A CRICKETING great who played in the Lancashire League for nearly a decade in its heyday will be returning to East Lancashire for the first time in 56 years tonight.

Sir Everton Weekes played almost 50 times for the West Indies and was one of the game’s greatest players of his era, but it was his exploits for Bacup that he is best remembered for in East Lancashire.

The 89-year-old signed for Bacup in 1949 having already played several Test matches, and he went on to dominate the Lancashire League until he left the club in 1958.

Sir Everton, born in Barbados, was the professional at Lanehead for seven of those 10 years and he played 170 games for the club.

He averaged an incredible 91 during those matches and more than 10,000 people would regularly descend on grounds to watch him and other international professionals which were gracing the league at the time.

A spokesman for Bacup Cricket Club said: “Tonight arguably the greatest ever professional to play for our club, Sir Everton Weekes, will be visiting the club for the first time since the last season he played here in 1958.

“Sir Everton averaged 58.61 in the 48 Test matches he played for West Indies and a steady 91.60 for us in the 170 games he played.

“He is a true legend of the game and it would be great to get as many people as possible attending the club to meet and greet the great man. Everyone is welcome.”

After retiring from cricket Sir Everton was made an OBE, before in 1995 he was Knighted for his services to cricket.

Sir Everton, a member of the famous 'three W's' along with Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell, will be appearing at the club’s Lanehead Lane ground from 6pm to 8pm.