Pat Pocock
Encyclopedia
Pat Pocock is an English
former cricket
er, who played in twenty Tests
and one ODI for England from 1968 to 1985.
The cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, opined, "the selectors never really trusted Pat Pocock, although he was one of the most authentic spin bowlers
of his generation. Pocock's action was textbook high; he spun the ball, varied his angles, and had a sweet loop".
career was spent with Surrey County Cricket Club
, and he got his first taste of the vagrancies of international selection, when he replaced Fred Titmus
, who had lost four toes in a boating accident, on the 1967/68 tour to the West Indies.
He then took six for 79 against Australia in the first Test at Old Trafford, Manchester
in 1968, and was then immediately dropped and replaced by Derek Underwood
. Pocock was not selected again in the series, and appeared only sporadically thereafter. His next two home Tests were against the West Indies in 1976, but his next recall was some eight years and 86 Tests later. Only Derek Shackleton
(103 Tests) and Les Jackson
(96 Tests) waited longer between international duties. Pocock finished his Test career on a happy note, under the captaincy
of David Gower
, and in a successful partnership with Phil Edmonds
on England's 1984/85 tour of India.
An off-spinner, 'Percy' Pocock is probably best known for taking seven wickets in eleven balls for Surrey against Sussex
in 1972. He captained Surrey in his final season in 1986, having made his debut for them in 1964. He finished with 1,607 first-class
wickets at 26.53, with a best innings bowling figures of 9 for 57.
Pocock currently lives in Reigate
, Surrey
.
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...
former 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 in twenty Tests
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 one ODI for England from 1968 to 1985.
The cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, opined, "the selectors never really trusted Pat Pocock, although he was one of the most authentic spin bowlers
Spin bowling
Spin bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as spinners or spin bowlers.-Purpose:The main aim of spin bowling is to bowl the cricket ball with rapid rotation so that when it bounces on the pitch it will deviate, thus making it difficult for the...
of his generation. Pocock's action was textbook high; he spun the ball, varied his angles, and had a sweet loop".
Life and career
Pocock loved playing cricket, and had plenty of theories and experiments if the opposing batsmen got on top. His entire first-class cricketFirst-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...
career was spent with Surrey County Cricket Club
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...
, and he got his first taste of the vagrancies of international selection, when he replaced Fred Titmus
Fred Titmus
Frederick John Titmus MBE was an English cricketer, whose first-class career spanned five decades. Although he was best known for his off spin , he was an accomplished lower-order batsman who deserved to be called an all-rounder, even opening the batting for England on six occasions...
, who had lost four toes in a boating accident, on the 1967/68 tour to the West Indies.
He then took six for 79 against Australia in the first Test at Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1968, and was then immediately dropped and replaced by Derek Underwood
Derek Underwood
Derek Underwood MBE is an English former international cricketer, and a former President of the MCC....
. Pocock was not selected again in the series, and appeared only sporadically thereafter. His next two home Tests were against the West Indies in 1976, but his next recall was some eight years and 86 Tests later. Only Derek Shackleton
Derek Shackleton
Derek Shackleton was a Hampshire and England bowler. He took over 100 wickets in 20 consecutive seasons of first-class cricket, but only played in seven Tests for England. As of 2007, he has the seventh-highest tally of first-class wickets, and the most first-class wickets of any player who...
(103 Tests) and Les Jackson
Les Jackson
Les Jackson was an English cricketer. A fast or fast-medium bowler renowned for his accurate bowling and particular hostility on uncovered wickets, he played county cricket for Derbyshire from 1947 to 1963, and was regularly at, or near the top of, the English bowling averages...
(96 Tests) waited longer between international duties. Pocock finished his Test career on a happy note, under the captaincy
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
of David Gower
David Gower
David Ivon Gower OBE is a former English cricketer who became a commentator for Sky Sports. Although he eventually rose to the captaincy of the England cricket team during the 1980s, he is best known for being one of the most stylish left-handed batsmen of the modern era. Gower played 117 Test...
, and in a successful partnership with Phil Edmonds
Phil Edmonds
Phil Edmonds is a former English cricketer and a successful, albeit controversial, corporate executive....
on England's 1984/85 tour of India.
An off-spinner, 'Percy' Pocock is probably best known for taking seven wickets in eleven balls for Surrey 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...
in 1972. He captained Surrey in his final season in 1986, having made his debut for them in 1964. He finished with 1,607 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...
wickets at 26.53, with a best innings bowling figures of 9 for 57.
Pocock currently lives in Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.