Mervyn Burden

Mervyn Derek Burden (4 October 1930 – 9 November 1987) was an English first-class cricketer.

Early life Burden was born at Southampton in October 1930, being educated there at King Edward VI School. The school was evacuated to Poole during the Second World War, where he excelled at football more than cricket. While practicing in the cricket nets at the Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft factory in March 1947, in order to maintain his fitness for football, he was spotted by Hampshire coach Sam Staples and their captain and secretary Desmond Eagar, who recommended him for a trial at the County Ground. He reportedly turned up to his trial with no pads or bat. Bowling medium pace, his first delivery of his trial (bowled at Neil McCorkell) He subsequently spent two years on National Service. He established himself in the Hampshire side following a match against Leicestershire, in which he took figures of 7 for 48. He received his county cap in 1955, the same season in which he took 70 wickets at an average of 21.75. In 174 first-class matches, Burden took 481 wickets at an average of 26.11; he took 23 five wicket hauls and took ten-wickets in a match on four occasions.

Burden was popular among both players and spectators and was included in a 2005 list of popular Hampshire cricket figures. Arlott himself devoted a chapter to Burden in his book, John Arlott's Book of Cricketers.