David Halfyard
Encyclopedia
David John Halfyard was an English
cricket
er. Halfyard was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium
. He was born at Winchmore Hill
, Middlesex
.
debut for Kent
in 1956 against Cambridge University
. His debut in the County Championship
came in that same season against Derbyshire
. A consistent seam bowler during his time at Kent, Halfyard represented the county in 185 first-class matches from 1956 to 1962. During this time, Halfyard scored 2,538 runs at a batting average
of 10.44, with 2 half centuries and a high score of 79. Meanwhile, in the field he took 88 catches. But, it was with the ball that he stood out during his time at Kent. He took 769 wickets for the county at a bowling average
of 24.47, with 49 five wicket hauls and 13 ten wicket hauls in a match. His best figures were 9/39 in 1957 against Glamorgan
. He took over 100 wickets in a season no less than 5 times: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961. During the 1962 season, he took 98 wickets, but events consipred against him later in that season, which put paid to taking 100 wickets in a season for the 6th successive season.
During his time with Kent, he played a single first-class match for the South against the North in 1958, as well a single match for the Marylebone Cricket Club
against Hampshire
in 1959.
It was in 1962 that tragedy struck when he was seriously injured in a head-on collision en route to a Kent match at Clarence Park, Weston-super-Mare
against Somerset
. It was thought following the accident that his promising career would be cut short and that he would never play again. However, following the accident he returned to play league cricket, plus 2 matches for Kent in 1964, before quitting first-class cricket to become an umpire
.
, when attending a match in the capacity of umpire, he was spotted bowling in the nets and was astonishly signed by Nottighamshire
for a trial, who then immediately offered him a 3 year contract. He is perhaps the only cricketer to retire from first-class cricket, become and umpire, then later return to first-class cricket. He made his first-class debut for Nottinghamshire against Middlesex
in 1968, a season in which despite questionable fitness, he played every match. A speaker at a Hampshire Cricket Society meeting in 2006 recalled witnessing him concede just 18 runs in 12 overs in a 1968 Gillette Cup
match against Worcesteshire
when he could barely walk. This match followed on from his debut in List A cricket which came against Lancashire
in the 1st round of the 1968 Gillette Cup
.
Halfyard proceeded to represent Nottinghamshire in 77 first-class matches from 1968 to 1970, with his final first-class match coming for the county against Kent. In what was a remarkable return following his accident in 1962, he scored 678 runs for the county at an average of 13.56, with a high score of 47*
. With the ball his performance had dipped following his accident, but nonetheless he was a consistent bowler, taking 194 wickets an average of 30.30, with 6 five wicket hauls and best figures of 6/14. He also represented Nottinghamshire in 38 List A matches, the last of which came against Surrey
in the 1970 John Player League
. In his 38 matches, he scored 189 runs at an average of 7.56, with a high score of 25. In the field he took 11 catches. With the ball, he took 50 List A wickets for Nottinghamshire at an average of 25.14, with best figures of 4/19.
, then a Minor County. His debut for the county came in the 1971 Minor Counties Championship against Staffordshire
. From 1971 to 1972, he represented the county in 14 Minor Counties matches, the last of which came against Cheshire
. He also represented Durham in a single List A match against Oxfordshire
in the 1972 Gillette Cup
.
While represeting Durham, he made his debut for Minor Counties North against Yorkshire
in the 1972 Benson and Hedges Cup at Ropery Lane
, Chester-le-Street
.
in 1973, making his debut in the Minor Counties Championship for the county against the Yorkshire Second XI
. During the 1973 season he represented the county in 12 matches, the last of which came against Durham. It was while representing the county that he played his second and final match for Minor Counties North, which came against Yorkshire in the 1973 Benson and Hedges Cup.
in 1974, where he made his Minor Counties Championship debut for the county against the Somserset Second XI
. From 1974 to 1982, he represented the county in 27 Minor Counties matches, the last of which came against Oxfordshire. In one particular match against Devon
in 1974, Halfyard took 16 of the 19 Devon wickets to fall.
Additionally, Halfyard represented the county in 2 List A matches against Oxfordshire in the 1975 Gillette Cup
and Lancashire in the 1977 Gillette Cup
.
match came in a Minor Counties Championship match between Cornwall and Devon.
He was still bowling with some success in the Devon Cricket League
for Tiverton Heathcoat Cricket Club weeks before his death. Halfyard died suddenly on August 23, 1996 in Northam
, Devon
.
