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Martin Bicknell, identified as one of the promising youngsters who would
be England's future when Graham Gooch started the rebuilding process in
1993, was hindered by back injuries and by the time he was back to full
fitness had lost his pace and his chance. He was still a good enough
medium-fast bowler to spearhead Surrey's wins in the English County
Championship in 1999 and 2000, but by then a younger generation of
opening bowlers had overtaken him in the race for a Test place. Bicknell
and his elder brother Darren, a left handed opening bat, attracted the
attention of the selectors at the same time and were both chosen to tour
Zimbabwe with England A in 1989-90, before the Africans elevation to
Test status and at a time their full side was chosen for the unofficial
'Tests'. Martin took 3-42 against Kenya but was not selected for the big
matches in Zimbabwe until the second 'Test' in Bulawayo, when his
figures were 4-74. In the third match in Harare he took 3-9.
He was
chosen to tour Australia with Graham Gooch's England team in 1990-91
and, while not appearing in a Test, he bowled impressively in five one
day internationals. Brought into the Test side at Headingley in 1993 he
was unlucky to come up against the Australian batting at its best on a
perfect wicket. He bowled 50 overs and took 1-155, getting Mark Taylor
lbw for 27, but no one could dismiss Allan Border - 200 not out - and
Steve Waugh - 157 not out. In the Edgbaston Test he took 3-99,
dismissing Steve Waugh, Ian Healy and Merv Hughes but was dropped for
the 6th and final Test of the series at The Oval. The years went by and
Martin continued to take wickets for Surrey but his Test career seemed
well and truly over.
Remarkably, though, he returned to the Test arena
for the 4th Test against South Africa at Headingley in August 2003 - a
full decade after making his last appearance. He did well enough with
2-50 and 2-75 but it was not enough to prevent England going down to a
191 run defeat which put the South Africans 2-1 up in the series.
Bicknell was retained for the final Test at his home ground The Oval and
he responded in magnificent fashion with 4-84 in South Africa's 2nd
innings to help England to a series levelling 9 wicket victory. That
really was the final appearance in his 'short' Test career and what a
fine way to bow out it was for the Surrey man. (Bob Harragan)
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