Gary Keedy
Encyclopedia
Gary Keedy is a slow-left arm spin
bowler for Lancashire
. He played one match for Yorkshire
in 1994, having graduate from their cricket academy, before moving to Lancashire. He has played for the club since 1995 and has, over 500 first-class
wickets. Although he had played youth internationals, he has never represented the senior England team despite having been in the squad a few times.
and Thilan Samaraweera
. In the same period, he also played 6 youth ODIs, claiming 8 wickets at 16.37.
Keedy graduated from the Yorkshire
Cricket Academy and played only one match for Yorkshire before moving to Roses
rivals Lancashire in the winter of 1994/5. Keedy was signed by then Lancashire coach David Lloyd
in a motorway service station. Although it took time for him to become a leading light of the Lancashire attack, he was awarded his county cap in 2000.
as Lancashire narrowly missed out on their first Championship title since 1934 to Sussex
. Since then he has remained on the periphery of England
selection. He was considered unlucky not to win a place to tour Sri Lanka
in 2003-4. The selectors chose Glamorgan
's Robert Croft
instead.
In 2004, Keedy enjoyed the most successful season of his career so far, taking 72 Championship wickets, making him the leading first-class wicket-taker amongst England qualified players. Only Pakistan international Mushtaq Ahmed
of Sussex took more first class wickets. Unfortunately for him, Lancashire were relegated to Division Two of the Championship despite being favourites for the title. As a result of his bowling efforts during the 2004 season, Keedy was awarded Lancashire's Player of the Year Award.
He again missed out on selection to tour with England, this time to South Africa, in favour of the more conservative pick of Gareth Batty
.
After taking 29 Championship wickets in 2005, Keedy suffered a finger injury on his spinning finger which ruled him out for the final month of the season. The injury likely cost Keedy a place on England's tour to Pakistan
and India.
Until recently, many observers believed the main reason that Keedy had never played for the national team is his lack of batting
talent and poor fielding qualities. Despite this, left-arm orthodox spin
ner Monty Panesar
, who is also not renowned for his batting or fielding skills, played all three Tests in India, and was a permanent fixture in the England squad until 2009.
In All Out Cricket
's October 2006 edition, Gary Keedy was voted the best county player never to have played for England.
Although Keedy only took 28 wickets in the 2008 County Championship, he felt that the statistics did not reflect how well he bowled.
Keedy is studying for a four-year degree in physiotherapy at the University of Salford
in preparation for life after his playing career. For the 2009 season, former England coach Peter Moores
joined Lancashire as the club's coach, replacing Mike Watkinson
, who became Lancashire's director of cricket. Keedy admitted to being "nervous" and wanted to make a good impression. Despite initial nerves, Keedy finished 2009 as the club's leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket, with 45 scalps from 17 matches. 2009 was also the Keedy's benefit season. Events to raise money included a golf day with Ian Botham
and a Strictly Come Dancing
-style ball.
In a warm up match against Durham before the 2010 season started, Keedy broke his collar bone. The injury left him unable to play for several months. In Keedy's absence, Lancashire's young spinners, Stephen Parry
and Simon Kerrigan
, were given opportunities in the first team. Kerrigan was chosen ahead of Parry in the four-day team and cemented his place in the side. When Keedy returned from injury he and Kerrigan sometimes bowled together in the County Championship. Their partnership began with them competing to out perform each other. After a discussion the pair decided they would be more effective if they worked together to build pressure while bowling. Keedy finished the season with 31 first-class wickets at an average of 22.19.
During the 2011 season
Keedy was preferred to Kerrigan when Lancashire chose to play with one spinner in the County Championship. In August 2011 rumours emerged that Keedy had been approached by Warwickshire
. In September, in the last match of the season Lancashire won the County Championship for the first time since they shared the title in 1950. Keedy finished as the team's leading wicket-taker in the competition, taking 61 wickets to help them to the title. The same month he agreed to sign a new contract with the club. Speaking on the matter later, Keedy remarked that he felt the offer adversely effected his form as it distracted from playing for Lancashire; to deal with this, he deferred acting on the offer until the end of the season. Although Warwickshire offered a pay rise, Keedy chose to remain with Lancashire, saying "Ultimately the decision was based on what I've done here for the last 17 years. It boiled down to the support network around me, including my family."
Spin bowling
Spin bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as spinners or spin bowlers.-Purpose:The main aim of spin bowling is to bowl the cricket ball with rapid rotation so that when it bounces on the pitch it will deviate, thus making it difficult for the...
bowler for 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...
. He played one match for 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 1994, having graduate from their cricket academy, before moving to Lancashire. He has played for the club since 1995 and has, over 500 first-class
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...
wickets. Although he had played youth internationals, he has never represented the senior England team despite having been in the squad a few times.
