Phil Sharpe

Philip John Sharpe (27 December 1936 – 20 May 2014) was an English cricketer, who played in twelve Test matches from 1963 to 1969, and was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1963. He played all of his county cricket for Yorkshire and Derbyshire, and played in Minor counties cricket for Norfolk. However he was despised by Geoff Boycott because of what Boycott perceived as his “social, rather weak and insipid attitude towards cricket”.

The cricketing correspondent Colin Bateman remarked, "Phil Sharpe was possibly unique in that he was selected by England for his exceptional catching ability in the slips."

Life and career Born on 27 December 1936 at Shipley, West Yorkshire, Sharpe attended public school, Worksop College, in the 1950s where he scored a 240 not out against Wrekin in 1955, a batting record which still stands. Most of his first-class cricket career was spent with his home county, Yorkshire, but he later moved on to Derbyshire. He was renowned for his excellent slip fielding, which yielded him over 600 catches. However, after half a dozen mediocre performances, Sharpe was discarded until, in 1969, he was recalled for much the same reason as his original selection.