James Kirtley
Encyclopedia
Robert James Kirtley is a former English Test cricketer, who was born on the 10 January 1975 in Eastbourne
in the county of Sussex
. He is a right arm fast to medium bowler and a right hand batsman. After prep school at St.Andrews School, Eastbourne, he was educated at Clifton College
.
beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets. Whilst not batting, he did take 2-33 off 9.1 overs with the ball. This was his first 'international' encounter, although he bowled Mashonaland to victory against England on their tour of Zimbabwe in 1996/1997. Later in 2001, he received the NBC Denis Compton Award
.
of India and Matthew Hayden
of Australia
. His best bowling figures in this form of cricket are 2-33, against Bangladesh, and he has a one-day bowling average of 53.44.
debut in 2003 against South Africa, as England
won by 70 runs. He contributed 4 with the bat over the two innings, facing 54 deliveries. He had more success bowling, however, taking 2-80 in the first innings, off 31 overs - an economy of 2.58 and an astonishing 6-34 in the second innings, off 16.2 overs. He first trapped Graeme Smith
lbw for 5, then Jacques Rudolph
lbw for a duck, leaving the Proteas 28-2. Next, he clean bowled Neil McKenzie
for 11, snaffled Andrew Hall
(caught by Marcus Trescothick
) for 0, and caught and bowled Paul Adams
for 15. Finally, he dismissed Mark Boucher
(caught by Alec Stewart
) for 52, as the South Africans crumbled for 131. Finishing with match bowling figures of 8-114, Kirtley was awarded the player of the match award.
on three more occasions. After an excellent debut, he was included in the team that again faced South Africa in August 2003. He chipped in with twelve over two innings with the bat, and took 5-145 with the ball, although The Proteas ran out winners by 191 runs.
The third and fourth matches of Kirtley's four match Test
career were against Sri Lanka in December 2003. The first game was drawn, with Kirtley taking 2-109 and 2-62, and hitting 3 not out in the first innings. The second encounter was won comprehensively by Sri Lanka, by an innings and 215 runs. England
batted first and wracked up 265, with Kirtley scoring 1. In their reply, the Sri Lankans amassed an incredible 628, with all bowlers struggling. Ashley Giles
took two wickets at the cost of 190 runs, and Gareth Batty
conceded 137 with no reward, making Kirtley's return of 2-131 look distinctly presentable. In their reply, England
were dismissed for 148. Despite this batting failure by the team, Kirtley hit his best ever score in a Test
- 12, off 25 deliveries, including a six, before being bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan
.
, leg spinner Chris Schofield
and veteran off spinner and former spin coach Jeremy Snape
. Kirtley played one (wicketless) match against Australia.
final, Kirtley bowled Sussex
to victory with match figures of 5-27.
His last match for Sussex before retiring from professional cricket after a sixteen-year career, was a Pro 40 one day match against Surrey on Saturday 4 September 2010 at Hove. His final victim was England batsman Kevin Pietersen
as the match ended in a tie. Kirtley's figures were 3-61.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
in the county of Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. He is a right arm fast to medium bowler and a right hand batsman. After prep school at St.Andrews School, Eastbourne, he was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
.
First ODI
His first One Day International was in 2001, as EnglandEnglish 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...
beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets. Whilst not batting, he did take 2-33 off 9.1 overs with the ball. This was his first 'international' encounter, although he bowled Mashonaland to victory against England on their tour of Zimbabwe in 1996/1997. Later in 2001, he received the NBC Denis Compton Award
NBC Denis Compton Award
The NBC Denis Compton Award is an annual award given to 'The Most Promising Young Player' at each of the 18 English first-class counties. A player may receive the award more than once.-History:...
.
2001-2004
In total, Kirtley has played eleven One Day Internationals. He has needed to bat on just two occasions, each time scoring 1. He has taken nine wickets, notably nabbing Virender SehwagVirender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag , affectionately known as Viru, the Nawab of Najafgarh, or the Zen master of modern cricket, is one of the leading batsmen in the Indian cricket team. Sehwag is an aggressive right-handed opening batsman and a part-time right-arm off-spin bowler...
of India and Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden
Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.Hayden holds the record...
of Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
. His best bowling figures in this form of cricket are 2-33, against Bangladesh, and he has a one-day bowling average of 53.44.