Youth cricket
Although Keedy has never played for the England test or one day senior team, between 1993 and 1994 he played 8 youth test matches taking 16 wickets at an average of 38.87 including the scalps of Shivnarine ChanderpaulShivnarine Chanderpaul
Shivnarine "Shiv" Chanderpaul is a cricketer, and former captain of the West Indies cricket team. He is the first Indo-Caribbean in the West Indies team to play 100 Tests for the West Indies and has captained them in 14 Tests and 16 One Day Internationals...
and Thilan Samaraweera
Thilan Samaraweera
Thilan Thusara Samaraweera is a Sri Lankan cricketer, born September 22, 1976 in Colombo. Samaraweera plays international cricket for Sri Lanka and is in the side primarily for his solid right-handed batting but is also a capable Off spinner.-Personal life:...
. In the same period, he also played 6 youth ODIs, claiming 8 wickets at 16.37.
Keedy graduated from the 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....
Cricket Academy and played only one match for Yorkshire before moving to Roses
Wars of the Roses (disambiguation)
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars fought in Medieval England.The War or Wars of the Roses may also refer to:*The War of the Roses , a novel by Warren Adler...
rivals Lancashire in the winter of 1994/5. Keedy was signed by then Lancashire coach David Lloyd
David Lloyd (cricketer)
David Lloyd is a former English cricketer who played county cricket for Lancashire and Test and One Day International cricket for England. He also played semi-professional football for Accrington Stanley...
in a motorway service station. Although it took time for him to become a leading light of the Lancashire attack, he was awarded his county cap in 2000.
Established spinner
It was in 2003 that Keedy first started to impress observers, taking sixty wickets in the County ChampionshipCounty Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
as Lancashire narrowly missed out on their first Championship title since 1934 to Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
. Since then he has remained on the periphery of England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
selection. He was considered unlucky not to win a place to tour Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
in 2003-4. The selectors chose 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...
's Robert Croft
Robert Croft
Robert Damien Bale Croft is a Welsh cricketer who has played international cricket for both England and Wales. He is an off-spin bowler who plays for Glamorgan and captained the county from 2003 to 2006...
instead.
In 2004, Keedy enjoyed the most successful season of his career so far, taking 72 Championship wickets, making him the leading first-class wicket-taker amongst England qualified players. Only Pakistan international Mushtaq Ahmed
Mushtaq Ahmed
Mushtaq Ahmed is a retired Pakistani cricketer who specialised as a leg spin bowler. He was known for his hard-to-pick googly. He memorably trapped Graeme Hick in front with one during the 1992 World Cup final. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997...
of Sussex took more first class wickets. Unfortunately for him, Lancashire were relegated to Division Two of the Championship despite being favourites for the title. As a result of his bowling efforts during the 2004 season, Keedy was awarded Lancashire's Player of the Year Award.
He again missed out on selection to tour with England, this time to South Africa, in favour of the more conservative pick of Gareth Batty
Gareth Batty
Gareth Jon Batty is an English cricketer, more specifically a spin-bowler. He is the younger brother of the former Yorkshire and Somerset off-spinner, Jeremy Batty.-Life and career:...
.
After taking 29 Championship wickets in 2005, Keedy suffered a finger injury on his spinning finger which ruled him out for the final month of the season. The injury likely cost Keedy a place on England's tour to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and India.
Until recently, many observers believed the main reason that Keedy had never played for the national team is his lack of batting
Batting (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, batting is the act or skill of hitting the cricket ball with a cricket bat to score runs or prevent the loss of one's wicket. A player who is currently batting is denoted as a batsman, while the act of hitting the ball is called a shot or stroke...
talent and poor fielding qualities. Despite this, left-arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
ner Monty Panesar
Monty Panesar
Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, known as Monty Panesar , is an English cricketer who currently plays for Sussex. A left-arm spinner, Panesar played Test and one-day cricket for England until 2009. In English county cricket he played for Northamptonshire until 2009...
, who is also not renowned for his batting or fielding skills, played all three Tests in India, and was a permanent fixture in the England squad until 2009.
In All Out Cricket
All Out Cricket
All Out Cricket is a monthly English cricket magazine which features county and international players in a contemporary lifestyle manner. Published by the Professional Cricketers' Association and Trinorth, a specialist cricket publisher, it was launched in April 2004. It is edited by Andy Afford, a...
's October 2006 edition, Gary Keedy was voted the best county player never to have played for England.
Although Keedy only took 28 wickets in the 2008 County Championship, he felt that the statistics did not reflect how well he bowled.
Keedy is studying for a four-year degree in physiotherapy at the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
in preparation for life after his playing career. For the 2009 season, former England coach Peter Moores
Peter Moores (cricketer)
Peter Moores is a former English county cricketer. He played as a wicketkeeper for Worcestershire and Sussex He became the coach of Lancashire County Cricket Club, on 11 February 2009....
joined Lancashire as the club's coach, replacing Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson
Mike Watkinson is a former English cricketer who played four Test matches and one One Day International in the mid-1990s...
