Robert Christiani

{{short description|West Indian cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Robert Christiani

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|7|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Georgetown, British Guiana

| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|1|4|1920|7|19|df=yes}}

| death_place = Toronto, Canada

| heightft = 5

| heightinch = 10

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm offbreak

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 22

| runs1 = 896

| bat avg1 = 26.35

| 100s/50s1 = 1/4

| top score1 = 107

| deliveries1 = 234

| wickets1 = 3

| bowl avg1 = 36.00

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 3/52

| catches/stumpings1= 19/2

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 88

| runs2 = 5,103

| bat avg2 = 40.50

| 100s/50s2 = 12/27

| top score2 = 181

| deliveries2 = 1,609

| wickets2 = 18

| bowl avg2 = 60.44

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/11

| catches/stumpings2= 96/12

| international = true

| country = West Indies

| testdebutagainst = England

| testdebutdate = 21 January

| testdebutyear = 1948

| lasttestdate = 24 February

| lasttestagainst = England

| lasttestyear = 1954

| testcap = 53

| source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51473.html CricInfo

| date = 15 October

| year = 2020

}}

Robert Julian Christiani (19 July 1920 – 4 January 2005) was a West Indian cricketer who played in 22 Tests from 1947–48 to 1953–54. At domestic level he played first-class cricket for British Guiana.

Christiani played his first Test in January 1948, playing against England; it was the West Indies first match since 1939 due to the interruption of the Second World War and he was one of seven debutantes fielded by the West Indies. Christiani was dismissed on 99,{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152900.html |title=England v West Indies 1947-48: First Test match |work=Wisden |accessdate=26 August 2012}}{{Cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/match_results_year.html?class=1;id=4;type=team |title=Records / West Indies / Test matches / List of match results (by year) |work=espncricinfo |accessdate=26 August 2012}} and is one of just three players in the history of Test cricket to have been dismissed one short of a century on debut.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/145089.html |title=Christiani and Stayers dead |work=espncricinfo |date=7 January 2005 |accessdate=26 August 2012}} Christiani made his maiden Test century later that year, in November when the West Indies toured India. He was one of four people to reach three figures in the West Indies innings, at the time equalling the record set by England. It was the only time Christiani reached 100 in his 22-Test career.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152923.html |title=India v West Indies 1948-49: First Test match |work=Wisden |accessdate=26 August 2012}}

At 5 foot 10 inches tall, Christiani was a skilled wicket-keeper, though only kept wicket once in Test matches. On that occasion he was a stand in for Clyde Walcott who was off the field with an injury; to underline his ability behind the stumps he affected two stumpings.{{Cite web |url=http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-01-14/SA-10.html |title=Robert Christiani — a true West Indian spirit |author=Vaneisa Baksh |work=The Trinidad Guardian |date=12 January 2005 |accessdate=26 August 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052518/http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-01-14/SA-10.html |url-status=dead }} According to Sir Everton Weekes, Christiani was a "very good team man, very unselfish and a very fine player who didn't use all the talent he had as well as he could have ... He was the type of batsman that would get into the 40s and wouldn't carry on."{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/51473.html |title=Robert Christiani |work=espncricinfo |accessdate=26 August 2012}} After the end of his playing career, Christiani emigrated to Canada. He settled in Toronto where he died in 2005. Christiani suffered from Alzheimer's disease.{{Cite web |url=http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-01-14/SA-10.html |title=Robert Christiani — a true West Indian spirit |author=Vaneisa Baksh |work=The Trinidad Guardian |date=12 January 2005 |accessdate=26 August 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052518/http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-01-14/SA-10.html |url-status=dead }} Three of Robert's brothers were also cricketers: Cyril, his elder brother, represented the West Indies in four Tests, while his two brothers (Harry and Bertie) followed in Robert's footsteps, playing for British Guiana.{{Cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/145089.html |title=Christiani and Stayers dead |work=espncricinfo |date=7 January 2005 |accessdate=26 August 2012}}

Christiani also played field hockey and association football, representing British Guiana in the latter as a goalkeeper{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130911864|title="SPORTING PROFILE"|last=Jervis|first=Lawrie|date=10 November 1951|work=The News|location=Adelaide|access-date=25 June 2019}}