Brian Statham facts for kids

Brian Statham (born June 17, 1930 – died June 10, 2000) was a famous English professional cricket player. He was a fast bowler known for his amazing accuracy. Brian played for Lancashire County Cricket Club from 1950 to 1968. He also played for the England team from 1951 to 1965.

Statham was part of powerful fast bowling teams for England. He first partnered with Frank Tyson and later with the even more famous Fred Trueman. Brian didn't make the ball swing much in the air. Instead, he made it move very quickly off the pitch. This often surprised batsmen and helped him take many wickets.

In 1963, Brian briefly held the world record for the most wickets in Test cricket. He finished his international career with 252 wickets. His total of 2,260 wickets in first-class cricket is one of the highest ever. He also holds the record for most wickets for Lancashire, with 1,816.

Brian was a natural athlete and a great fielder. He was very fast and threw the ball accurately. He was also captain of Lancashire for three seasons. After he passed away, a road near Old Trafford Cricket Ground was named Brian Statham Way. The south end of the ground is also called the Brian Statham End.

Brian Statham's Early Life (1930-1951)

Brian Statham was born in Gorton, Manchester, on June 17, 1930. His father was a dental surgeon. Brian was the youngest of four brothers. He went to Aspinal Primary School and Manchester Central Grammar School. He played both cricket and football at school. However, he preferred tennis as a summer sport for a while.

After school, Brian worked as a clerk. He played football for Denton West F.C. He was even offered trials by big clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City. But his father didn't want him to play football professionally. Brian's football manager also ran a cricket club. This helped Brian get back into cricket in 1947.

National Service and Cricket

In 1948, Brian joined the RAF for national service. He worked in an aircraft maintenance unit. He still played cricket for Denton West on weekends. He became the top bowler in his league. He also played for the RAF Stafford team in 1949. He took 96 wickets that season. He learned to bowl a "yorker" (a ball that pitches right at the batsman's feet).

A corporal in the RAF saw Brian's talent. He suggested Brian contact Lancashire.

Joining Lancashire Cricket Club

Brian tried out for Lancashire in April 1950. He did very well, even getting two top batsmen out. Lancashire offered him a professional contract. He joined the team after finishing his national service.

Brian quickly impressed the Lancashire coach. He was chosen to play for the first team against Kent on his 20th birthday, June 17, 1950. He took his first wicket in that match. Lancashire won easily. Wisden, a famous cricket book, said he arrived with his boots in a brown paper parcel. The Manchester Guardian noted his excellent pace.

Some people criticized Brian's bowling style at first. But he was a natural athlete. His teammates liked his friendly and funny personality. They nicknamed him "George."

Brian's First Season (1950)

Brian played 15 matches for Lancashire in 1950. Lancashire shared the County Championship title that year. In a match against Somerset, he took five wickets for only five runs!

He also played against Yorkshire in a big match. He took five wickets for 52 runs. Wisden called his bowling "sensational." Brian finished the season with 37 wickets. He earned a regular spot on the team.

First Overseas Tour (1950-51)

Brian was surprised to be called up for an England tour to Australia and New Zealand. He joined the team as a replacement for injured players. He made his Test match debut for England against New Zealand in March 1951. It was a high-scoring match that ended in a draw.

Brian's Cricket Career (1951-1954)

Developing His Skills (1951-1952)

Brian continued to improve at county level. He became a truly fast bowler. In 1951, he took 97 wickets. He played in two Tests against South Africa. Lancashire finished third in the County Championship.

In 1951-52, Brian toured India, Pakistan, and Ceylon. He found the tour challenging, especially the food. He played in all five Tests against India. Wisden praised his potential to become a top-class fast bowler.

Challenges and Rest (1952-1953)

In 1952, Brian took 110 wickets for Lancashire. However, he wasn't chosen for Test matches against India. He and his teammate Roy Tattersall were overworked. Brian felt tired after the overseas tour. He returned to his accountancy job for the winter. This gave him a much-needed break.

In 1953, Brian took 101 wickets. He played in only one Test against Australia. England won back the Ashes that year. Lancashire had a good season, finishing third. Brian was selected for the upcoming tour to the West Indies.

Success in the West Indies (1953-54)

The tour of the West Indies was a big success for Brian. He became a world-class bowler. He took 16 wickets in the Tests. His amazing bowling helped England recover after losing the first two matches. He took three quick wickets in the third Test. A commentator called it the best performance by an England fast bowler since the war.

Brian's tour ended early due to a rib injury. But England's captain, Len Hutton, said Brian was England's "biggest weapon."

Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1954)

In 1954, Brian was chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year. This is a very special award in cricket. Wisden said Brian was a confident young man. They predicted he would be important in English cricket for many years.

Dominating the Game (1954-1957)

The Ashes Tour (1954-55)

Brian toured Australia and New Zealand in 1954-55. This tour was famous for its fast bowling. Brian and Frank Tyson were a powerful duo. Brian said the pitches were the fastest he ever bowled on. He took 54 wickets on the tour, his highest ever.

In the second Test in Sydney, Brian bowled tirelessly into the wind. His accuracy helped England win a difficult match. Tyson said Brian's bowling was like Yehudi Menuhin playing second fiddle to his lead.

