Derek Underwood

Derek Leslie Underwood

Derek Leslie Underwood

England England

Overview

Full Name Derek Leslie Underwood
Age 79y 152d
Born Friday, June 8, 1945, England
Batting Style Right Handed
Bowling Style Slow left-arm orthodox
Playing Role Bowler

Teams represented

Biography

If one thought that Anil Kumble bowled at a pace that was totally unbecoming of a spinner, one had to watch Derek Underwood. On uncovered wickets – which had borne a little rain - Underwood’s pacy, spinning deliveries left the batsmen bamboozled. There was a saying about him which went, “carry Underwood like an umbrella, in case of rain”, and it could not be more true than that.

Underwood’s 297 wickets came at a very good average of less than 26, and his consistency can be found from the fact that his home and away average barely differed by a run or so. In fact, his average against a team like India, which has been traditionally a strong team playing against spinners, is less than 28, again very similar to his overall average. Consistency was definitely Underwood’s forte.

Underwood unfortunately ended three wickets short of the 300 wicket mark, and this was due to association with WSC and Kerry Packer to begin with, and then went to South Africa which was an unauthorized tour again. That effectively ended Underwood’s career, though he was still selected as one of the Greatest English Post War cricketers, joining others like Len Hutton and Ian Botham in the list.

Debut
England vs West Indies at Nottingham - Thursday, June 30, 1966

Batting

Matches 86
Innings 116
Runs 937
100's - 50's 0 - 0
Sixes - Fours 0 - 91
Average 11.56
Strike Rate -
Highest Score (vs Australia, 25/07/1968) 45

Bowling

Matches 86
Innings 151
Overs 2732.6
Wickets 297
Economy Rate 2.10
Five-Wicket Haul Innings 17
Ten-Wicket Haul Innings 6
Best Figures (vs Pakistan, 08/08/1974) 8/51

Fielding

Catches 44
Stumpings 0
Run Outs 0

Career Wickets

41
33
22
11
Wickets
Years