|
The compact left-hand opening batsman from Warwickshire looked set for a
productive Test career - for 20 minutes. Then a short ball from Malcolm
Marshall clanged into the side of his helmet. Lloyd collapsed on the
wicket and spent the next 10 days in hospital with blurred vision. He
had looked the part. He had nudged and pushed his way successfully
through three ODIs, clearly in control of his own game, making runs with
no exaggerated flourishes or tempting edges to attract Marshall and his
fellow fast bowling assassins.
The Oswestry lad had gradually built his
reputation from the day he made his debut for Warwickshire in 1977. He
spent two winters in South Africa, playing for Orange Free State and had
made 208 not out against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston in 1983. He made
his ODI debut at Old Trafford in 1984, under the captaincy of David
Gower and scored 15. At Trent Bridge he made 49, England's top score in a
three wicket victory, putting on 75 for the first wicket in 24 overs
with Graeme Fowler.
At Lord's he made a neat 37, this time adding 60
with Fowler. He was 10 not out when Marshall knocked him down in the
Test match. In 1984-85 he toured Zimbabwe with an England Counties XI
captained by Mark Nicholas and scored 50 in the first international
match in Harare. He was Warwickshire captain from 1988 to 1992. (Bob Harragan)
|