Oliver Layne

Who was Oliver Layne?

Oliver Hoffran Layne was a coloured West Indian cricketer who toured England in 1906. He was a right-handed batsman and right arm medium pace bowler.

Being a professional, he had limited opportunities to play in important matches, the Inter-Colonial Tournament being restricted to amateurs only. He made his debut for Barbados against Lord Brackley's XI in 1904-05 and had immediate success scoring 93 runs and taking 11 wickets in two matches. Such was his success that he was immediately selected for the combined West Indies team in all three of their matches against the tourists. However in these matches he had little success.

His next important matches were against Lord Brackley's team in 1904-05 when he scored 28 and took 5 wickets in the Barbados match. Again he achieved little in his two matches for the combined West Indies team.

He was selected for the second West Indies touring side that toured England in 1906. In 10 first class matches he scored 465 at an average of 23.25 and took 34 wickets at an average of 24.08.