Andrew Clarke

Andrew Russell Clarke (born 23 December 1961) is a former English cricketer. Clarke was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break. He was born in Patcham, Sussex. A late starter to county cricket, not making his debut for Sussex until he was 26, Clarke played for Sussex for 3 seasons. He later played Minor counties cricket for Buckinghamshire and Norfolk, before retiring in 2003.

Sussex Clarke initially played a Second XI Championship fixture for Sussex in 1981 against the Second XI of Hampshire, but made no further appearances for the Sussex Second XI for some while following that fixture. He did though play club cricket in Brighton, while working as an insurance underwriter. However, in 1987 he had trials at Sussex, where he again played Second XI cricket for the Sussex Second XI. with his List A debut also coming in 1988 against the same opposition in the Refuge Assurance League. Clarke played 3 seasons for Sussex, appearing regularly in the Sussex team for first-class matches, before falling out of favour during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. He did though make a total of 26 first-class appearances in the 2 seasons in which he appeared in first-class cricket, with 21 coming in his debut season. He scored a single half century, making 68 against in a rearguard action against Hampshire in 1988. Clarkes primary role was as a bowler, with Clarke taking 53 first-class wickets, at a respectable bowling average of 35.32. He twice took a five wicket haul, with the best of these coming against Hampshire in 1988, the match in which his highest score with the bat came. His best figures for Sussex came against Glamorgan in the 1988 Refuge Assurance League. Having played just 5 first-class matches in 1989, His trial with Derbyshire was not successful, with the county not pursuing their interest in him. He joined Buckinghamshire in 1994, making his debut for the county in the 1994 Minor Counties Championship against Northumberland. His debut in the MCCA Knockout Trophy came in the same season, against Berkshire in the competition's quarter-final. However, at this time Buckinghamshire were permitted to take part in the NatWest Trophy with the first-class counties. He made his first appearance for the county in the List A format against Essex in the 1997 NatWest Trophy. In his first stint with the county, he played a further 2 List A matches: against the Yorkshire Cricket Board and Warwickshire, both in the 1999 NatWest Trophy. In total, Clarke played 9 List A matches for Buckinghamshire, taking 17 wickets at an average of 21.76. He retired from county cricket following the 2003 season.