, who became Lancashire's director of cricket. Keedy admitted to being "nervous" and wanted to make a good impression. Despite initial nerves, Keedy finished 2009 as the club's leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket, with 45 scalps from 17 matches. 2009 was also the Keedy's benefit season. Events to raise money included a golf day with Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
and a Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
-style ball.
In a warm up match against Durham before the 2010 season started, Keedy broke his collar bone. The injury left him unable to play for several months. In Keedy's absence, Lancashire's young spinners, Stephen Parry
Stephen Parry (cricketer)
Stephen David Parry is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a slow left-arm bowler who currently plays for Lancashire....
and Simon Kerrigan
Simon Kerrigan
Simon Christopher Kerrigan is an English cricketer who currently plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club. He bowls slow left arm orthodox spin. Kerrigan signed for the club in September 2008, and made his debut for the first team in 2010, filling in for Gary Keedy, Lancashire's senior spinner. In...
, were given opportunities in the first team. Kerrigan was chosen ahead of Parry in the four-day team and cemented his place in the side. When Keedy returned from injury he and Kerrigan sometimes bowled together in the County Championship. Their partnership began with them competing to out perform each other. After a discussion the pair decided they would be more effective if they worked together to build pressure while bowling. Keedy finished the season with 31 first-class wickets at an average of 22.19.
During the 2011 season
2011 English cricket season
The 2011 English cricket season began on 2 April with a round of university matches, and will continue until the final of the Clydesdale Bank 40 on 17 September. Three major domestic competitions are contested: the 2011 County Championship, the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 and the 2011 Friends Life t20...
Keedy was preferred to Kerrigan when Lancashire chose to play with one spinner in the County Championship. In August 2011 rumours emerged that Keedy had been approached by 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...
. In September, in the last match of the season Lancashire won the County Championship for the first time since they shared the title in 1950. Keedy finished as the team's leading wicket-taker in the competition, taking 61 wickets to help them to the title. The same month he agreed to sign a new contract with the club. Speaking on the matter later, Keedy remarked that he felt the offer adversely effected his form as it distracted from playing for Lancashire; to deal with this, he deferred acting on the offer until the end of the season. Although Warwickshire offered a pay rise, Keedy chose to remain with Lancashire, saying "Ultimately the decision was based on what I've done here for the last 17 years. It boiled down to the support network around me, including my family."
Statistics
| Gary Keedy season by season first class bowling stats | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Balls | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | 5wI | 10wM | Notes |
| 1995 | 3,030 | 128 | 1,498 | 37 | 4/35 | 40.48 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1995-96 | 168 | 8 | 73 | 2 | 2/73 | 36.50 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 2,851 | 131 | 1,215 | 23 | 3/45 | 52.82 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 1,756 | 60 | 917 | 27 | 6/79 | 33.96 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1,095 | 43 | 563 | 18 | 5/35 | 31.27 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 1,594 | 73 | 711 | 26 | 5/67 | 27.34 | 1 | 0 | Muralitharan Muttiah Muralitharan Muttiah Muralitharan , often referred to as Murali, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002... played for 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... as overseas player June to August |
| 2000 | 2,868 | 142 | 1,005 | 37 | 6/56 | 27.16 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 2,323 | 76 | 1,150 | 28 | 5/73 | 41.07 | 2 | 0 | Muralitharan played for Lancashire as overseas player May to September |
| 2002 | 2,626 | 102 | 1,313 | 33 | 5/122 | 39.78 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 3,335 | 126 | 1,593 | 60 | 6/68 | 26.55 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 3,873 | 122 | 1,849 | 72 | 7/95 | 25.68 | 6 | 1 | Lancashire's leading wicket taker for the season |
| 2005 | 1,593 | 67 | 753 | 33 | 6/33 | 22.81 | 2 | 1 | Muralitharan played for Lancashire as overseas player April to June |
| 2006 | 3,398 | 88 | 1,660 | 61 | 6/40 | 27.21 | 2 | 0 | Lancashire's leading wicket taker for the season |
| 2007 | 1,635 | 55 | 813 | 24 | 5/159 | 33.87 | 1 | 0 | Muralitharan played for Lancashire as overseas player May to August |
| 2008 | 2,529 | 85 | 1,157 | 28 | 5/56 | 41.32 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3,263 | 105 | 1,540 | 45 | 6/50 | 34.22 | 3 | 0 | Lancashire’s leading wicket taker for the season |
| Career | 37,937 | 1,411 | 17,810 | 554 | 7/95 | 32.14 | 27 | 5 |