Norman COWANS

Jamaican-born but brought up in England, Norman Cowans was the second player of African-West Indian origin to play for England and the first fast bowler, leading to hopes that England had found a bowler in the mould of the West Indian pace quartet. He made his Middlesex debut in 1980 and his selection for the Ashes tour of 1982-83 was one in a tradition of little-known fast bowlers taken to Australia in the hope they would emulate the devastation caused by Frank Tyson in 1954-55. Cowans impressed enough to be given his debut in the first Test in Perth, but he did not take a wicket. It was not until the second innings of the second Test in Brisbane that he did take one, when he had Greg Chappell caught. He took 6-77 in the second innings at Melbourne in the nail-biting match which England won by just 3 runs. Against New Zealand at Headingley the next summer he took 3-88 and took three wickets in each innings at Trent Bridge. He toured New Zealand with England that winter, taking 3-52 in Christchurch when England won by an innings. In Pakistan the same winter he took 5-42 in the second innings of the Lahore Test, taking all five wickets that fell to a bowler, the other being a run out. He played one Test at Old Trafford in 1984 but did not take a wicket. He opened the attack on the unfriendly wickets of India all through David Gower's tour that winter, taking 14 wickets. He played one Test against Australia in 1985, but lost his place to Greg Thomas for the next tour. With his athletic 17 pace run up and his nickname 'The Flash' Cowans looked the part of the fast bowler, but could not reach the heights despite some match-winning spells. (Bob Harragan)