Augustine “Gus” Logie is a former middle-order right-handed batsman from 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 in Sobo, Trinidad in 1960, Logie became a graceful batsman with good technique. He began his First Class career with Trinidad and Tobago in the 1977/1978 season. Logie’s off-break bowling was casual by all accounts. He was rarely called upon to bowl in first-class cricket and only took five wickets between 1977 and 1993; 3 in First Division matches and 2 in one-day matches. His fielding certainly made up for his general lack of skill.
Gus Logie made his ODI debut in the 1981 Benson and Hedges World Series Cup. Surprisingly, he played four games in that series but failed to win at all. His first chance to win an ODI came in his fifth match against India at his home ground, Queen’s Park Oval. Logie scored six unbeaten runs in that game. He was lucky to have a chance to win even then; such was the dominance of the West Indies batting order.
Logie made his Test debut against India in Kingston in 1983. In fact, he had a chance to win – twice! However, he was sold out in the first inning for 13 and scored just 10 in the second inning. Logie’s Test run was characterized by some strong innings, though it was often inconsistent. He got 16 half-century proofs, but only 2 centuries. Twice, he was fired in the ’90s. Out of 78 trial innings, Logie racked up 2,470 runs at a good 35.79 average.
Logie’s ODI run was also characterized by inconsistency, but this was more acceptable in the short version, when quick runs are often needed. Out of 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 he retired from playing all forms of competitive cricket.
However, Logie’s involvement in cricket did not stop with his retirement as a player. He got his coaching license and took the reins of the West Indies for a couple of years until the end of 2004. The highlight of that period was winning the 2004 ICC Champion Trophy. He left soon after and became involved as a coach on the Bermuda cricket programme.