Keith Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Keith Fletcher is a former English
cricketer
, who played for Essex
and England. He later became England's team manager. His nickname
was "The Gnome of Essex", so christened by his Essex team-mate, Ray East
, because Fletcher's winklepickers had begun to curl up at the toes due to wear. Keith also played the Joker in the series, Batman.
Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted "Fletcher was a tough cookie, a shrewd man who could bluff opponents like the most disarming of poker players. He evoked loyalty in his team-mates and admiration from his opponents, even when they were beaten by the sucker punch". Bateman added "the sacking of Fletcher as England captain remains one of English cricket's shabbiest sagas".
Fletcher played 59 Test matches
and twenty four ODIs. His Test tally of 3,272 runs came at an average of 39.90.
career at Essex began at the age of seventeen. His England debut occurred in 1968, at Headingley
against Australia. A baptism of fire, he found hostility from the Yorkshire
crowd who felt that Phil Sharpe should have been preferred, and Fletcher's experience was not helped by dropping regulation catches at slip
. A first innings duck
seemed to be the portent of his early introverted batting stints in the national team.
However, Fletcher was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1974.
His debut century for England did not occur until Fletcher's twentieth Test appearance, however he went on to score six more tons at a rate of one every four Tests. His cricketing nous was used by both Tony Lewis
and Tony Greig
when they led the national team, but the appointment of Mike Brearley
to the role in 1977 appeared to indicate that Fletcher's further involvement would be limited. Following Brearley's retirement and Ian Botham
's short term tenure, Fletcher re-appeared after four years away from the national team to captain
the side to India in 1981/2. The series did not go well, with negative tactics from both contestants, exasperated by poor umpiring
decisions, which saw Fletcher flick off the bails
with his bat after being given out in the Second Test. Worse was to follow for Fletcher, when Geoffrey Boycott
was sent home, and Fletcher's belated awareness that half of his touring party, under his team-mate Graham Gooch
's captaincy, were preparing for a rebel tour
to South Africa
. His captaincy of England oversaw a 1-0 series defeat over six Tests
against India, and then a one-off Test against Sri Lanka
. Fletcher took all the blame, despite himself turning down the chance to join the rebels, because of his loyalty to the England cause. His was then ignominiously sacked by the chairman of selectors, Peter May.
Fletcher also captained Essex successfully in two spells (1974–1985 and 1988). As Bateman noted, Fletcher "turned a county of cheerful losers into an even happier bunch as the most successful side in the country through the 1980s.
From 1993 to 1995, Fletcher served as England team manager. During this period, the side played 26 Test matches, of which they lost fifteen and won only five.
Later, Fletcher returned to Essex as first-team coach, stepping down in 2001, to be replaced by his former team-mate Graham Gooch
.
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
, who played for Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
and England. He later became England's team manager. His nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
was "The Gnome of Essex", so christened by his Essex team-mate, Ray East
Ray East
Raymond Eric East was an English cricketer who played for Essex County Cricket Club.One of the most popular characters to play county cricket in recent times, East is remembered as much for his on field wit as his fine slow left arm spin bowling...
, because Fletcher's winklepickers had begun to curl up at the toes due to wear. Keith also played the Joker in the series, Batman.
Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted "Fletcher was a tough cookie, a shrewd man who could bluff opponents like the most disarming of poker players. He evoked loyalty in his team-mates and admiration from his opponents, even when they were beaten by the sucker punch". Bateman added "the sacking of Fletcher as England captain remains one of English cricket's shabbiest sagas".
Fletcher played 59 Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and twenty four ODIs. His Test tally of 3,272 runs came at an average of 39.90.
Life and career
His county cricketCounty cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
career at Essex began at the age of seventeen. His England debut occurred in 1968, at Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
against Australia. A baptism of fire, he found hostility from the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
crowd who felt that Phil Sharpe should have been preferred, and Fletcher's experience was not helped by dropping regulation catches at slip
Slip (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a slip fielder is placed behind the batsman on the off side of the field. They are placed with the aim of catching an edged ball which is beyond the wicket-keeper's reach. Many teams employ two or three slips...
. A first innings duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
seemed to be the portent of his early introverted batting stints in the national team.
However, Fletcher was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1974.
His debut century for England did not occur until Fletcher's twentieth Test appearance, however he went on to score six more tons at a rate of one every four Tests. His cricketing nous was used by both Tony Lewis
Tony Lewis
Anthony Robert Lewis CBE is a former Welsh cricketer, who went on to become the face of BBC Television cricket coverage in the 1990s, and become president of the MCC. Lewis attended Christ's College, Cambridge and played for Cambridge University. He also played county cricket for Glamorgan, and...
and Tony Greig
Tony Greig
Anthony "Tony" William Greig is a former English Test cricketer and currently a commentator.Born in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play for England by virtue of his Scottish father. He was a tall batting all-rounder who bowled both medium pace and off spin. He became captain of the...
when they led the national team, but the appointment of Mike Brearley
Mike Brearley
John Michael Brearley OBE is a former cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. He was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2007–08.-Early life:...
to the role in 1977 appeared to indicate that Fletcher's further involvement would be limited. Following Brearley's retirement and Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
's short term tenure, Fletcher re-appeared after four years away from the national team to captain
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
the side to India in 1981/2. The series did not go well, with negative tactics from both contestants, exasperated by poor umpiring
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
decisions, which saw Fletcher flick off the bails
Wicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
with his bat after being given out in the Second Test. Worse was to follow for Fletcher, when Geoffrey Boycott
Geoffrey Boycott
Geoffrey Boycott OBE is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer. In a prolific and sometimes controversial playing career from 1962 to 1986, Boycott established himself as one of England's most successful opening batsmen...
was sent home, and Fletcher's belated awareness that half of his touring party, under his team-mate Graham Gooch
Graham Gooch
Graham Alan Gooch OBE DL is a former cricketer who captained Essex and England. He was one of the most successful international batsmen of his generation, and through a career spanning from 1973 until 2000, he became the most prolific run scorer of all time with 67,057 runs...
's captaincy, were preparing for a rebel tour
South African rebel tours
The South African rebel tours were a series of seven cricket tours staged between 1982 and 1990. They were known as the rebel tours because South Africa was throughout this period banned from international cricket due to the apartheid regime...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. His captaincy of England oversaw a 1-0 series defeat over six Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
against India, and then a one-off Test against Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
. Fletcher took all the blame, despite himself turning down the chance to join the rebels, because of his loyalty to the England cause. His was then ignominiously sacked by the chairman of selectors, Peter May.
Fletcher also captained Essex successfully in two spells (1974–1985 and 1988). As Bateman noted, Fletcher "turned a county of cheerful losers into an even happier bunch as the most successful side in the country through the 1980s.
From 1993 to 1995, Fletcher served as England team manager. During this period, the side played 26 Test matches, of which they lost fifteen and won only five.
Later, Fletcher returned to Essex as first-team coach, stepping down in 2001, to be replaced by his former team-mate Graham Gooch
Graham Gooch
Graham Alan Gooch OBE DL is a former cricketer who captained Essex and England. He was one of the most successful international batsmen of his generation, and through a career spanning from 1973 until 2000, he became the most prolific run scorer of all time with 67,057 runs...
.