Famous Cricketers No 85 - Derek Underwood

Six Tests against the visiting Indians and Pakistanis in 1974 brought him twenty-one wickets and another valuable nightwatchman innings of 43. His second trip to the Antipodes brought him greater success although England were defeated in the Test series by three games to one having no answer to the hostile bowling of Lillee and Thomson. His first benefit season came in 1975. In 1976 he played in all of England’s Test matches versus the West Indies and this was followed by a most successful winter’s tour to India and Sri Lanka when he took as many as twenty-nine wickets in the five games. He then went on to Melbourne to take part in the memorable Centenary Test which was won by Australia. It was at this match that the first seeds of the Packer revolution were born. Underwood was one of those approached and although the news did not break until the English season had started in May 1977 he had already signed up to play in a series of games in Australia at considerable financial benefit to all involved. This did not affect him playing for England in 1977 against Australia together with all other “rebels” and he performed quite creditably. It did however prevent him from playing any further Test cricket until all outstanding legislation had been completed and the Packer players were allowed back into full consideration for the national side. This occurred for Underwood in 1979/80 in a specially arranged additional Test series in Australia. After the series he toured once more to India and Sri Lanka and finished his remarkable Test career with eight wickets in Colombo in the inaugural Test match played by Sri Lanka. From then on he reverted to being a county bowler pure and simple and played on for a further six seasons until he decided to call things a day in 1987. He was awarded the OBE for services to cricket in 1981 and took a second benefit in 1986. Derek Underwood was an extremely accurate bowler and was able to vary his style from slow to medium pace. He was a most popular member of the Kent side and had a quiet unassuming disposition. He was a reliable fielder and took many excellent catches particularly in the deep field. He made many valuable contributions to the England side and turned in some very memorable performances usually when they were most needed. His batting was undistinguished for the most part but he did score useful runs on occasions and was often a difficult person to dismiss. In 1962 Underwood played regularly for Kent’s second eleven taking 42 wickets at an average of 19.69. 1963 In May 1963, a month before his eighteenth birthday, he made his debut for the first team, against Yorkshire, gaining his place in the side due to an injury to David Sayer. Wisden says succinctly “Underwood made an impressive debut for Kent.” He retained his place for the rest of the season and, indeed, for the next 24 years, and went on to take more than 100 wickets in his first season becoming the youngest player ever to have achieved this feat. It was an auspicious start and his 101 wickets at 21.12 included five wickets in an innings three times and ten wickets in a match once. 6