Chris Schofield
Encyclopedia
Christopher Paul Schofield (born 6 October 1978, in Wardle, Rochdale
, Greater Manchester
) is an English cricketer
, one of the few leg-spinners to play Test cricket
for England
in recent times.
Schofield first came to prominence playing for the England Under-19 team, making his debut for them (as a batsman) at the age of 16 in April 1995. However, his career proper began in 1997, when he appeared on a number of further occasions for the Under-19s, and the following winter played for England in the Under-19s World Cup in South Africa. He finally made his first-class
debut for Lancashire
against Glamorgan
in July 1998, although figures of 0-139 in the first innings were not the most impressive way to begin. (He claimed 2-44 in the second innings.)
1999 saw Schofield become an important member of the Lancashire side, and he played ten first-class games that season, finishing with 29 wickets at 32.79
including his first five-wicket haul: 5-66 against Durham
. In 1999–2000 he had a useful tour to New Zealand and Bangladesh
with England A
, and his good form - combined with the England hierarchy's Warne
-inspired thirst for a leg-spinner of their own - led to Schofield's being awarded one of the ECB
's first batch of central contracts in 2000.
In May 2000, Schofield made his Test debut against Zimbabwe
at Lord's. Despite a crushing England win by an innings and 209 runs
, the game was a frustrating match for the leg-spinner as Zimbabwe's ineptitude against the seamers meant that he was not called upon to bowl a ball, and he was out third ball for nought in his only innings. The second Test at Nottingham
was better in terms of runs - he made a handy 57 from number eight - but in 18 less than controlled overs he took 0-73.
That was the end as far as Schofield's brief relationship with an England cap was concerned. He returned to his county, and though he was picked for another A tour to the West Indies in 2000–01 things started to fall apart shortly afterwards. In 2001 he took only 14 wickets at an average of over 54, though 26 wickets at 18.53 in List A cricket were a compensation, and although his average of 18.38 in 2002 looked better it was deceptive: Schofield was bowled only 122 first-class overs in total that summer.
The 2003 season continued Schofield's downward slide: 15 wickets at 42.40 in first-class cricket; five at 47.60 in List A games. This, though, was as nothing when set against his miserable 2004: a career-best knock of 99 against Warwickshire
could not hide the fact that he was selected for only three County Championship
matches, in which he took precisely one wicket in total; and though he played ten one-day games these were almost entirely as a batsman: he bowled only 36 List A balls in 2004.
At the end of the 2004 season, Lancashire released him, coach Mike Watkinson
's understated remark that Schofield had "perhaps not reached his full potential" ringing in his ears. However, the player felt that he had been informed of the decision to dispense with his services too late in the year, and that this had affected his chance of finding a new employer for the following season. He brought a case for unfair dismissal
against Lancashire to an employment tribunal
, and in April 2005 the panel found in his favour. Meanwhile Schofield returned to play in club cricket
, for Cheshire
and Suffolk in the Minor Counties Championship, as well as having several games for the Durham, Sussex
and Derbyshire
second teams. In 2006 he played for Ormskirk Cricket Club in the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition's Premier League
. From late August 2006 he has appeared for Surrey
, though not (yet) under contract. In October 2006 he was offered a one-year contract with Surrey County Cricket Club.
Schofield duly accepted the offer and is currently playing for Surrey County Cricket Club in the 2007 season with the highlight so far being his 4-32 in the Friends Provident Trophy against Sussex County Cricket Club at Hove which helped to secure victory. In July he was picked in a preliminary 30-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in September, professing himself to be "very surprised".
On 6 August 2007 Schofield was named in the full England Squad for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship
.
In October 2011 he left Surrey.
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
) is an English cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
, one of the few leg-spinners to play Test cricket
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...
for 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...
in recent times.
Schofield first came to prominence playing for the England Under-19 team, making his debut for them (as a batsman) at the age of 16 in April 1995. However, his career proper began in 1997, when he appeared on a number of further occasions for the Under-19s, and the following winter played for England in the Under-19s World Cup in South Africa. He finally made his 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...
debut 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...
against 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...
in July 1998, although figures of 0-139 in the first innings were not the most impressive way to begin. (He claimed 2-44 in the second innings.)
