Bobby Parks

Robert James Parks (born 15 June 1959) is a former English first-class cricketer who played predominantly for as a wicket-keeper for Hampshire. In a playing career for Hampshire which spanned from 1980 to 1992, Parks took exactly 700 dismissals in first-class cricket, which as of 2024 makes him the most successful wicket-keeper in Hampshire's history. He later briefly played for Kent in 1993, before holding numerous coaching roles at Hampshire.

Playing career The son of the England Test cricketer Jim Parks junior, he was born in June 1959 at Cuckfield, Sussex. His grandfather, Jim Parks senior, was also a Test cricketer. When his father was playing for Sussex, Parks was educated at Eastbourne Grammar School, but was later educated at Taunton School when his father played for Somerset later in his career. He then proceeded to study at the Southampton Institute of Technology. He featured regularly for Hampshire in the closing weeks of the 1980 season as Stephenson stepped down from his wicket-keeping duties, making six further appearances in the County Championship, Following Stephenson's retirement at the end of the 1980 season, Parks became Hampshire's first choice wicket-keeper.

Parks ended his first full season as Hampshire first choice keeper with 52 dismissals in first-class matches, Against Derbyshire that season, he took ten catches in a match, which at the time was a Hampshire record. following an injury to Bruce French, he was replaced for two overs by Bill Athey, before the retired Bob Taylor, who was at the ground on behalf of match sponsors Cornhill Insurance, deputised. before French resumed his wicket-keeping duties on the fourth day of the match. Parks had further success with Hampshire, winning the 1988 Benson & Hedges Cup,

He was displaced in the Hampshire team in 1990 by fellow wicket-keeper Adrian Aymes, who was considered to have greater batting ability than Parks. Prior to these, Parks had the second-highest number of first-class dismissals for a Hampshire wicket-keeper, behind Neil McCorkell's 688; As of , he remains Hampshire's most successful wicket-keeper. In September of that season, Hampshire announced their intention to release Parks at the end of the season.

In July 1993, he played briefly for Kent as cover for the injured Steve Marsh, making two appearances at Maidstone against Essex, consisting of a first-class appearance in the County Championship and playing in a one-day match in the Axa Equity & Law League.