In List A cricket, he played a total of 44 matches. In these matches he scored 228 runs at an average of 7.60, with a high score of 25. In the field he took 13 cathces. With the ball he took exactly 50 wickets at an average of 23.69, with best figures of 4/19.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. Halfyard was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
. He was born at Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill is a district in the Borough of Enfield, North London, in the N21 postal district.- Location :With the Winchmore Hill conservation area as a focal point, Winchmore Hill is a ward of Enfield borough, bounded on the east by Green Lanes , Barrowell Green, Firs Lane and Fords Grove, and...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
.
Kent and accident
Halfyard made his first-classFirst-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...
debut for Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1956 against Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
. His debut in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
came in that same season against Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
. A consistent seam bowler during his time at Kent, Halfyard represented the county in 185 first-class matches from 1956 to 1962. During this time, Halfyard scored 2,538 runs at a batting 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 10.44, with 2 half centuries and a high score of 79. Meanwhile, in the field he took 88 catches. But, it was with the ball that he stood out during his time at Kent. He took 769 wickets for the county at a bowling average
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...
of 24.47, with 49 five wicket hauls and 13 ten wicket hauls in a match. His best figures were 9/39 in 1957 against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan 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 Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
. He took over 100 wickets in a season no less than 5 times: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1961. During the 1962 season, he took 98 wickets, but events consipred against him later in that season, which put paid to taking 100 wickets in a season for the 6th successive season.
During his time with Kent, he played a single first-class match for the South against the North in 1958, as well a single match for the Marylebone Cricket Club
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 Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
in 1959.
It was in 1962 that tragedy struck when he was seriously injured in a head-on collision en route to a Kent match at Clarence Park, Weston-super-Mare
Clarence Park, Weston-super-Mare
Clarence Park was given to the town of Weston-super-Mare by Rebecca Davies in memory of her husband. The cricket pavilion at the park dates from 1882. A multitude of sports have been played at the park, including cricket. The ground is owned by the local council. It is currently used by...
against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
. It was thought following the accident that his promising career would be cut short and that he would never play again. However, following the accident he returned to play league cricket, plus 2 matches for Kent in 1964, before quitting first-class cricket to become an umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
.
Nottinghamshire
He was claiming invalidity benefitIncapacity benefit
Incapacity Benefit is a United Kingdom state benefit that is paid to those below the State Pension age who cannot work because of illness or disability and have made National Insurance contributions. It is administered by Jobcentre Plus...
, when attending a match in the capacity of umpire, he was spotted bowling in the nets and was astonishly signed by Nottighamshire
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...
for a trial, who then immediately offered him a 3 year contract. He is perhaps the only cricketer to retire from first-class cricket, become and umpire, then later return to first-class cricket. He made his first-class debut for Nottinghamshire against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex 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 Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
in 1968, a season in which despite questionable fitness, he played every match. A speaker at a Hampshire Cricket Society meeting in 2006 recalled witnessing him concede just 18 runs in 12 overs in a 1968 Gillette Cup
Gillette Cup
The Gillette Cup may refer to the following cricket competitions:* Gillette Cup — an English knock-out one-day competition known as the Gillette Cup from 1963 to 1980, now known as the Friends Provident Cup...
match against Worcesteshire
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...
when he could barely walk. This match followed on from his debut in List A cricket which came against Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in the 1st round of the 1968 Gillette Cup
1968 Gillette Cup
The 1968 Gillette Cup was the sixth Gillette Cup, an English limited overs county cricket tournament. It was held between 27 April and 7 September 1968...
.
Halfyard proceeded to represent Nottinghamshire in 77 first-class matches from 1968 to 1970, with his final first-class match coming for the county against Kent. In what was a remarkable return following his accident in 1962, he scored 678 runs for the county at an average of 13.56, with a high score of 47*
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...
. With the ball his performance had dipped following his accident, but nonetheless he was a consistent bowler, taking 194 wickets an average of 30.30, with 6 five wicket hauls and best figures of 6/14. He also represented Nottinghamshire in 38 List A matches, the last of which came against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
in the 1970 John Player League
1970 John Player League
The 1970 John Player League was the second competing of what was generally known as the Sunday League. The competition was won for the second consecutive year by Lancashire County Cricket Club.-Standings:-Batting averages:-Bowling averages:...
