Sir Clyde Walcott, 80; West Indian Cricket Champion and Coach

Sir Clyde Walcott, 80, the legendary West Indian cricket player who later headed the International Cricket Council, died Saturday in a Barbados hospital, the BBC reported. The cause of death was not reported.

Walcott is credited with helping turn the West Indies into an international cricket power in the late 1940s and 1950s. He also helped fuel the sport’s popularity throughout the Caribbean.

A native of St. Michael, Barbados, Walcott first played for Barbados as a 16-year-old. He made his international debut against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48. A year later, he made a name for himself playing against India, where he made 452 runs in the Tests.

In 1954, he made his best Test score of 220 against England on his home ground. In 1955, he scored a record five centuries in a series against Australia.

After retiring in 1960, he coached Barbados and managed the West Indies when they won the World Cup in 1975 and 1979.

He later served as president of the West Indies cricket board.

He was knighted for his service to cricket in 1994, a year after he took over as chairman of the International Cricket Council.