Tommie Burton

Who was Tommie Burton?

William Thomas Burton was a coloured West Indian cricketer best known as a member of the 1900 and 1906 West Indian tourists to England. He is generally known as Tommie Burton.

He was the son of a black mother and a white father. He was brought up in Barbados and served for some years there as a practice bowler and in trial matches. Realising that his colour and roots would severely limit his opportunities in Barbados he emigrated to British Guiana in 1899 where there were more chances for coloured cricketers. Even in British Guiana his role as a practice bolwer resulted in him being classed as a Professional and hence excluded from the Inter-Colonial Tournament.

He sufficiently impressed in British Guiana to be selected for the 1900 tour to England even though he had not played a single important match. He was described before the tour as "Probably the best bowler in the West Indies, using his head to great advantage. Hard hitting, run-getting bat". On the tour he was second in the bowling averages marginally behind Float Woods and leading wicket taker with 78. He had one good innings of 64* against the Gentlemen of the M.C.C. but otherwise his batting was disappointing.