Mike DENNESS

Lanarkshire-born Mike Denness, had his reputation destroyed by the fast bowling of Lillee and Thomson in the Ashes series of 1974-75, but his record stands up well to scrutiny. He led England to a semi-final in the first World Cup; drew a series against West Indies when they were on the brink of their greatest era and scored 188 in an innings defeat of Australia on their home territory. His misfortunes, in the shape of one of the greatest fast bowling pairs of all time, were more an Act of God than something to be countered with captaincy. Denness was first chosen as an England batsman against New Zealand at the end of the 1989 season, when he scored 59 not out. He played in the first of the unofficial Tests against the Rest of the World in 1970, when injury forced England to field five batsmen who were not first choice. He did not return until 1972-73 when he was Tony Lewis' vice-captain on the sub- continent. He captained the first of his 19 Tests in West Indies in 1973-74, when he scored 67 at Kingston. He scored two centuries against India in 1974, 118 at Lord's and 100 at Edgbaston, but was so mentally scarred by Lillee and Thomson in Australia that he dropped himself for one Test. He returned with 51, then made that big hundred. He followed that with 181 and 59 not out against New Zealand and kept the captaincy for the World Cup of 1975. His best score was 37 not out against India and he top scored with 25 for England in the semi-final. He put Australia in to bat in the first Test of that summer, saw England bowled out cheaply on a wet wicket and was replaced as captain by Tony Greig. (Bob Harragan).

After an innings defeat by Australia at Edgbaston in July 1975, he was dropped and replaced as captain by Tony Greig, who died in December 2012 at the age of 66.

A president of Kent County Cricket Club, Mike Denness was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to sport. He died of cancer the same year, aged 72.