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

Whilst he was Coach, England won five Test matches, lost fifteen and six were drawn. England did fare a little better in limited overs Internationals winning ten matches and losing thirteen. His England coaching experience had not provided the success that had been hoped for, but undoubtedly many individual cricketers learned a great deal under his guidance. Keith Fletcher had come a long way from his appearance, as an eleven year old, alongside his father for the Caldicot village side. Graduating through the Royston Cricket Club and the Essex Young Amateurs, he seized the chance offered him by Trevor Bailey, then the Secretary of Essex. He paid back with interest for the faith put in him as a youngster. At the time of his retirement he was twenty-second in the all time list of run-scorers in first-class cricket, had scored more runs than any Essex cricketer before him, in both the County Championship and in all first-class cricket. He scored sixty three centuries including seven at Test level. He also scored two other centuries in limited overs matches. He had received eleven man-of-the-match awards, one in a Test and two in limited overs Internationals and eight for Essex in domestic limited over competitions. He was also elected man-of-the series in the Prudential Trophy in 1974. He continued to hold three first-class record partnerships for England, and in limited-overs cricket six for Essex. More importantly, in many peoples’ minds, he had created the most successful county side of the nineteen-eighties and into the nineteen-nineties. He will forever retain the great affection he enjoyed at Essex and who knows may even have gained a little from Yorkshire fans! Derek Noble Bath February 2004 5