They said Jack Russell was not a good enough batsman to find a place in the England side, but he soon showed them. On his debut against Sri Lanka he found himself sent in as nightwatchman at number three. He made 94 before he was out. While in 1988 few doubted the eccentric Russell was the best wicket-keeper in England, he had spent many years trying to prove he was the best in Gloucestershire. Many felt that Andy Brassington, who he replaced, was the better gloveman. Brassington, though, could not bat for toffee so Jack was generally first choice. Jack - he was never known by his proper name of Robert - was a disciple of Alan Knott and had even stranger habits than his mentor: a penchant for a particular breakfast cereal, a refusal to throw out his gear (his gloves and sunhat were repaired continually over his ten year Test career) and his talent as an artist marked him out from the commonplace county cricketer. He showed that first innings was no fluke with 128 not out against Australia at Old Trafford in 1989 and with a fighting 55 in the second innings in Barbados in 1990. Russell so nearly saw England to safety, but Curtly Ambrose swept through with the new ball and won the match at the last gasp. Russell never forgot and kept reminding his skipper Mike Atherton in their great rearguard at Johannesburg in 1995-96 when they batted through the last day, Russell often scoreless. He batted for 4 hours 37 minutes for 29 runs and this time the match was saved. For the last years of his career England were always torn between giving the gloves to Russell or Alec Stewart. Oddly Russell's batting got him a place in the World Cup team of 1996. (Bob Harragan)