Derek Shackleton

Derek Shackleton (12 August 1924 – 28 September 2007) was a Hampshire and England bowler. He took over 100 wickets in 20 consecutive seasons of first-class cricket, but only played in seven Tests for England.

Shackleton's high work rate reached new levels in the following years: he bowled over 9,000 balls in the dry summer of 1961, spearheading Hampshire's drive to their first County Championship win. In 1962 Shackleton became the last bowler to bowl 10,000 balls in a season (and only the third who was not a spinner, after J.T. Hearne and Maurice Tate), taking 172 wickets.

His continuing form in 1963 saw Shackleton recalled – surprisingly – to the Test arena for the second Test against the West Indies at Lord's, alongside Trueman. He took three wickets in four balls in his recall match, He was also economical, with 35% of his overs being maidens, and conceding an average of only two runs per over.

Bowling style He bowled mostly in-swingers, with the occasional out-swinger, both moving late, with a classical high and smooth sideways-on action. He could also move the ball off the seam, with a leg cutter, a yorker, and off-spinning slower ball. All were metronomically accurate – if the batsman missed, Shackleton would hit the stumps. Indeed, nearly half of his wickets were bowled or LBW. And he could bowl all day, off a 12-pace run.

He was described by John Arlott as "shrewd, varied, and utterly accurate, beating down as unremittingly as February rain", and "the modern master of bowling in English conditions".

Personal life Shackleton married his wife, Kathy, in 1951. She also hailed from his home town, Todmorden. They had a son, Julian Shackleton, who played cricket for Gloucestershire, and a daughter.

After retiring from first-class cricket, Shackleton lived at Ferndown and was coach and groundsman at Canford School in Dorset. He also umpired several first-class matches from 1979 to 1982. He finally retired in 1990. He became an honorary member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1994.

He died in Canford Magna, Dorset in September 2007 at the age of 83, survived by his two children, his wife having predeceased him.