Augustine “Gus” Logie is a former right-handed, middle-order batsman for the West Indies. A diminutive player and exceptional outfielder, Logie played for the West Indies from 1983 to 1991-when they were a champion team. When the team fielded, Logie usually provided a safe pair of hands, either saving runs or taking crisp catches.
Born at Sobo, Trinidad in 1960, Logie developed into a stylish batsman with a fair technique. He began his First-class career with Trinidad and Tobago in the 1977/1978 season. Logie’s off-break bowling was occasional in every respect. He was rarely called upon to bowl in First-class cricket and took only five wickets between 1977 and 1993; 3 in First class matches and 2 in one-day matches. His fielding certainly compensated for his lack of all-round ability.
Gus Logie made his ODI debut in the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup of 1981. Amazingly, he played four matches in that series but did not get to bat at all. His first chance to bat in an ODI came in his fifth match against India on his home ground- Queen’s Park Oval. Logie scored an unbeaten six runs in that match. He was lucky that he got a chance to bat even then; such was the dominance of the West Indies’ batting order.
Logie made his Test debut against India at Kingston in 1983. He actually got a chance to bat – twice! However, he was run out in the first innings for 13 and scored just 10 in the second innings. Logie’s Test career was characterised by some important innings, although he was often inconsistent. He scored 16 Test half-centuries, but only 2 centuries. Twice, he was dismissed in the 90s. From 78 Test innings, Logie accumulated 2,470 runs at a good average of 35.79.
Logie’s ODI career was characterised by inconsistency also, but this was more acceptable in the short version, when quick runs are often needed. From 158 ODIs, he scored 2,809 runs at an average of 28.95. His batting strike rate was a creditable 73.90. Logie cracked a lone ODI century and 14 half-centuries. He last played for the West Indies in an ODI in 1993-the year when he retired from playing all forms of competitive cricket.
Logie’s involvement in cricket did not stop at his retirement as a player, however. He earned his coaching license and took the reins of the West Indies for a couple years until the end of 2004. The highlight of that stint was winning the 2004 ICC Champion’s Trophy. He left soon after that and became involved as a coach in Bermuda’s cricket programme.
