Eric Russell (cricketer)

Eric Russell (born William Eric Russell on 3 July 1936) is an English former cricketer. He was an opening batsman who played for Middlesex from 1956 to 1972, and in Tests for England between 1961 and 1967.

Eric Russell
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Eric Russell
Born (1936-07-03) 3 July 1936
Dumbarton, Scotland
BattingRight-hand bat
BowlingRight-arm medium
International information
National side
  • English
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 10 448
Runs scored 362 25,525
Batting average 21.29 34.87
100s/50s 0/2 41/134
Top score 70 193
Balls bowled 144 1,938
Wickets – 22
Bowling average – 45.13
5 wickets in innings – –
10 wickets in match – –
Best bowling – 3/20
Catches/stumpings 4/– 304/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo

The cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, commented, "a smooth, assured opening batsman, Eric Russell suffered from never getting a settled sequence in the England team. His 10 Tests were spread over seven series and five countries, and two half-centuries in 18 innings did not do his ability justice."[1]

Life and career

He was a stylish right-hander, whose international appearances were limited by injury, and the dominance of Geoff Boycott and John Edrich.[1] He played ten Tests against six countries and toured three times, but could never establish himself in the England side. His dour demeanour did not always endear him to teammates, although his humour was not helped in the 1965–66 Ashes series when hand injuries finished his tour in the first Test.[1]

He joined Middlesex in 1956 at the age of 20, and played over 400 games for them, recording over 25,000 first-class runs with 41 centuries, and a career best of 193 against Hampshire at Bournemouth in 1964. He scored 1,000 runs in a season 13 times, a testament to his reliability, and topped 2,000 on three occasions, his best return being his 2,343 at 45.92 in 1964. He also took 22 wickets with his occasional medium pacers and held 304 catches.

He played Minor Counties cricket for Berkshire after his time at Lord's, taught at Shiplake College and later played an important role in the development of MCC's Shenley cricket centre.

gollark: Unless you extend the deadline arbitrarily, as you obviously must.
gollark: I forgot to write anything, so I guess this round will be contragollarious.
gollark: You stole my entry!
gollark: It's fine, your tests are just wrong.
gollark: Just use an object.

See also

References
  1. Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 144. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.