The Untold Story of Leslie Hylton: The Only Test Cricketer to Be Hanged

Leslie Hylton was a West Indies Test cricketer who became the only Test player sentenced to death and hanged. Discover the tragic story behind his 1955 case.

Leslie Hylton cricket to be hanged (The Untold Story of Leslie Hylton)

Leslie Hylton, a former West Indian fast bowler, remains the only Test cricketer in history to have been sentenced to death and executed by hanging.

The Jamaican represented the West Indies from 1934 to 1939, playing six Tests and taking 16 wickets. In 1942,

Hylton married Lurline Rose, and they had a son in 1947. Years later, while pursuing fashion studies in New York, Lurline began an affair with Roy Francis. After discovering the affair, Hylton confronted his wife. She eventually confessed, and Hylton shot her seven times.

His defence of provocation was rejected, and he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Appeals and a plea for clemency failed. In 1955, Leslie Hylton was hanged — leaving behind one of cricket's darkest and most tragic stories.

Watch this untold and haunting chapter of cricket history, presented by Yasser Usman.