Butch White

David William "Butch" White (14 December 1935 – 1 August 2008) was an English cricketer who played in two Test matches for England against Pakistan in 1961 and 1962. A fast bowler, he played most of his first-class cricket at domestic level for Hampshire from 1957 to 1971, forming a formidable bowling partnership with Derek Shackleton. In his fifteen seasons with the county, he took nearly 1,100 wickets and was a member of the Hampshire side which won their first County Championship in 1961. At the end of his career, he spent a season playing for Glamorgan in 1972. White was considered to be one of the fastest bowlers in England.

Cricket Early career David William White was born on 14 December 1935 in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire. In his youth, he played club cricket for Aston Unity in the Birmingham and District League, where his reputation as a right-handed fast bowler earned him an invitation to play for the Warwickshire Second XI. He made his first-class debut against Cambridge University at Bournemouth in 1957, and joined the county staff in 1958. During the 1958 season, he made his County Championship debut against Nottinghamshire, as a replacement for the injured Leo Harrison. He made seven first-class appearances across the season, claiming his maiden five wicket haul on his Championship debut. The retirement of Vic Cannings in 1959 gave him the opportunity to open the bowling for Hampshire alongside Derek Shackleton, whom he would form a powerful bowling partnership with. In ten matches during 1959, he took 26 wickets at an average of 32.46.

Test selection Having impressed the England selectors in 1961, White was selected to tour India, Pakistan and Ceylon in the winter with the England team, which was organised by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He made his Test debut in the 1st Test against Pakistan at Lahore on 21 October 1961, opening the bowling. In his opening spell, he dismissed the Pakistani openers Hanif Mohammed and Imtiaz Ahmed, within 16 balls, ending the innings with figures of 3 for 65 and went wicketless in the Pakistani second innings. On what was a split tour, White did not feature in any of the Test matches against Indian, but did feature in several first-class matches the MCC played. He returned in February for the 3rd Test against Pakistan at Karachi, making 24 appearances; he took 71 wickets at an average of 30.67, claiming two five wicket hauls. For the first time since Hampshire's 1961 Championship triumph, White took a hundred wickets for the season in 1964, with 104 from 33 matches at an average of 30.27. With the further proliferation of the one-day game in county cricket during the 1969 season, which came via the introduction of Sunday League, White found himself playing regular one-day cricket. He was afforded a benefit in 1969, which raised £4,547.

White's twelve year partnership with Shackleton came to an end following the 1969 season, when Shackleton retired. During the 1970 season, White made fourteen first-class appearances, Prior to his injury, he had taken 45 wickets at an average of 23.86, He also made ten one-day appearances, taking 16 wickets at an average of 18.50. with White leaving alongside Alan Castell and Bob Cottam.

Move to Glamorgan With Glamorgan having struggled to recruit bowlers, there was a pressing need to measure the workload of their three main bowlers Lawrence Williams, Malcolm Nash, and Tony Cordle. As a result, White was signed by Glamorgan in 1972 on a Sunday League deal. He played in eight one-day matches spread across the Benson & Hedges Cup, Gillette Cup, and John Player League,

Playing style and statistics White was a broad shouldered and muscular right-arm fast bowler, In terms of first-class wickets taken for Hampshire, White has the sixth-highest total. With the bat, he scored 2,967 runs for Hampshire, at an average of 10.86; he made five half centuries, with a top score of 58 not out. In the field, he took 103 catches for Hampshire. He later settled in West Sussex, where he coached cricket at Christ's Hospital near Horsham. He played golf with a good handicap in later life, and was employed as a marshal at Mannings Heath Golf Club. He was a member of the West Sussex Golf Club in Pulborough. Whilst playing a round of golf there on 1 August 2008, he died after suffering a heart attack on the 11th hole. He was married twice, and had one son.