|
"Ah! Foxy batsman, " as Jimi Hendrix might have sung. The main thing to
remember about the left handed "Foxy" Fowler was that, like his fellow
Accrington opening bat David Lloyd, he was barmy: or, to put it more
kindly, he was a man of unorthodox views who was always happy to
challenge the received opinions of first class cricketers. It was that
which turned him into a Test cricketer and later a successful coach,
often turning into cussedness against Australians who thought he could
not play, as when he made awful looking scores of 83 in Brisbane and 65
at Melbourne in 1982-83.
However he looked, he was good enough to score
106 against West Indies at their peak at Lord's in 1984 and 201 against
India at Madras. "He is not elegant, " one critic wrote: "When he wants
to attack the bowling he almost throws his whole body at the ball,
swinging himself off his feet." He was a nippy out-fielder despite
beginning his career as a wicket-keeper. He kept for England in one ODI.
In the World Cup of 1983 he was at his peak, scoring 78 not out against
Pakistan, 69 v New Zealand, 69 against Pakistan again, 81 not out
against Sri Lanka and 33 in the semi-final loss to India. Fowler scored
86 on his debut against Pakistan in 1982 after becoming one of the few
Test victims of Ehtasham-ud-dhin in the first innings.
He scored 105
against New Zealand at the Oval in 1983. He was unlucky to be left out
for Graham Gooch after one ODI in 1985 and he suffered a crisis of
confidence that saw his career plummet. Engaged by publishers to write a
diary on a Test cricketers life, it eventually appreared as a book on
life in Lancashire's 2nd XI. (Bob Harragan)
|