. In his 38 matches, he scored 189 runs at an average of 7.56, with a high score of 25. In the field he took 11 catches. With the ball, he took 50 List A wickets for Nottinghamshire at an average of 25.14, with best figures of 4/19.
Durham
Following the end of his first-class career, Halfyard joined DurhamDurham County Cricket Club
Durham 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 Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
, then a Minor County. His debut for the county came in the 1971 Minor Counties Championship against Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Cricket Club
Staffordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Staffordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
. From 1971 to 1972, he represented the county in 14 Minor Counties matches, the last of which came against Cheshire
Cheshire County Cricket Club
Cheshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Cheshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
. He also represented Durham in a single List A match against Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Cricket Club
Oxfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Oxfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in the 1972 Gillette Cup
1972 Gillette Cup
The 1972 Gillette Cup was the tenth Gillette Cup, an English limited overs county cricket tournament. It was held between 5 July and 2 September 1972...
.
While represeting Durham, he made his debut for Minor Counties North against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
in the 1972 Benson and Hedges Cup at Ropery Lane
Ropery Lane
Ropery Lane is a cricket ground in Chester-le-Street, England round the corner from The Riverside Ground. Prior to Durham gaining first-class status in 1992, Durham played six Gillette Cup/Natwest Trophy matches there, while Minor Counties North also used the ground for a Benson & Hedges Cup game...
, Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
.
Northumberland
Halfyard played for NorthumberlandNorthumberland County Cricket Club
Northumberland County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northumberland and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in 1973, making his debut in the Minor Counties Championship for the county against the Yorkshire Second XI
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. During the 1973 season he represented the county in 12 matches, the last of which came against Durham. It was while representing the county that he played his second and final match for Minor Counties North, which came against Yorkshire in the 1973 Benson and Hedges Cup.
Cornwall
Halfyard joined CornwallCornwall County Cricket Club
Cornwall County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Cornwall and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in 1974, where he made his Minor Counties Championship debut for the county against the Somserset Second XI
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
. From 1974 to 1982, he represented the county in 27 Minor Counties matches, the last of which came against Oxfordshire. In one particular match against Devon
Devon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Devon and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
in 1974, Halfyard took 16 of the 19 Devon wickets to fall.
Additionally, Halfyard represented the county in 2 List A matches against Oxfordshire in the 1975 Gillette Cup
1975 Gillette Cup
The 1975 Gillette Cup was the thirteenth Gillette Cup, an English limited overs county cricket tournament. It was held between 25 June and 6 September 1975...
and Lancashire in the 1977 Gillette Cup
1977 Gillette Cup
The 1977 Gillette Cup was the fifteenth Gillette Cup, an English limited overs county cricket tournament. It was held between 29 June and 3 September 1977...
.
Later life
Halfyard returned to the first-class umpires panel, indeed doing so while still representing Cornwall. Halfyard continued to stand as an umpire in first-class, List A and Minor Counties cricket until 1996, when his final match standing as an umpire in a countyCounty 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:...
match came in a Minor Counties Championship match between Cornwall and Devon.
He was still bowling with some success in the Devon Cricket League
Devon Cricket League
The Devon Cricket League is the top level of competition for recreational club cricket in Devon, England, and since 2000 has been a designated ECB Premier League.-Winners:...
for Tiverton Heathcoat Cricket Club weeks before his death. Halfyard died suddenly on August 23, 1996 in Northam
Northam, Devon
Northam is a small town in Devon, England, lying north of Bideford and south of Westward Ho!. It is thought to have been the site of an Anglo-Saxon castle, and is said to have been where Hubba the Dane attacked Devon and was repelled . A little over a mile away along the coast is a town called...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Overview of career
Halfyard participated in a total of 264 first-class matches from 1956 to 1970. In these matches, he scored 3,242 runs at an average of 10.91, with 2 half centuries and a high score of 79. Meanwhile, in the field he took a combined total of 112 catches. Halfyard was able to demonstrate incredible control with the ball, both before and after his accident. In his 264 first-class matches, he took 963 wickets at an average of 25.77, with 55 five wicket hauls and 13 ten wicket hauls in a match. His best figures were 9/39.In List A cricket, he played a total of 44 matches. In these matches he scored 228 runs at an average of 7.60, with a high score of 25. In the field he took 13 cathces. With the ball he took exactly 50 wickets at an average of 23.69, with best figures of 4/19.
External links
- David Halfyard at CricinfoCricinfoESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
- David Halfyard at 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...