Corey Collymore
A metronomic seam bowler whose subtle artistry and pinpoint control made him a quiet but vital weapon for the West Indies.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Barbadian cricketer·Birthday: December 21·Generation X
Biography
In an era often defined by Caribbean fast-bowling fire, Corey Collymore offered a different, cerebral rhythm. Hailing from Barbados, he was not the most fearsome paceman, but perhaps the most meticulous. His game was built on an unerring line and length, subtle seam movement, and a patience that could frustrate the world's best batsmen into error. Collymore's career unfolded as a specialist's journey, peaking in the mid-2000s when he became the lynchpin of a West Indies attack in transition. His crowning team achievement came in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, where his economical spells were crucial in a against-the-odds tournament victory. While injuries and the team's fluctuating fortunes limited his Test caps, those who watched closely saw a craftsman at work—a bowler who proved that in cricket, consistent, nagging accuracy could be as potent a weapon as raw speed.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Corey was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Corey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a key member of the West Indies squad that won the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy in England.
- Achieved a career-best Test bowling figure of 7/57 against England in Bridgetown in 2005.
- Represented the West Indies in 30 Test matches, taking 93 wickets with an economy rate under 3.
- Played first-class cricket for Barbados for over a decade, serving as a stalwart of their domestic attack.
Did You Know?
He was nicknamed "Coco" by his teammates.
He once dismissed renowned Indian batsman Rahul Dravid for a duck in a Test match.
After retiring, he worked as a bowling coach for the Barbados cricket team.
His Test bowling average (32.30) is lower than that of several more famous West Indian fast bowlers of his era.
“My job is to put the ball on the seam and let the pitch do the talking.”
