tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post5817558292314360396..comments2024-03-17T20:41:08.291+13:00Comments on My Life in Cricket Scorecards: Derek Underwood at 70Peter Hoarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787338137200532386noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-76412563365726275622019-08-26T06:16:13.754+12:002019-08-26T06:16:13.754+12:00I am definitely enjoying your website. You definit...I am definitely enjoying your website. You definitely have some great insight and great stories. <a href="https://cleverbowling.com" rel="nofollow">CleverBowling.com</a><br />aliyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17442329887988547019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-37560818639033845032019-08-19T00:16:52.570+12:002019-08-19T00:16:52.570+12:00I play golf regularly with Dawn have known her for...I play golf regularly with Dawn have known her for 15 yrs or more <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11680328073889010010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-17531465556796923632017-05-17T06:29:39.355+12:002017-05-17T06:29:39.355+12:00I was never that interested in cricket, but I did ...I was never that interested in cricket, but I did work with Derek's wife Dawn in the early 70's. She gave us all in the office a big insight into their world which was fascinating. She was a lovely lady and worked tirelessly on his behalf particularly during his benefit year. If anyone knows what she's up to now I would be thrilled to hear from them at: rick.avern@sky.com. Thanks Rick Avern<br />Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09302350363375113555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-29259714618875548472017-05-17T05:22:07.624+12:002017-05-17T05:22:07.624+12:00I was never a great cricket fan, but had the honou...I was never a great cricket fan, but had the honour of working with his wife Dawn in the early 70's in Kent. I often wonder what happened to her as I can find no reference to her anywhere. She was a lovely person and spent a lot of time promoting his career. I particularly remember her working tirelessly on his benefit year.. If anyone has news of her would be grateful to hear on: rick.avern@sky.com<br />Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09302350363375113555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-43066894683434472392015-09-14T23:52:34.841+12:002015-09-14T23:52:34.841+12:00Thanks for a vivid description of an unsung hero ,...Thanks for a vivid description of an unsung hero ,Underwood. I had an occasion to watch him at nets in Chennai, when he was a member of England Test team. I can stilll remember his phenomenal accuracy as he landed all his deliveries with pin point accuracy with a stump to aim at.Who can forget his Oval masterclass as England raced against time to achieve a famous win in 1968 Ashes test.In 1972 also he was devastating in Headingly.But he was too unconventional to be a spinner in the traditional sense of the term .India's Chandra is a bowler of similar mould but he was mercurial. The consistency and the subtle variations Unders brought to his art is admirable.Perhaps ,I can only think of Frank Wright of England in the Bradman era ,who can bracketed along with these two gentle soulsVasudevan Ramanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10229464294958709922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-25307564412800818942015-06-29T21:11:13.136+12:002015-06-29T21:11:13.136+12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Peter Hoarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03787338137200532386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-20354955088463977262015-06-29T21:10:43.178+12:002015-06-29T21:10:43.178+12:00Thanks Brian. He was a one-off. For some years Swa...Thanks Brian. He was a one-off. For some years Swanton et al said that he was bowling too quickly, not realising that though he took the spinner's role, he wasn't a conventional spinner. There was more respect for the simple virtues of accuracy then; batsmen were much less inclined than they are now to try to attack a bowler off his length. It was not impossible to do this to Underwood. The unlikely figure of Keith Pont of Essex did it one day. There was a wonderful contest in a Sunday Leagur game between Underwood and Mike Gatting, which Gatting won. But I remain convinced that he would be clever enough to remain in charge inn today's game.. Peter Hoarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03787338137200532386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1111954708286392671.post-85150936832786473252015-06-28T23:01:33.823+12:002015-06-28T23:01:33.823+12:00I thought this was wonderful, Peter. I'm a li...I thought this was wonderful, Peter. I'm a little younger than you, but I remember Underwood well (mostly, in my case from Kent's regular appearances on television, although I did see him play live for England).<br /><br />It's always seemed to me as though he's been forgotten somewhat, possibly because he's kept quite a low profile since he retired and has never really got involved with the media, but, as anyone who saw him will know, he is unquestionably one of England's greatest post-war bowlers, and, in fact, a very persuasive case can be made for him as one of the finest bowlers England has ever produced.<br /><br />The aspect of Underwood's bowling which I recall most strongly is his phenomenal accuracy. In the age of short attention spans and obsessive experimentation, bowlers like that simply don't exist anymore. I hate to sound like an old fart, but some of the younger people who one comes across on Twitter (whose love for, and knowledge of, the game, is deep and genuine) simply wouldn't believe the accuracy and artistry of Underwood. He was unique.<br /><br />I, too, remember the 6 for 12 and the next day's century. I can also remember the fact that he was interviewed on TV on the Sunday and asked what the prospects were for his innings the next morning (he was not out on the Saturday evening), and he specifically dismissed the idea that he might score a century. Without checking, I'm sure he's very near to the top (if not at the top) of the list of players who batted the most times in first-class cricket before scoring a century.<br /><br />One of the very best.Brian Carpenternoreply@blogger.com