Mal Loye
Encyclopedia
Malachy Bernard Loye most commonly known as Mal Loye, is an English cricketer
who has played first class cricket for Northamptonshire
, Lancashire
, and England A
. Loye is a right-handed batsman, particularly well known for his slog sweep shot against fast bowlers. Deep into a long career, he also finally made his One Day International debut against Australia
on 19 January 2007 aged 34 years 113 days.
in 1994, and passed 1,000 runs in a season for the first time in 1996. In 1998 when he made almost 1,200 first-class runs including the county's individual scoring record of 322 not out
against Glamorgan. In the same game he shared a stand of 401 with David Ripley
which beat the record of the highest fifth-wicket stand in England. He ended up with four hundreds that year, a new season best, and was named PCA
Player of the Year to follow on from his 1993 award of PCA Young Player of the Year. After a couple of lean years where he made less than 600 runs, Loye has averaged above 48 in every season save 2002, and scored more than 900 runs a season. Now he has over 10,000 first class runs to his name and has represented both England U19 and England A.
for the first time when he hammered exactly 100 against Durham, including five sixes and 10 fours. Loye has since been a mainstay in the Lancashire top-order and his good form provided him with a call-up to England's One Day International 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy
in India
. Mal Loye was awarded with a benefit season for 2008.
, signing a 2 year contract on 29 September 2009. He was released by the county following the 2011 season
.
event in November. Loye acted as a wicket keeper for the England team led by Dominic Cork
during the tournament.
In January 2007 Loye was playing for Auckland
, when he was called up to the England squad as cover for the injured Michael Vaughan
, and made his One Day International debut on 19 January 2007 when he was England's top scorer with 36 runs off 36 balls. Cricket commentator Simon Mann remarked after the game that "Loye’s front foot sweep for six off Brett Lee
was the stroke of the series so far".
Loye was left out of England's squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup
in favour of Ravi Bopara. Chairman of selectors David Graveney
said that Loye could be considered unlucky and had not done anything wrong, but that his inclusion would have made the squad "top-heavy". He was also left out of Englands Twenty20 squad for a tournament which is due to start in September in South Africa, despite having a healthy stats and success in the domestic form of the game over the last few years in which it has been introduced and having averaged 57 in this years tournament. Loye expressed his frustrations and disappointments at the selectors, in particular Graveney, for not being selected for England for a number of years and is now pondering whether to quit international cricket.
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 has played first class cricket for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
, and England A
England A cricket team
The England Lions cricket team is a cricket team representing England and Wales. It is the "second-tier" of international English cricket below the full England cricket team, and is largely intended as a way for promising young cricketers to gain experience of playing international cricket...
. Loye is a right-handed batsman, particularly well known for his slog sweep shot against fast bowlers. Deep into a long career, he also finally made his One Day International debut against Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
on 19 January 2007 aged 34 years 113 days.
Northamptonshire
After making his debut in 1991, Loye received the Northamptonshire capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in 1994, and passed 1,000 runs in a season for the first time in 1996. In 1998 when he made almost 1,200 first-class runs including the county's individual scoring record of 322 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
against Glamorgan. In the same game he shared a stand of 401 with David Ripley
David Ripley
David Ripley is a former England cricketer who played for Northamptonshire in county cricket from 1984-2001. He took 678 catches and 85 stumpings...
which beat the record of the highest fifth-wicket stand in England. He ended up with four hundreds that year, a new season best, and was named PCA
Professional Cricketers' Association
The Professional Cricketers' Association is the representative body of past and present first-class cricketers in England and Wales, founded in 1967...
Player of the Year to follow on from his 1993 award of PCA Young Player of the Year. After a couple of lean years where he made less than 600 runs, Loye has averaged above 48 in every season save 2002, and scored more than 900 runs a season. Now he has over 10,000 first class runs to his name and has represented both England U19 and England A.
Lancashire
Loye transferred to Lancashire in 2003. He was an ever-present during Lancashire's march to the County Championship Division Two title in 2005 and was the county's leading run-scorer with 1,198, including a knock of 200 against Durham. He almost became the first Lancashire batsman ever to score consecutive double centuries but was dismissed for 194 in the next match against Essex. Loye also made a century in the Twenty20 CupTwenty20 Cup
The Twenty20 Cup was a cricket competition for English and Welsh county clubs.In 2010, it has been replaced by Friends Provident t20 as the domestic Twenty20 competition.-History:...
for the first time when he hammered exactly 100 against Durham, including five sixes and 10 fours. Loye has since been a mainstay in the Lancashire top-order and his good form provided him with a call-up to England's One Day International 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy
ICC Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy is a One Day International cricket tournament, second in importance only to the Cricket World Cup. It was inaugurated as the ICC Knock Out tournament in 1998 and has been played every two years since, changing its name to the Champions Trophy in 2002...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Mal Loye was awarded with a benefit season for 2008.
Return to Northamptonshire
After 7 years away from Northamptonshire, Loye returned to Wantage RoadCounty Cricket Ground, Northampton
The County Ground, is a cricket venue on Wantage Road in the Abington area of Northampton, UK. It is home to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club....
, signing a 2 year contract on 29 September 2009. He was released by the county following the 2011 season
2011 English cricket season
The 2011 English cricket season began on 2 April with a round of university matches, and will continue until the final of the Clydesdale Bank 40 on 17 September. Three major domestic competitions are contested: the 2011 County Championship, the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40 and the 2011 Friends Life t20...
.
International career
On 4 October 2006 he was called up to the England squad for the Hong Kong SixesHong Kong International Cricket Sixes
The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is an annual 10-team international cricket tournament held at the Kowloon Cricket Club and fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council. The tournament is made for television, with rules and a venue that encourage aggressive batting and high scoring...
event in November. Loye acted as a wicket keeper for the England team led by Dominic Cork
Dominic Cork
Dominic Gerald Cork is a former English cricketer. Cork is a right-handed lower-order batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium, and is renowned for his swing and seam control. Making his début in first-class cricket for Derbyshire in 1990, he was selected to play for England in 1992, aged 21. He...
during the tournament.
In January 2007 Loye was playing for Auckland
Auckland Aces
The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...
, when he was called up to the England squad as cover for the injured Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan
Michael Paul Vaughan OBE is a retired cricketer who represented Yorkshire and England. A classically elegant right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner, Vaughan was ranked one of the best batsmen in the world following the 2002/3 Ashes, in which he scored 633 runs, including three centuries...
, and made his One Day International debut on 19 January 2007 when he was England's top scorer with 36 runs off 36 balls. Cricket commentator Simon Mann remarked after the game that "Loye’s front foot sweep for six off Brett Lee
Brett Lee
Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...
was the stroke of the series so far".
Loye was left out of England's squad for the 2007 Cricket World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
in favour of Ravi Bopara. Chairman of selectors David Graveney
David Graveney
David Anthony Graveney OBE is a leading figure in English cricket and former chairman of the England Test selectors, a post he held from 1997 until 2008. Graveney attended Millfield School in Somerset....
said that Loye could be considered unlucky and had not done anything wrong, but that his inclusion would have made the squad "top-heavy". He was also left out of Englands Twenty20 squad for a tournament which is due to start in September in South Africa, despite having a healthy stats and success in the domestic form of the game over the last few years in which it has been introduced and having averaged 57 in this years tournament. Loye expressed his frustrations and disappointments at the selectors, in particular Graveney, for not being selected for England for a number of years and is now pondering whether to quit international cricket.