Derek Randall

Derek William Randall (born 24 February 1951) is an English former cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire and Tests and ODIs for England in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a part of the English squad that finished as runners-up at the 1979 Cricket World Cup.

Known to cricketing colleagues and fans as "Arkle" after the racehorse, but always "Rags" to himself, he was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1980. He won plaudits for his talent in the covers, won his Nottinghamshire cap in 1973 and went on to score 28,456 runs in all first-class cricket. Randall batted for the successful Nottinghamshire team of the 1980s, twice winning the County Championship in 1981 and 1987.

With his team needing eighteen to win from the final over of the 1985 NatWest Trophy final, he hit sixteen from the first five balls, only to be caught in the outfield from the final delivery. He did finish on the winning side in the final of the same tournament two years later, and in the final of the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1989.

He compiled fifty-two hundreds in all, and made 209 and 146 in the same game against Middlesex in 1979, a feat unequalled at Trent Bridge. Later he turned out in Minor Counties cricket for Suffolk, playing in the NatWest Trophy at the age of 49, and in a match for "Old Suffolk" in 2004.

International career Randall made his one-day international debut against West Indies in 1976, and his Test debut in India a few months later. He made his first Test century during the Centenary Test, his fifth test at Melbourne. Randall here scored his highest test score, 174, against an Australian attack led by Dennis Lillee. He famously doffed his cap to Lillee, after narrowly evading a savage bouncer, stating, "No point in hitting me there, mate, there's nothing in it." Fortunately England still won the match, Randall scoring the winning run, and in the next Test at Headingley, Randall was involved in run-out action for the right reason. As Graham Holburn put it, Randall's "lightning run-out of Rick McCosker ... amazed all who witnessed it". In the same game Randall took the catch which clinched the Ashes, turning a cartwheel in celebration.

He had less success on his first tour, of Pakistan (3 tests) and New Zealand (3 tests) in 1977-78: the most noteworthy incident coming in the 2nd New Zealand Test in Christchurch, where for a second time he was run-out while Boycott was batting at the other end - although Boycott could not be blamed on this occasion, for Randall was "Mankadded", run-out by the bowler while backing-up out of his crease. He missed the following summer series in England - also against New Zealand and Pakistan - but was recalled for the next winter's tour.

Randall performed well against Australia again during the next Ashes series in 1978/79, which brought a 5–1 win for England, and two man of the match performances for Randall. His innings of 150 in a series dominated by fast bowlers was the highlight, coming in England's second innings of the 4th Test, as they overturned a first-innings deficit of over 100 to win the match. His other match award came in the 1st Test, where he top-scored for England in both innings with 75 and 74*, being at the crease when the winning runs were scored – in the process, also, being involved in a third run-out involving Boycott: this time it was Boycott who was run out, when Randall called for a quick single and Boycott hesitated before setting off. Randall also scored centuries against New Zealand and India, and one from the position of opener against Pakistan, but he struggled against the West Indian attack of 1984, when he was asked to bat at number three in the first Test match of the summer, and was never to return to the Test team.

In one-day internationals England stuck with him a little longer, his cover fielding bringing extra value, as was demonstrated when he helped England to their first Cricket World Cup final, though finishing on the losing side. He played the last of his 49 one-day internationals in March 1985.

Randall was often the selectors' scapegoat for England's failings, and his Test batting positions ranged from number one to seven. Bateman commented about Randall, "he was always available, always loyal, and his Test average in no way flattered him". He played in more Tests than other Nottinghamshire alumni such as Reg Simpson, Harold Larwood, Bill Voce, Joe Hardstaff senior, Joe Hardstaff junior and Arthur Shrewsbury.

Test centuries 174 v Australia at Melbourne (1977) 150 v Australia at Sydney (1979) 126 v India at Lord's (1982) 105 v Pakistan at Edgbaston (1982) 115 v Australia at Perth (1982) 164 v New Zealand at Wellington (1984) 104 v New Zealand at Auckland (1984)

Retirement After retirement from first-class cricket Randall coached Cambridge University and Bedford School; when Alastair Cook came through the School's First XI, Randall recommended that the youngster be picked for the ECB National Academy. He also coached Bedfordshire in the Minor County Championship. The 'Derek Randall Suite' at Trent Bridge is named in his honour.

His books include The Young Player's Guide to Cricket and his autobiography, The Sun Has Got His Hat On (1984).