Jimmy Adams was born on this day, 1968.

He had a peculiar career.

Adams had one of the greatest starts to a Test career. He averaged 86.40 after 14 Tests.

For perspective, Labuschagne averaged 63.43 after 14 Tests.

But he managed only 29.58 in his next 40 Tests.
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This brought his career average down to 41.26 (less than half after the 14-Test mark).

Again, for perspective, Mark Waugh averaged 41.81.

But he bowled ("every time I take an international wicket, I'm surprised"), kept wickets, and led West Indies.
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He was a hard-nosed, gutsy cricketer whose pads Indian fans will never forget.

In Antigua in 2000, he led and guided West Indies to a 1-wicket win in one of the greatest Tests of all time.

My favourite Adams story is from West Indies' tour of South Africa in 1998-99.
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South Africa routed West Indies 5-0. Worse, a lot of West Indians picked up injuries.

Walsh twisted an ankle.

Ambrose needed to have a toenail removed.

Hooper had a groin problem.

Dillon and Murray went down with food poisoning.

And Ramnarine developed a shoulder niggle.
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But nothing compares to Adams's.

He was flying out to South Africa, and was trying to cut a bread roll open with a plastic spoon.

He ended up slicing a tendon (two tendons, according to another source) of the little finger of his left hand.
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He was ruled out of the entire Test series.

This has to be one of the most bizarre injuries to have happened to a Test captain.