Background
Depeiaza was born in Mount Standfast, Saint James Parish, Barbados.
Depeiaza was born in Mount Standfast, Saint James Parish, Barbados.
A wicketkeeper, he played in the Barbados Cricket League. He played first-class cricket for Barbados from 1951-1952 to 1956-1957, and toured New Zealand with the West Indian team in 1955-1956. He played the last three Tests against Australia in 1954-1955, and the first two against New Zealand in 1955-1956.
In the first Test of the New Zealand tour he did not keep wicket – Alfie Binns was preferred – and he bowled for the only time in his first-class career.
The pair came together with the score at 147 for 6 in reply to Australia"s first innings of 668. Their partnership record still stands.
This was the first known instance of a chest protector used in Test cricket. Following the innings, the crowd collected $1000 for him.
Nicknamed "The Leaning Tower of Depeiaza" because of the way he leaned forward in his defensive shots, Depeiaza worked as a customs clerk.
He moved to England and played league and Minor Counties cricket in the 1960s and 1970s. He died in 1995 at Manchester, England.