Keith Jennings (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Keith Francis Jennings, born at Wellington
, Somerset
on 5 October 1953, played first-class
and List A cricket for Somerset
from 1975 to 1981. He was a right-handed lower-order batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler.
Jennings was a carpenter and joiner by trade who modelled his medium-paced bowling on that of Tom Cartwright
and was one of Cartwright's successors as the defensive bowling heart of Somerset's successful one-day cricket side of the late 1970s. He made his first-class and List A debuts in 1975 and the following year was a regular member of Somerset's one-day team. Initially, his batting showed promise, and against the West Indies
in 1976 he made 49 of an 82-run eighth wicket partnership with his captain, Brian Close
, whose own watchful innings of 88 earned him a recall to the England team at the age of 45. Later that year, his 51 not out
took Somerset from a parlous 116 for seven to a three-wicket victory with three balls to spare against Nottinghamshire
at Nottingham
. But his batting declined markedly and in 1979, when he played in 19 of Somerset's first-class matches, he made only 19 runs all season.
But Jennings' principal role was as a tidy, dependable bowler, mainly in one-day cricket. His figures scarcely show many highlights, but his record of being consistently selected alongside stars such as Ian Botham
, Joel Garner
and Viv Richards
indicates a value not measured in wickets. In 1978, he took 40 first-class wickets, the most he achieved in a season, and was awarded his county cap. The bowling included a return of five for 18 in 23.5 overs in the match against Sussex
at Hove. That was his only five-wicket haul in major cricket. Yet with all the stars available he was picked for both the crucial matches at the end of the season when it seemed that Somerset might at last win a trophy: in the event, the county lost both the Gillette Cup final to Sussex and the final John Player League match to Essex and missed out on both trophies.
The following season, 1979, Jennings was again a regular and he also played in most of Somerset's first-class matches, though he took only 20 first-class wickets in the season. At the end of the season, Somerset arrived at exactly the same position as in the previous year – finalists in the Gillette Cup and with a chance of winning the Sunday 40-over competition. This time, both titles were won, though Jennings appeared in only the Gillette Cup final, where he bowled his 12 overs for just 29 runs, the most economical of the Somerset bowlers.
In 1980, Somerset lost the services of Garner (and Richards) to the West Indies
tour, and new players were introduced to cover the gaps. With a changing side, Jennings lost his regular place in mid-season and did not regain it. Apart from a couple of first-team appearances, he played in 1981 largely for the second eleven and with his contract due for renewal at the end of the season, he chose not to have it renewed, and left county cricket.
Wellington, Somerset
Wellington is a small industrial town in rural Somerset, England, situated south west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district, near the border with Devon, which runs along the Blackdown Hills to the south of the town...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
on 5 October 1953, played 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...
and List A cricket for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
from 1975 to 1981. He was a right-handed lower-order batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler.
Jennings was a carpenter and joiner by trade who modelled his medium-paced bowling on that of Tom Cartwright
Tom Cartwright
Thomas William Cartwright MBE was an English cricketer. He played in five Tests for England in 1964 and 1965. His withdrawal from the 1968-69 tour to South Africa, and replacement in the touring team by Basil D'Oliveira, precipitated the sporting isolation of South Africa until apartheid was...
and was one of Cartwright's successors as the defensive bowling heart of Somerset's successful one-day cricket side of the late 1970s. He made his first-class and List A debuts in 1975 and the following year was a regular member of Somerset's one-day team. Initially, his batting showed promise, and against the West Indies
West Indian cricket team in England in 1976
The West Indian cricket team toured England in 1976, spending virtually the whole of the 1976 English cricket season in England. West Indies also played one match in Ireland in July....
in 1976 he made 49 of an 82-run eighth wicket partnership with his captain, Brian Close
Brian Close
Dennis Brian Close , usually known as Brian Close, is a former cricketer who is the youngest man ever to play Test cricket for England. He was picked for the Test team to play against New Zealand, in July 1949, when he was 18 years old. Close went on to play 22 Test matches for England,...
, whose own watchful innings of 88 earned him a recall to the England team at the age of 45. Later that year, his 51 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
took Somerset from a parlous 116 for seven to a three-wicket victory with three balls to spare against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire 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 Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
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...
. But his batting declined markedly and in 1979, when he played in 19 of Somerset's first-class matches, he made only 19 runs all season.
But Jennings' principal role was as a tidy, dependable bowler, mainly in one-day cricket. His figures scarcely show many highlights, but his record of being consistently selected alongside stars such as Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
, Joel Garner
Joel Garner
Joel Garner , also known as "Big Joel" or "Big Bird", is a former West Indian cricketer, and a member of the highly regarded late 1970s and early '80s West Indies cricket teams....
and Viv Richards
Viv Richards
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, KNH, OBE is a former West Indian cricketer. Better known by his second name, Vivian or, more popularly, simply as Viv or King Viv Richards was voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century in 2000, by a 100-member panel of experts, along with Sir Donald...
indicates a value not measured in wickets. In 1978, he took 40 first-class wickets, the most he achieved in a season, and was awarded his county cap. The bowling included a return of five for 18 in 23.5 overs in the match against 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...
at Hove. That was his only five-wicket haul in major cricket. Yet with all the stars available he was picked for both the crucial matches at the end of the season when it seemed that Somerset might at last win a trophy: in the event, the county lost both the Gillette Cup final to Sussex and the final John Player League match to Essex and missed out on both trophies.
The following season, 1979, Jennings was again a regular and he also played in most of Somerset's first-class matches, though he took only 20 first-class wickets in the season. At the end of the season, Somerset arrived at exactly the same position as in the previous year – finalists in the Gillette Cup and with a chance of winning the Sunday 40-over competition. This time, both titles were won, though Jennings appeared in only the Gillette Cup final, where he bowled his 12 overs for just 29 runs, the most economical of the Somerset bowlers.
In 1980, Somerset lost the services of Garner (and Richards) to the West Indies
West Indian cricket team in England in 1980
The West Indian cricket team toured England in 1980, spending virtually the whole of the 1980 English cricket season in England. West Indies also played two matches in Ireland and two in Scotland....
tour, and new players were introduced to cover the gaps. With a changing side, Jennings lost his regular place in mid-season and did not regain it. Apart from a couple of first-team appearances, he played in 1981 largely for the second eleven and with his contract due for renewal at the end of the season, he chose not to have it renewed, and left county cricket.