Brian Statham

John Brian George Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fastmedium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast. This, together with unflagging accuracy and the ability to make the ball160 new or old160 break back, made Statham a consistent force both for Lancashire in the County Championship and in Test cricket, where his strikepower helped give England perhaps its strongest attack of the 20th century during the 1950s and early 1960s. He overtook Alec Bedsers record of 236 Test wickets in the Fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval in 196263. This new record of 242 Test wickets was rapidly overtaken by his famous newball partner Fred Trueman two months later in New Zealand. Statham finished with 252 Test wickets .

Statham was born in Gorton, Manchester onJune 1930. He played cricket for Whitworth Street in Manchester schools cricket matches. Statham played his earliest cricket as a junior for Reddish amp Gorton Cricket Club in the Saddleworth amp District League and then the North Western League from 1948, along with his three brothers. Statham joined the Royal Air Force for his national service. He was based at Stafford and would return home at weekends to play cricket. He joined Stockport Cricket Club and played for them in the Central Lancashire Cricket League. Statham also played football for Denton West as left wing, and was offered trials with Liverpool and Manchester City. However, it went no further as his father did not want him to pursue football as a career. At the age of eighteen, he came to the notice of the Lancashire officials who needed considerable reinforcement for their bowling attack, and was offered an engagement a year later, which he accepted.

Source: Wikipedia