Ezra Moseley joined Glamorgan for the 1980 season as a raw 22-year old having impressed in club cricket in his native Barbados and yet to play in any first-class. He made an immediate impact and, had it not been for a serious back injury, Ezra could have become the club`s most successful overseas bowler. As testified by his career haul of 279 wickets at just 23 runs apiece in all first-class cricket, he might have been one of the best fast bowlers in county cricket.
The feisty right-arm bowler burst onto the county scene in 1980, taking seven wickets on his Championship debut against Essex at Swansea pitch, with the young Bajan ending the season with 51 victims to his name. He consolidated on this headway in 1981 with a further 52 wickets at just 18 runs apiece, besides claiming a hat-trick against Kent in their Benson and Hedges Cup game and winning his Glamorgan cap. However, Ezra’s finest performance in 1981 came again at Swansea, where he took 6/23 against the Australians and, despite the sluggish pitch, he troubled Test class batsmen with his speed and swerve through the air.
Just when it seemed he looked like pressing for a spot in the West Indies team, Ezra broke down in 1982 with a stress fracture in his back. It required surgery and a spell on the sidelines, and with uncertain medical reports over his long-term future, Glamorgan opted for the services of Winston Davis, another West Indian fast bowler. After plenty of rest, Ezra modified his action and run-up, and returned to the UK as a professional in the Lancashire Leagues for Littleborough and Oldham.
He also went on the so-called ‘rebel’ West Indian tours to South Africa in 1982/83 and 1983/84, besides appearing for Eastern Province in domestic cricket in South Africa, where his skidding pace off a relatively short run made him a hostile bowler. In 1986 Ezra re-appeared in six further Championship matches for Glamorgan following an injury to Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad before becoming the sole member of the ‘rebel’ party to South Africa to have their life-ban from West Indian cricket overturned.
In 1989/90 Ezra made his West Indies debut t the age of 32 as he appeared in 2 Tests against England on their tour of the Caribbean. He formed a potent pace attack alongside Curtley Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Courtney Walsh, with Ezra also breaking the hand of Graham Gooch, the tourist’s captain on his Test debut at Port-of-Spain. Ezra also appeared in 9 One-Day Internationals before retiring from professional cricket at the end of the 1991/92 season after another stint in South Africa with Northern Transvaal. In all, Ezra claimed 114 first-class wickets at a cost of 24 runs in 35 appearances for Glamorgan besides posting four half-centuries.
Ezra subsequently became a highly regarded coach in Barbados, coaching at St. Michael’s School and playing a key role in the early career of Jason Holder, the West Indies captain and fellow fast bowler. Having coached various men’s and women’s team in the Caribbean, Ezra duly became assistant coach of the West Indies women’s team, as well joining the Barbados selection panel, besides playing for the West Indies Seniors and Masters teams in various competitions.
Tragically, he died after being struck by a car whilst riding his bicycle in Christ Church, Barbados on 5 February 2021 a month after his 63rd birthday.
MOSELEY, Ezra Alphonsa
Born – Waldrons Village, Barbados, 5th January 1958.
Died – Christ Church, Barbados, 5th February 2021.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 70* v Kent at Canterbury, 1980; 6/23 v Australians at Swansea, 1981.
In List A cricket – 25 v Essex at Chelmsford, 1986; 4/8 v Kent at Sophia Gardens, 1981.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| F-c | 35 | 43 | 10 | 655 | 19.85 | – | 4 | 7 | – |
| List A | 30 | 19 | 6 | 107 | 8.23 | – | – | 3 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 5461 | 196 | 2729 | 114 | 23.94 | 5 | – |
| List A | 1289 | 33 | 694 | 37 | 18.75 | – | – |