Allan Lamb, who celebrates his 65th birthday this month, lit up England’s Test side in the 1980s with his attacking batting style. But his route to the Test-match cricket was far from conventional. Alex Bannister looked at the back story when Lamb was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1981.
Allan Lamb qualified for England in 1982 and made his debut against India that summer. He played in 79 Tests, captaining in three and scoring 4,656 runs at 36. He made 14 centuries.
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In 1977, three young South African cricketers arrived in England in search of fame – and the prerequisite of a county contract. All were from the Cape. Allan Lamb and Peter Kirsten (who had played for Sussex against the 1975 Australians) were specialist batsmen; Garth le Roux was a fast bowler. And as their sponsored enterprise had been initiated by Eddie Barlow, then captain of Derbyshire, it was natural that they should base themselves in that county. For Derbyshire’s Second Eleven Kirsten returned a spectacular average of 133.50 which led to his remaining with the county. Lamb also did well and Le Roux, later to join Sussex, was second in the bowling averages. In the same season, in the also batted and also bowled for Northamptonshire Second Eleven, lurk the same names of Lamb, Kirsten and Le Roux. They fished in several waters. On Saturdays, for example, Lamb was a successful batsman for Holmfirth in the Huddersfield League.
Having advertised the considerable ability which was to take him to the top of the national averages in 1980, Allan Joseph Lamb returned to the Cape with runs aplenty from his English adventure, but lacking the much-wanted contract. The gods, however, had not forsaken him. Back at Northampton, a serious shortage of class had been created by the departure of Mushtaq Mohammad, Bishen Bedi, John Dye and Roy Virgin. Replacements were a top priority, and over Christmas Roy Barker, a member of the Northamptonshire committee on a business visit to South Africa, appeared like Santa himself with a contract for Lamb.
Like many champions reared on true and trusted surfaces, Lamb is an instinctive stroke-maker and an attacking player. An uncomplicated philosophy is his recipe for success. “I am not a defensive player. My main objective at all times is to score runs, and to look for runs off every ball. I believe that as you are likely to get a good ball sooner or later it is pointless to wait for it with a passive outlook. I look to score off most balls I face, and I dislike leaving the bad ball, such as a wide or a long hop, as some do. Playing in England has not only been a great experience, but has vastly improved my game. I have learned a lot, especially about turning wickets, and I have begun to play spinners better.”
Inevitably Lamb’s record and healthy methods aroused speculation in 1980 about possible future qualification for England by residence. There are three cogent reasons why he could opt to become available for England – a natural ambition to play at Test level, his English parentage, and his enjoyment at playing and living in Northampton where he has made many friends. But it is a personal decision only he can make. One fact emerges with shinning clarity. If he continues his consistent brilliance, it would take an unusually good batsman to keep him out even of a vintage England team.
