BRIAN STATHAMWhen cricket’shistorians open their text books few names will be as decorated with as muchacclaim as Brian Statham CBE, who died on 10 June, 2000 aged 69.During a glittering bowlingcareer Mr Statham’s deliveries were amongst the most feared of his generation; hisnotoriously accurate style took as many wickets as it won admirers.A wicket poundingreputation for Lancashire in county cricket drew the attention of the England selectors where his consistency in over 70 Tests made for astonishing reading.His statistics beforea batsman may have paved his way into cricket folklore, but it was the integrityof the man which won the affection of the cricket community, who dubbed him“Gentleman George”.John Brian Statham wasborn on 17 June, 1930 ,in Manchester , England . He began his cricketcareer in 1950 with Lancashire ; a club whichhe later went on to captain.After impressing inhis first year with Lancashire it wasn’t long before the England selectors came knocking and Mr Statham madehis test debut against NewZealand in 1951.But it wasn’t until abarnstorming display against the West Indies 1953-54 that he really made hismark and cemented his spot as an England mainstay.Despite hisrecoil from the limelight, the plaudits rolled in thick and fast: ‘WisdenCricketers’ Almanak’ were up first, awarding him as a 1955 Cricketer of the Year.As prolific as ever,Mr Statham continued to impress for county and country: consistently topping the Lancashire bowling charts and turning in a succession offine Test performances.If Mr Statham’s integralrole in England’s 1954-55 Ashes victory ‘down-under’ was overshadowed by FrankTyson’s all-action display there can be no argument as to who was thestar-of-the-show against South Africa in 1955.An energy-sapping twohours of bowling in the Second Test saw him take a remarkable 7 for 39 tohand England victory against all the odds- a feat which drew plaudits for its endurancealone.In stark contrast with England ’s 1958-59 four-nilcapitulation in Australia ,Mr Statham took 7 for 57 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground; a performance describedas the best the iconic ground had witnessed.The Mancurian bowlerbowed out of Test cricket in style with an impressive swansong against South Africa in 1965 before eventually hanging up his county whites in 1968.A CBE followedMr Statham’s retirement, but neither the gong nor his 1995 appointment asPresident of Lancashire Cricket Club could alleviate the financial problems which had burdened hispersonal life.He is mostfondly recalled as the man who refused to throw out a ‘bouncer’, even inretaliation; such was the accuracy of his deliveries he would simply quip “Ithink I’ll just bowl him out.”So when Mr Statham,toiling with financial ruin, fell into the grasp of ill-health, they came outin their droves at dinners and testimonials to pay respect to the man they knewas “Gentleman George.”A week before his70th Birthday Mr Statham tragically lost his fight with Leukemia.
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