The Spin | Calypso Kings: how David Rudder created the West Indies' anthem


Rudder shares lyrics to an upcoming song about Windrush as West Indies head across the Atlantic to bail out English cricket

The arrival of West Indies for this summer’s Test series in England is not the first time that bright young people from the Caribbean have travelled across the Atlantic to bail out the country during an hour of need.

It may be for the financial benefit of English cricket, rather than a nation on its knees after a bloody world war, but there is a parallel to be drawn with Jason Holder’s tourists and those aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948 – as well as a stirring anthem that connects the two generations.

Related: Geoffrey Boycott aims dig at BBC as he confirms TMS exit after 14 years

Related: Three West Indies players decline to travel for England Test series

Now they’re making restrictions and laws to spoil our beauty. But in the end, we shall prevail. This is not just cricket, this thing goes beyond the boundary. It’s up to you and me to make sure that they fail.

Related: The prime of Richie Richardson: one man and his West Indies sun hat | Andy Bull

Related: Eleven great songs about cricket, compiled by Andy Bull

Verse

I heard the story of a wounded Britannia, begging her subjects to come on in,

Continue reading...