Denis Atkinson, the former West Indies captain who was the senior partner in the largest seventh-wicket partnership in Test history, has died at the age of 75. Atkinson hit his only Test century, a mighty 219, as he and Clairmonte Depeiaza (122) rescued West Indies from 147 for 6 (in reply to 668) with a partnership of 347 in the fourth Test against Australia at Bridgetown in 1954-55.

It was only Atkinson's second Test as captain after he took over from the injured Jeff Stollmeyer, and he was not the most popular choice, having not fully established himself in the team.

In all Atkinson averaged 31.79 from his 22 Tests, three more than he averaged in first-class cricket. He was also a useful purveyor of offcutters and offbreaks who took 47 wickets at 35.04.

Atkinson led West Indies to three consecutive wins over New Zealand a year later, but after that he presided over defeat in the fourth Test - New Zealand's first Test victory, after 26 years and 45 matches.

He played his final Test against Pakistan in Barbados in 1957-58, when he returned figures of 62-35-61-1. His last wicket was Hanif Mohammad, caught behind for 337 after a matchsaving 970-minute vigil, the longest innings in Test history.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd