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The Lancashire left hander Neil Fairbrother was England's best one day
batsman of the 1990s, playing in three World Cups, but found it
impossible to hold down a Test place. He was one of three talented
batsman who emerged in county cricket in the mid 1980s, but neither he,
Rob Bailey or John Morris fulfilled their early promise on the
international stage. Fairbrother, standing only 5ft 8in in his socks,
and named after his mother's favourite cricketer, the Australian Neil
Harvey, was the first to be given the opportunity, playing in the first
Test against Pakistan in 1987. Coming in with 25 minutes to go on the
first day he was quickly lbw for 0.
Quickly dropped, he got his Test
place back in Wellington in 1987-88 but did not get in to bat as a great
storm washed out the final days. He had three Tests against New Zealand
in 1990, but his best score was 33 not out in the closing stages of the
second. Touring India with Graham Gooch in 1992-93, mainly to play in
the ODIs, he was called in to help the ailing and failing Test side and
scored 83 in Madras. Stepping in after injuries to Atherton's team in
Australia in 1994-95 many thought he was at last ready to make a success
of his Test career, but within days he was sidelined with an injured
leg. He played in the World Cups of 1992, l996 and 1999, scoring 62
against Pakistan in the 1992 final. He scored 366 for Lancashire against
Surrey at the Oval in 1990. (Bob Harragan)
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