Eddie HEMMINGS

Eddie Hemmings, the tubby off-spinner from Leamington Spa, came to international attention before he was chosen for Test cricket by taking 10-175 for an international XI against Jamaica in 1982-83. His Test career is remembered for two incidents: the first being the 95 he scored at Sydney in 1982-83 when he went in as night-watchman and the second being hit for four successive 6s by Kapil Dev as India looked to save the follow-on in 1990.

He had been a journeyman county cricketer for many years before he switched to the off-spin that brought him international recognition. He bowled medium pace and sometimes batted for Warwickshire from 1966 to 1979, after which he joined Nottinghamshire. He made his debut in the first Test against Pakistan in 1982, taking three wickets. He played in three Tests in the Ashes series that followed, taking 3-68 and 3-113 in the match where he scored his runs. He did not reappear until the Faisalabad Test against Pakistan in 1987-8 and took 3-53 in the Australian Bi-Centenary Test. He was then discarded until the Trent Bridge Test in the 1989 Ashes series, not taking a wicket as Australia declared at 602 for six.

However his scores of 38 and 35 were the best batting by an England player in that match. He went to the West Indies in 1989-90, but was only picked for the Georgetown Test, which was completely rained off. In 1990 he took 6-58 against New Zealand at Edgbaston then went to Australia again for thes eries that followed. He played in the 1987 World Cup, taking 4-52 in the semi-final against India and 2-48 in the final against Australia.

(Bob Harragan) .

Eddie Hemmings is pictured above playing for England during the 2nd Prudential Trophy One Day Cricket International against Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester on 18th July 1982. Hemmings returned the economical figures of 11-3-30-1 to help England to a comfortable 73 run victory and a 2-0 series win. Photograph George Herringshaw.  ©