Derek Shackleton

Derek Shackleton

Derek Shackleton in 1965
Personal information
Born	(1924-08-12)12 August 1924 Todmorden, Yorkshire, England
Died	28 September 2007(2007-09-28) (aged 83) Canford Magna, Dorset, England
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm medium
Role	Bowler
Relations	Julian Shackleton (Son)
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 350)	20 July 1950 v West Indies
Last Test	22 August 1963 v West Indies
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1948–1969	Hampshire
1950–1957	Marylebone Cricket Club
1973	Dorset
Career statistics
Competition Test FC LA Matches 7 647 37 Runs scored 113 9,574 104 Batting average 18.83 14.61 13.00 100s/50s –/– –/20 –/– Top score 42 87* 20 Balls bowled 2,078 159,043 2,070 Wickets 18 2,857 41 Bowling average 42.66 18.65 21.26 5 wickets in innings – 194 – 10 wickets in match – 38 – Best bowling 4/72 9/30 4/11 Catches/stumpings 1/– 221/– 9/–
Source: Cricinfo, 23 August 2009

Derek Shackleton (12 August 1924 – 28 September 2007) was a Hampshire and England bowler. He took over 100 wickets in 20 consecutive seasons of first-class cricket, but only played in seven Tests for England. As of 2007, he has the seventh-highest tally of first-class wickets, and the most first-class wickets of any player who began his career after World War II. He holds the record for the most first-class wickets taken by any Hampshire player.

After his cricket playing career ended, Shackleton became a coach and umpire for several seasons.

The cricket writer, Colin Bateman, noted of Shackleton, "his bowling, like his hair, always seemed immaculate".

Shackleton was born in Todmorden, on the border between Lancashire and Yorkshire in England. Both of his parents were weavers. He was educated at Roomfield School, where he played cricket and football.

Shackleton began his career in the Yorkshire and Lancashire leagues as an all-rounder bowling some medium pace, but decided to concentrate on leg spin. He was also signed by Burnley F.C. as a goalkeeper. He joined the Army in 1942, entering the Pioneer Corps, and played Services cricket and football. He was signed by Hampshire in 1948, after being spotted by the Hampshire coach, Sam Staples. Originally destined to be a batsman, he was encouraged to return to pace bowling. In his first season, he did little of note, but in 1949, despite unfavourable pitches, Shackleton became the mainstay of Hampshire's attack. He took 100 wickets in 20 consecutive seasons, from 1949 until his retirement at the end of 1968. Only Wilf Rhodes has taken 100 wickets in more seasons (23) but these were not consecutive. Shackleton almost reached a thousand runs as a batsman in his first season, but his batting subsequently declined until he was firmly entrenched in the lower order by the mid-1950s. He was awarded his county cap in 1949.