Malcolm Heath

Malcolm Brewster Heath (9 March 1934 — 17 December 2019) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Hampshire from 1954 to 1962. Playing in over 140 first-class matches as a fast-medium bowler, Heath partnered opening bowler Derek Shackleton early in his career, before being utilised as a first-change bowler upon the arrival of Butch White. He was a member of the Hampshire team which won the County Championship for the first time in 1961. He took 527 wickets for Hampshire, before a hip-injury led to the end of his career in 1962. He later became a coach at St Paul's School, London.

Cricket career Heath was born in Ferndown in March 1934. Aged 15, he played for the Hampshire Second XI as a right-arm fast-medium bowler in 1949. As a young up-and-coming cricketer, he built up his strength by spending the winter months felling trees at Stuart Surridge's willow plantation, where he worked alongside Alan Moss. before he eventually made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Leicestershire at Leicester in the 1954 County Championship, replacing the injured medium-pacer Victor Cannings. He took 17 wickets at an average of 15.41 from six matches in 1949; he took his maiden five wicket haul, with 5 for 41 against Yorkshire. He notably dismissed Len Hutton in both Yorkshire innings.

Heath made a further eleven first-class appearances in 1956, A bowler who was able to achieve hostile pace and sharp lift, he took 527 wickets in 143 matches, at an average of 25.11; he claimed a five wicket haul on eighteen occasions, and took ten wickets in a match on five occasions. His career best bowling figures, 8 for 43, came against Sussex in 1958. before joining Bourne later in 1964. Following the 1965 season, Heath joined Scarborough as their professional ahead of the 1966 season. He played for Scarborough in the Yorkshire League until 1974, retiring alongside teammate and former Yorkshire cricketer Bill Foord. Heath later as stood an umpire in three first-class matches during the 1984, in addition to standing in a single List A one-day match between Wiltshire and Leicestershire at Swindon in the 1984 NatWest Trophy. He spent ten years as cricket coach at St Paul's School in Barnes, London, and had a coaching role at Lord's.