Famous Cricketers No 93 - Keith Fletcher O.B.E.

618. Essex v Sussex, Hove, July 27, 28, 29 (Essex won by an innings and 53 runs) * b D.A.Reeve 10 397 217 127 619. Essex v Middlesex, Chelmsford, August 6, 8, 9 (Match drawn) * b N.G.Cowans 32 289 - - - - 83 3 0 15 0 634-7d 620.$ Essex v Leicestershire, Chelmsford, August 10, 11, 12 (Match drawn) * lbw b G.J.F.Ferris 0 129 301 lbw b L.B.Taylor 49 394 621.$ Essex v Northamptonshire, Wellingborough, August 13, 15, 16 (Essex won by 128 runs) * c D.J.Capel b W.Larkins 10 282 247-7d c N.A.Mallender b D.S.Steele71 236-7d† 143 622. Essex v Gloucestershire, Colchester, August 20, 22 (Essex won by an innings and 37 runs) * c R.C.Russell b P.Bainbridge 1 384-6d 82 2 265 1 623. Essex v Worcestershire, Colchester, August 24, 25 (Essex won by an innings and 58 runs) * b D.N.Patel 2 413-8d 84 271 1 624. Essex v Surrey, Kennington Oval, August 27, 29, 30 (Surrey won by seven wickets) * c C.J.Richards b S.T.Clarke 3 300-9d - - - - 322 1 c R.D.V.Knight b S.T.Clarke12 143 3.3 0 27 0 124-3 625. Essex v Lancashire, Old Trafford, August 31, September 1, 2 (Match drawn) * b M.Watkinson 8 245 122 1 not out 1 91-4 284 626. Essex v Yorkshire, Chelmsford, September 10, 12, 13 (Match drawn) * b G.B.Stevenson 0 288 204 220 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Championship 24 34 3 1026 151* 33.09 2 5 15 Other Essex match 1 2 0 51 34 25.50 - - - Season 25 36 3 1077 151* 32.63 2 5 15 Career 626 1025 146 33957 228* 38.63 59 198 564 Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i Championship 8.3 0 57 0 - - - Career (6b) 419.5 58 } 2224 50 5-41 44.48 1 (8b) 46.3 2 1984 1984 was to be a season to remember for Keith Fletcher in that he led Essex to a fine double, the County Championship and the John Player one-day league. To crown the season however he was awarded the O.B.E. in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Fletcher’s season got off to a bad start when he trod on the ball in his first match against the MCC. This caused him to miss the first two championship matches but fortunately he recovered to be ever present thereafter. He contributed as ever with the bat, scoring three centuries and he continued to pick up the important catches. He achieved a 1,000 runs for the twentieth and last time. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 627.$ Essex v Cambridge University, Fenner’s, April 21, 23, 24 (Match drawn) * c N.P.Thomas b A.J.Pollack 59 463-4d - - - - 222 did not bat - 259-3d 4 2 8 0 118-4 628. Essex v MCC, Lord’s, April 25, 26, 27 (MCC won by 67 runs) * c C.S.Cowdrey b N.F.Williams 5 210 235-6d 1 absent hurt - 173 215-3d 55