First Test
He made his TestTest 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...
debut in 2003 against South Africa, as 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...
won by 70 runs. He contributed 4 with the bat over the two innings, facing 54 deliveries. He had more success bowling, however, taking 2-80 in the first innings, off 31 overs - an economy of 2.58 and an astonishing 6-34 in the second innings, off 16.2 overs. He first trapped Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith
Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
lbw for 5, then Jacques Rudolph
Jacques Rudolph
Jacobus Andries Rudolph , popularly known as Jacques Rudolph, is a South African Test and ODI cricketer currently playing in England with Yorkshire CCC and in South Africa with Titans.He had an unbeaten 222 in his debut Test inning...
lbw for a duck, leaving the Proteas 28-2. Next, he clean bowled Neil McKenzie
Neil McKenzie
Neil Douglas McKenzie is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed opening batsman who plays for South Africa, making his first appearance in 2000. Strong on the leg side, he is also a very good player of spin...
for 11, snaffled Andrew Hall
Andrew Hall
Andrew James Hall is a South African cricketer and a former member of the South African cricket team . He is an all-rounder who bowls fast-medium pace, and has been used as both an opening batsman and in the lower order. Prior to making it on the South African first class cricket scene he played...
(caught by Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick
Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals. A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established...
) for 0, and caught and bowled Paul Adams
Paul Adams (cricketer)
Paul Regan Adams is a former South African cricketer, a chinaman bowler who played for the national team sporadically since the 1990s. Meanwhile, his first class cricket career registered 412 wickets....
for 15. Finally, he dismissed Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher
Mark Verdon Boucher is a South African cricketer, who holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper. He was educated at Selborne College and has represented Border, Africa XI, ICC World XI, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, and...
(caught by Alec Stewart
Alec Stewart
Alec James Stewart OBE is a retired English cricketer, a right-handed batsman-wicketkeeper and former captain of the England cricket team...
) for 52, as the South Africans crumbled for 131. Finishing with match bowling figures of 8-114, Kirtley was awarded the player of the match award.
2003-2004
Kirtley has represented EnglandEnglish 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...
on three more occasions. After an excellent debut, he was included in the team that again faced South Africa in August 2003. He chipped in with twelve over two innings with the bat, and took 5-145 with the ball, although The Proteas ran out winners by 191 runs.
The third and fourth matches of Kirtley's four match Test
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...
career were against Sri Lanka in December 2003. The first game was drawn, with Kirtley taking 2-109 and 2-62, and hitting 3 not out in the first innings. The second encounter was won comprehensively by Sri Lanka, by an innings and 215 runs. 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...
batted first and wracked up 265, with Kirtley scoring 1. In their reply, the Sri Lankans amassed an incredible 628, with all bowlers struggling. Ashley Giles
Ashley Giles
Ashley Fraser Giles MBE is a retired English cricketer. Giles played the entirety of his 14-year first-class career at Warwickshire County Cricket Club where he is now employed as Director of Cricket...
took two wickets at the cost of 190 runs, and Gareth Batty
Gareth Batty
Gareth Jon Batty is an English cricketer, more specifically a spin-bowler. He is the younger brother of the former Yorkshire and Somerset off-spinner, Jeremy Batty.-Life and career:...
conceded 137 with no reward, making Kirtley's return of 2-131 look distinctly presentable. In their reply, 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...
were dismissed for 148. Despite this batting failure by the team, Kirtley hit his best ever score in a Test
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...
- 12, off 25 deliveries, including a six, before being bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan , often referred to as Murali, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002...
.
Twenty20 career
Kirtley was a surprising selection in the England squad for the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa, he was named alongside other specialists Darren MaddyDarren Maddy
Darren Lee Maddy is an English cricketer who plays first class cricket for Warwickshire. He played three Tests and eight One Day Internationals for England, making one international fifty in his ten innings between 1998 and 2000 before he was finally dropped following the tour of Zimbabwe in 2000,...
, leg spinner Chris Schofield
Chris Schofield
Christopher Paul Schofield is an English cricketer, one of the few leg-spinners to play Test cricket for England in recent times....
and veteran off spinner and former spin coach Jeremy Snape
Jeremy Snape
Jeremy Nicholas Snape is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and bowls right-arm offbreak. Outside of cricket, he has a Masters in Sports Psychology and has worked with a variety of national cricket teams....
. Kirtley played one (wicketless) match against Australia.
Bowling
At his best, he was a skiddy bowler with good accuracy, and an excellent cricketing brain. At his worst, he was banned from bowling because of doubts about his action. Problems with his action now appear to have been resolved but at a cost of some pace.County career
In the 2006 C&G TrophyC&G Trophy
The Friends Provident Trophy was a one-day cricket competition in the United Kingdom.It was one of the four tournaments in which the eighteen first-class counties compete each season. They were joined by teams from Scotland and Ireland...
final, Kirtley bowled Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
to victory with match figures of 5-27.
His last match for Sussex before retiring from professional cricket after a sixteen-year career, was a Pro 40 one day match against Surrey on Saturday 4 September 2010 at Hove. His final victim was England batsman Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Peter Pietersen, MBE is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for England and Surrey...
as the match ended in a tie. Kirtley's figures were 3-61.