Dudley Cockle

Dudley Francis Eugene Cockle BEM (30 August 1907 – 27 March 1986) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force airman. Cockle served as a non-commissioned officer between 1930–49, as well as playing first-class cricket while serving in British India.

Dudley Cockle

Personal information
Full name	Dudley Francis Eugene Cockle
Born	30 August 1907 Wilton, Wiltshire, England
Died	27 March 1986(1986-03-27) (aged 78) Ludlow, Shropshire, England
Batting	Unknown
Bowling	Unknown
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1937–1949	Wiltshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 1 Runs scored 37 Batting average 18.50 100s/50s –/– Top score 25 Balls bowled 174 Wickets 2 Bowling average 49.50 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 2/99 Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 30 June 2019

Life and military career

Cockle was born in August 1907 at Wilton, Wiltshire. He was educated at Bishop Wordsworth's School, before attending the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.[1] After graduating he entered into the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a non-commissioned officer. While serving in British India made a single first-class appearance for the British Indian Army cricket team against Northern India in the 1934–35 Ranji Trophy at Lahore.[2] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed for 12 runs in the Army first-innings by Amir Elahi, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 25 runs by the same bowler. He took two wickets Northern India first-innings, dismissing Ahmed Raza to break a 304-run partnership between Raza and George Abell, with his second wicket of the innings being Charles Kindersley, leaving Cockle with innings figures of 2 for 99.[3] Returning to England, he made his debut in minor counties cricket for Wiltshire in the 1937 Minor Counties Championship, with Cockle appearing fourteen times before the Second World War.[4]

Serving in the war, Cockle held the rank of flight sergeant by its conclusion. He was decorated with the British Empire Medal in the 1946 New Year Honours.[5] He resumed playing minor counties cricket for Wiltshire after the war, making a further eighteen appearances up to 1949.[4] Besides playing cricket, Cockle also played football, rugby union and field hockey for the RAF.[6] After retiring from the RAF in 1949, he went on to coach cricket at King Edward's School, Birmingham between 1949–72.[6] He died at Ludlow in March 1986.

References

1. "Player profile: Dudley Cockle". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
2. "First-Class Matches played by Dudley Cockle". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
3. "Northern India v Army, 1934/35 Ranji Trophy". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
4. "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Dudley Cockle". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
5. "No. 37407". The London Gazette. 28 December 1945. p. 68.
6. "Player profile: Dudley Cockle". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-06-30.

External links

• Dudley Cockle at ESPNcricinfo