Brian Luckhurst
Encyclopedia
Brian William Luckhurst (5 February 1939 – 1 March 2005) was an English
cricket
er, who played his entire county career for Kent County Cricket Club
. He played for Kent from 1958 to 1976, usually opening the batting, then in 1985, in an emergency, played in one more match against the Australians. He was cricket manager from 1981 to 1986, then became Cricket Administrator. He went on to become President of the Club, and held that position until his death. He played 355 matches for Kent and represented England in twenty one Test matches
and three one day internationals
.
Over his entire career Luckhurst totalled 22,303 runs (average 38.12) in first-class cricket
. He scored 1,000 runs in a season 14 times, his highest total for a season being 1,194 (average 47.85) in 1969. He scored 48 centuries, with a highest score of 215 against Derbyshire
at Derby in 1973.
Although primarily a batsman, Luckhurst was technically an all-rounder
. He took 64 wickets (average 42.87) with slow left arm spin (although he batted right-handed). On the rare occasions when he was called upon to bowl in a Test match, it was regarded as an indication that the result of the match was a foregone conclusion. He only took one Test wicket.
, Kent
. Originally part of the St Lawrence Ground
, Canterbury
set-up as a left-arm spinner, by the end of 1961, Kent were contemplating releasing him from their staff. Being given a contract for just one year, Luckhurst re-thought his strategy and worked on his batting and played in a side not performing well. He worked his way up the batting order to become a dependable opener.
In 1969 he amassed almost 2,000 runs and by the following year he 'debuted' against the Rest of the World
in 1970, and made an unbeaten 113 in England's only victory in the "Test series", but the I.C.C.
later cancelled the Test status of this series, and the runs scored were removed from his Test average. He debuted again in Australia in 1970-71, making 455 runs (average 56.87), including two centuries, and was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year
in 1971 for his efforts. With Geoff Boycott and John Edrich
he added 624 runs for the first wicket at an average of 69.93, with two century and three half-century opening stands. He made 131 in the Second Test at Perth
in its inaugural Test match
, and so became the first batsman to make a Test century at the WACA
. In a tour match against Northern New South Wales he made 111 and 45, but had to retire hurt with bruised fingers. He still batted in the Fifth Test at Melbourne
, rescuing the first innings with 109, despite his damaged hands, but did not bat in the second innings. Missing the Sixth Test due to injury, Luckhurst made his return in the Seventh as Boycott was unavailable, having had his arm broken by Garth McKenzie. Luckhurst made a vital 58 as he and John Edrich
(57) put on 94 for the first wicket to lay the foundations of England's second innings 302 when they were 80 runs behind. Australia were dismissed for 160 and England won the Test by 62 runs to regain The Ashes
.
Unable to cope with the pace bowlers of the West Indies and Australia in the mid 1970s, Luckhust retired in 1976, but kept working at Canterbury as coach, then manager, then on youth development and finally as Club President.
He was married twice, to Elaine and Raye, had two sons with Elaine and a stepson. His autobiography was called Boot Boy to President.
Luckhurst died in March 2005, in Kent, from esophageal cancer
, at the age of 66.
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, who played his entire county career for Kent County Cricket Club
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...
. He played for Kent from 1958 to 1976, usually opening the batting, then in 1985, in an emergency, played in one more match against the Australians. He was cricket manager from 1981 to 1986, then became Cricket Administrator. He went on to become President of the Club, and held that position until his death. He played 355 matches for Kent and represented England in twenty one Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and three one day internationals
One-day cricket
Limited overs cricket, also known as one-day cricket and in a slightly different context as List A cricket, is a version of the sport of cricket in which a match is generally completed in one day, whereas Test and first-class matches can take up to five days to complete...
.
Over his entire career Luckhurst totalled 22,303 runs (average 38.12) in first-class cricket
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...
. He scored 1,000 runs in a season 14 times, his highest total for a season being 1,194 (average 47.85) in 1969. He scored 48 centuries, with a highest score of 215 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...
at Derby in 1973.
Although primarily a batsman, Luckhurst was technically an all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
. He took 64 wickets (average 42.87) with slow left arm spin (although he batted right-handed). On the rare occasions when he was called upon to bowl in a Test match, it was regarded as an indication that the result of the match was a foregone conclusion. He only took one Test wicket.
Life and career
Luckhurst was born in SittingbourneSittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Originally part of the St Lawrence Ground
St Lawrence Ground
The St Lawrence Ground is a cricket ground in Canterbury, Kent and is the home of Kent County Cricket Club. It is one of the oldest grounds on which first-class cricket is played, having been in use since 1847...
, Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
set-up as a left-arm spinner, by the end of 1961, Kent were contemplating releasing him from their staff. Being given a contract for just one year, Luckhurst re-thought his strategy and worked on his batting and played in a side not performing well. He worked his way up the batting order to become a dependable opener.
In 1969 he amassed almost 2,000 runs and by the following year he 'debuted' against the Rest of the World
Rest of the World cricket team in England in 1970
A Rest of the World cricket team was assembled to play five-day cricket matches against the full England team in 1970 after the cancellation of the scheduled tour by the South African cricket team. At the time the matches were deemed to be Test matches, but that was later revoked.-The background to...
in 1970, and made an unbeaten 113 in England's only victory in the "Test series", but the I.C.C.
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
later cancelled the Test status of this series, and the runs scored were removed from his Test average. He debuted again in Australia in 1970-71, making 455 runs (average 56.87), including two centuries, and was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
in 1971 for his efforts. With Geoff Boycott and John Edrich
John Edrich
John Edrich, MBE is a former English cricketer, who played for Surrey and England. He earned a reputation as a dogged and fearless batsman, and his figures show that he was amongst the best players of his generation...
he added 624 runs for the first wicket at an average of 69.93, with two century and three half-century opening stands. He made 131 in the Second Test at Perth
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
in its inaugural Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
, and so became the first batsman to make a Test century at the WACA
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
. In a tour match against Northern New South Wales he made 111 and 45, but had to retire hurt with bruised fingers. He still batted in the Fifth Test at Melbourne
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, rescuing the first innings with 109, despite his damaged hands, but did not bat in the second innings. Missing the Sixth Test due to injury, Luckhurst made his return in the Seventh as Boycott was unavailable, having had his arm broken by Garth McKenzie. Luckhurst made a vital 58 as he and John Edrich
John Edrich
John Edrich, MBE is a former English cricketer, who played for Surrey and England. He earned a reputation as a dogged and fearless batsman, and his figures show that he was amongst the best players of his generation...
(57) put on 94 for the first wicket to lay the foundations of England's second innings 302 when they were 80 runs behind. Australia were dismissed for 160 and England won the Test by 62 runs to regain The Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
.
Unable to cope with the pace bowlers of the West Indies and Australia in the mid 1970s, Luckhust retired in 1976, but kept working at Canterbury as coach, then manager, then on youth development and finally as Club President.
He was married twice, to Elaine and Raye, had two sons with Elaine and a stepson. His autobiography was called Boot Boy to President.
Luckhurst died in March 2005, in Kent, from esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
, at the age of 66.