Joey Benjamin

Joseph Emmanuel Benjamin (2 February 19618 March 2021) was a St Kitts–born English cricketer who played in one Test match and two One Day Internationals in 1994 and 1995. He also played county cricket for Warwickshire and Surrey County Cricket Clubs from 1988 to 1999.

Early life Benjamin was born in Christ Church, Saint Kitts, on 2 February 1961. His family relocated to the United Kingdom when he was 15 years old and resided at first in the Midlands. He played in the Birmingham League, where his performances in sporadic fixtures for Staffordshire drew initial attention.

Career Benjamin signed his first county contract for Warwickshire in 1988, when he was 27. He was unable to receive regular playing time, with Gladstone Small, Tim Munton, and Allan Donald starting ahead of him. Benjamin ultimately featured in 25 first-class matches in his four years with the team. His best effort with the bat was a first-class 49 while his average stood at 11.38, leading ESPNcricinfo to describe his batting as "the hit-and-miss variety". However, his effort was overshadowed by Devon Malcolm's spectacular nine-wicket haul in the second innings. He was 33 at the time, and did not play any more Test matches for England as the national selectors preferred to concentrate on younger seam bowlers like Angus Fraser and Chris Lewis.

Later life After retiring from cricket, Benjamin remained in Surrey. There, he coached at Reigate Grammar School and Reigate Priory Cricket Club.

Benjamin died of a heart attack on 8 March 2021. He was sixty years old.