1999 saw Schofield become an important member of the Lancashire side, and he played ten first-class games that season, finishing with 29 wickets at 32.79
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
including his first five-wicket haul: 5-66 against Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham 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 Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
. In 1999–2000 he had a useful tour to New Zealand and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
with England A
England A cricket team
The England Lions cricket team is a cricket team representing England and Wales. It is the "second-tier" of international English cricket below the full England cricket team, and is largely intended as a way for promising young cricketers to gain experience of playing international cricket...
, and his good form - combined with the England hierarchy's Warne
Shane Warne
Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
-inspired thirst for a leg-spinner of their own - led to Schofield's being awarded one of the ECB
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
's first batch of central contracts in 2000.
In May 2000, Schofield made his Test debut against Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean cricket team
The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...
at Lord's. Despite a crushing England win by an innings and 209 runs
The result in cricket
The result in a game of cricket may be a win for one of the two teams playing, a draw or a tie. In the case of a limited overs game, the game can also end with no result...
, the game was a frustrating match for the leg-spinner as Zimbabwe's ineptitude against the seamers meant that he was not called upon to bowl a ball, and he was out third ball for nought in his only innings. The second Test at Nottingham
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
was better in terms of runs - he made a handy 57 from number eight - but in 18 less than controlled overs he took 0-73.
That was the end as far as Schofield's brief relationship with an England cap was concerned. He returned to his county, and though he was picked for another A tour to the West Indies in 2000–01 things started to fall apart shortly afterwards. In 2001 he took only 14 wickets at an average of over 54, though 26 wickets at 18.53 in List A cricket were a compensation, and although his average of 18.38 in 2002 looked better it was deceptive: Schofield was bowled only 122 first-class overs in total that summer.
The 2003 season continued Schofield's downward slide: 15 wickets at 42.40 in first-class cricket; five at 47.60 in List A games. This, though, was as nothing when set against his miserable 2004: a career-best knock of 99 against 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...
could not hide the fact that he was selected for only three County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
matches, in which he took precisely one wicket in total; and though he played ten one-day games these were almost entirely as a batsman: he bowled only 36 List A balls in 2004.
At the end of the 2004 season, Lancashire released him, coach 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...
's understated remark that Schofield had "perhaps not reached his full potential" ringing in his ears. However, the player felt that he had been informed of the decision to dispense with his services too late in the year, and that this had affected his chance of finding a new employer for the following season. He brought a case for unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal
Unfair dismissal is the term used in UK labour law to describe an employer's action when terminating an employee's employment contrary to the requirements of the Employment Rights Act 1996...
against Lancashire to an employment tribunal
Employment tribunal
Employment Tribunals are tribunal non-departmental public bodies in England and Wales and Scotland which have statutory jurisdiction to hear many kinds of disputes between employers and employees. The most common disputes are concerned with unfair dismissal, redundancy payments and employment...
, and in April 2005 the panel found in his favour. Meanwhile Schofield returned to play in club cricket
Club cricket
Club cricket is a mainly amateur, but still formal, form of the sport of cricket, usually involving teams playing in competitions at weekends or in the evening. There is a great deal of variation in game format although the Laws of Cricket are always observed...
, for Cheshire
Cheshire County Cricket Club
Cheshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Cheshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
and Suffolk in the Minor Counties Championship, as well as having several games for the Durham, 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...
and 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...
second teams. In 2006 he played for Ormskirk Cricket Club in the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition's Premier League
Liverpool and District Cricket Competition
The Liverpool and District Cricket Competition is the top level of competition for recreational club cricket in the Liverpool area and since 2000 has been a designated ECB Premier League, one of two in Lancashire, the other being the Northern League....
. From late August 2006 he has appeared for Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
, though not (yet) under contract. In October 2006 he was offered a one-year contract with Surrey County Cricket Club.
Schofield duly accepted the offer and is currently playing for Surrey County Cricket Club in the 2007 season with the highlight so far being his 4-32 in the Friends Provident Trophy against Sussex County Cricket Club at Hove which helped to secure victory. In July he was picked in a preliminary 30-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in September, professing himself to be "very surprised".
On 6 August 2007 Schofield was named in the full England Squad for the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship
2007 Twenty20 World Championship
The 2007 ICC World Twenty20 was the inaugural Twenty20 cricket World Championship and it took place in South Africa from 11 September to 24 September 2007. Twelve teams took part in the thirteen-day tournament, comprising the ten Test playing nations as well as the finalists of the 2007 WCL...
.
In October 2011 he left Surrey.