Alan Duff (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Robert Duff was an English
cricketer
who played first-class cricket
matches in the late 1950s and 1960s. Most of these were for Oxford University
, but he also had a brief county cricket
career for Worcestershire
. Duff's profession as a teacher at Malvern College
(where he was cricket master) prevented his playing more often; he was also the co-author, with George Chesterton
, of a coaching book for young cricketers, Your Book of Cricket.
Born in Dunsley, Kinver
, Staffordshire
, Duff made his first-class debut in June 1959 for Oxford University against Essex
, and had a decent game in a heavy defear, scoring 53 and 4 with the bat and taking three wickets (the first of these being that of Gordon Barker
). A few days later he made 40 against Free Foresters
, then later that same month hit 55 not out
against Warwickshire
. He had two games for Worcestershire's Second XI at the end of the season, and hit seventies in each one.
In 1960 Duff took 22 wickets, the most he managed in any season, including 4-24 for Oxford against Nottinghamshire
. He played for the university for the first half of the season, then in July and early August appeared in four County Championship
games for Worcestershire; in one of these, again against Nottinghamshire, he hit an unbeaten 50. He also turned out for MCC
against Ireland
at the end of the season.
1961 proved a mixed season for Duff: in 24 innings he managed only 223 runs at a mediocre average
of 11.15, although with the ball he was somewhat more successful in claiming 15 wickets at 27.46
. His first-class appearances were mostly for Oxford, but there were two matches (his last) for Worcestershire. He played not at all in 1962, and made only a single second-team appearance against Gloucestershire
II in 1963 (although he did take eight wickets in that game).
Duff returned to first-class cricket in 1964 with his only game for Free Foresters
, against his former university. After that he was to play only three more first-class matches, all for MCC against Ireland: one later in 1964, one in 1966 and one in 1968. He also played a considerable amount of club cricket
, and accompanied MCC on many minor tours.
He died at the age of 51 in Malvern, Worcestershire
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches in the late 1950s and 1960s. Most of these were for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
, but he also had a brief county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
career for Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
. Duff's profession as a teacher at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
(where he was cricket master) prevented his playing more often; he was also the co-author, with George Chesterton
George Chesterton
George Herbert Chesterton is a former English cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1949 and 1966. The bulk of his appearances were for Worcestershire, whom he represented between 1950 and 1957. He was capped by the county in 1950...
, of a coaching book for young cricketers, Your Book of Cricket.
Born in Dunsley, Kinver
Kinver
Kinver is a large village in South Staffordshire district, Staffordshire, England. It is in the far south-west of the county, at the end of the narrow finger of land surrounded by the counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. The nearest towns are Stourbridge in the West...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, Duff made his first-class debut in June 1959 for Oxford University against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
, and had a decent game in a heavy defear, scoring 53 and 4 with the bat and taking three wickets (the first of these being that of Gordon Barker
Gordon Barker
Gordon Barker was an English first-class cricketer who played for Essex. Born in Yorkshire, Barker was a right-handed opening batsman and made his Essex debut in 1954 against the touring Canadians, scoring a century....
). A few days later he made 40 against Free Foresters
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
, then later that same month hit 55 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
. He had two games for Worcestershire's Second XI at the end of the season, and hit seventies in each one.
In 1960 Duff took 22 wickets, the most he managed in any season, including 4-24 for Oxford against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
. He played for the university for the first half of the season, then in July and early August appeared in four County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
games for Worcestershire; in one of these, again against Nottinghamshire, he hit an unbeaten 50. He also turned out for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
against Ireland
Irish cricket team
The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Because of political difficulties, the Irish Cricket Union was not elected to the International Cricket Council until 1993, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007. The Irish Cricket Union is the...
at the end of the season.
1961 proved a mixed season for Duff: in 24 innings he managed only 223 runs at a mediocre average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of 11.15, although with the ball he was somewhat more successful in claiming 15 wickets at 27.46
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
. His first-class appearances were mostly for Oxford, but there were two matches (his last) for Worcestershire. He played not at all in 1962, and made only a single second-team appearance against Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
II in 1963 (although he did take eight wickets in that game).
Duff returned to first-class cricket in 1964 with his only game for Free Foresters
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
, against his former university. After that he was to play only three more first-class matches, all for MCC against Ireland: one later in 1964, one in 1966 and one in 1968. He also played a considerable amount of club cricket
Club cricket
Club cricket is a mainly amateur, but still formal, form of the sport of cricket, usually involving teams playing in competitions at weekends or in the evening. There is a great deal of variation in game format although the Laws of Cricket are always observed...
, and accompanied MCC on many minor tours.
He died at the age of 51 in Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern, Worcestershire
Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, governed by Malvern Town Council. As of the 2001 census it has a population of 28,749, and includes the historical settlement and commercial centre of Great Malvern on the steep eastern flank of the Malvern Hills, and the former...
.
External links
- Statistical summary from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...