In the third Test in Melbourne, Brian took five wickets. England won the series 3-1. Wisden said Brian reached his peak in Australia. He became England's most reliable bowler.

Home Success (1955)

In 1955, Brian played four Tests against South Africa. He missed one due to illness. In the Lord's Test, he took seven wickets for 39 runs. England won the match after being behind. Playfair called it a "fine display of hostile bowling." Brian took 17 wickets in the series.

He also had his highest first-class score of 62 runs for Lancashire. He took ten wickets in a match for the first time against Warwickshire.

Wet Weather and Spin (1956)

The summer of 1956 was very wet. Pitches favored spin bowlers. Brian took 91 wickets, but it was a tough season for him. He took his first hat-trick (three wickets in three balls) against Sussex.

He played in three Tests against Australia. In one match, Jim Laker took a world record 19 wickets. Brian mostly fielded in that game.

Touring South Africa (1956-57)

Brian toured South Africa in 1956-57. He played four Tests and took 14 wickets. He sometimes had breathing problems due to the high altitude. An oxygen cylinder in the dressing room helped him. He took his 100th Test wicket in the first Test.

Later Career and Records (1957-1965)

Statham and Trueman Partnership (1957)

In 1957, Brian had a great season for Lancashire. He took 112 wickets. The famous Statham/Trueman partnership began in the Test series against West Indies. They bowled together in the first three Tests. Brian's control of the ball was so good that batsmen rarely hit him for six runs.

New Teammates and Milestones (1958)

Brian had an amazing season in 1958. He took 134 wickets, his best average ever. Ken Higgs joined Lancashire, giving Brian a strong new bowling partner. Brian passed 1,000 career wickets.

In a match against Yorkshire, Brian took six wickets for 16 runs. The Yorkshire crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Injury and World Record (1958-1963)

Brian's tour of Australia in 1958-59 ended early due to a car accident. He still bowled well, taking seven wickets for 57 runs in one match.

In 1959, Brian took 139 wickets, his highest season total. He played three Tests against India, taking 17 wickets. In 1959-60, England won a series in the West Indies for the first time. Brian and Trueman were key to this victory.

In 1960, Brian and Trueman formed a famous new-ball partnership against South Africa. Brian took 27 wickets in the series. He took 11 wickets in the Lord's Test, leading England to a big win.

A graph showing Statham's Test career bowling statistics and how they have varied over time.

In 1962-63, Brian and Trueman were close to breaking the world record for most Test wickets. Brian broke the record first in the fourth Test in Adelaide. He reached 242 wickets. However, Trueman later passed his record.

Final Years in Test Cricket (1963-1965)

In 1963, Brian was surprisingly dropped from the England team. He played in the first-ever limited overs match for Lancashire. He took five wickets.

In 1965, Brian became Lancashire's captain. He was a reluctant leader but brought a new spirit to the team. He had another great season, taking 124 wickets. His strong performance earned him a recall to the England team for his final Test against South Africa. He took five wickets in that match.

After his Test career ended, Brian was awarded the CBE for his services to cricket.

Retirement and Legacy (1966-2000)

Last Seasons with Lancashire (1966-1968)

In 1966, Brian had another successful season, taking 102 wickets. This was the 13th time he had taken 100 wickets in a season, a new club record. In 1967, he took 92 wickets. He was replaced as captain by Jack Bond. Brian decided that 1968 would be his last season.

He retired on August 5, 1968, after a match against Yorkshire. He finished on a high note, taking six wickets for 34 runs in the first innings. He left the field to a standing ovation.

Brian's Bowling Style

Famous cricketer Gary Sobers said that Brian's accuracy was so good that it could sometimes make it easier for top batsmen. They knew exactly where the ball would land. However, Brian himself famously said: "When I bowl and they miss, well, they are usually out." This shows how dangerous his accuracy was.

Brian's bowling action was unique. He didn't swing the ball much in the air. Instead, it moved sharply off the pitch. This made it very hard for batsmen to predict.

Jim Laker described Brian as a very calm and pleasant person. He was amazed by Brian's accuracy. Once, Brian hit the stumps 16 out of 18 times when bowling in practice.

Richie Benaud said Brian was the only fast bowler he knew who didn't show much emotion. Brian would just shake his head if he was frustrated. Benaud felt that Brian was the bowler batsmen feared most because of his precision.

Life After Cricket

After retiring, Brian worked for Guinness for a while. He later faced some challenges. In 1989, his friend Fred Trueman organized two special dinners to help him. Trueman said they had been friends for 50 years without a single disagreement.

Brian Statham passed away from leukemia on June 10, 2000, just before his 70th birthday. He was survived by his wife and children.

To honor him, part of Warwick Road near Old Trafford was renamed Brian Statham Way. The south end of the Old Trafford ground is also named after him. In 2009, he was added to the ICC's Hall of Fame.

Summary of Brian's Matches

Brian played his entire first-class career for Lancashire. He played 430 matches for the county. His 1,816 wickets for Lancashire is a club record. He also played 70 Test matches for England, taking 252 wickets.

He also played for other teams, like the MCC on overseas tours. He played in the famous Gentlemen v Players matches four times. He also played for an England XI and the International Cavaliers.