Harold Rhodes

Harold James Rhodes (born 22 July 1936) is an English former international cricketer who played two Test matches for England in 1959. He played domestically for Derbyshire between 1953 and 1975 and played one day matches for Nottinghamshire between 1970 and 1973.

Life and career Rhodes was born at Hadfield, Derbyshire, the son of the Derbyshire all-rounder, Albert "Dusty" Rhodes. He made his first appearance for Derbyshire Club and Ground in 1951 and played one match for the Derbyshire second eleven in 1952. He made his first-class debut for Derbyshire in the 1953 season when he played a single match against Oxford University, but began appearing regularly in the second eleven. Although his father played for the Derbyshire in 1953, they never played in the same first-class match. Rhodes was initially an off spin bowler. He played a single first-class fixture against Scotland in the 1954 season and played four first-class matches in the 1955 season. In the 1956 season he played four matches and took his first five wicket innings against Yorkshire. He played three matches in the 1957 season. He developed to become a fast seam bowler. In the 1958 season he played a full first-class season taking 67 wickets and two five wicket innings. He began opening the county bowling with Les Jackson in the 1959 season after the retirement of Cliff Gladwin. In that season, he played two Tests against India, taking nine wickets. He took 60 wickets for Derbyshire but with one five wicket over.

Although facing strong competition from bowlers such as Brian Statham and Fred Trueman, Rhodes might have expected to play many more Tests. But doubts about the legality of his bowling action emerged, and in the 1960 season, playing for Derbyshire against the South Africans, he was "called" for throwing – bowling the ball with a bent arm that straightens in the delivery – by the umpire and former Test batsman, Paul Gibb.

After the conclusion of his playing career, Rhodes took up coaching. He served as part-time coach of the German national team between 1996 and 2001, including at the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada.