1990s. His son was a left-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper like him and he played in the first-class and List A cricket for the West Indian domestic cricket team from 1990 to 1999.
He lived in Australia until 1991 but then returned to his native town. He is presently living in poverty at his childhood home in Bridgetown.
Controversy and Drug Habit
Being a son of the West Indian batsman, Murray usually faced controversy. Because of being a user of marijuana, he was almost thrown out of the 1975-76 tour to Australia. But was saved by the intervention of the generous senior player named Lance Gibbs. His drug habit was reportedly fuelled by a tour of India where he found drugs easily available. There was a waiter at the team hotel who started the whole thing. There was a market near the Gateway of India where you used to get anything, good African marijuana, everything… It’s a great place. He had to move on to another drug, cocaine, by 1978.
The final words
It is considered that David Murray would have played more than 19 Test matches because he was talented. However, due to his drug habits, his career didn’t go successful but still, he is known for his wicket-keeping skills. He fell on hard times and this made him a drug addict. If he would not be a drug addict, he would surely have a successful career like other West Indies team players. So overall this article was about his personal life and professional career in detail.
