John Emburey

Personal information

Full name

John Ernest Emburey

Born

20 August 1952 (age 64)
Peckham, England

Nickname

Embers, Ernie, Knuckle

Height

6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Batting style

Right-handed

Bowling style

Right arm off break

Role

Bowler

International information

National side

England

Test debut (cap 480)

24 August 1978 v New Zealand

Last Test

30 July 1995 v West Indies

ODI debut (cap 52)

14 January 1980 v Australia

Last ODI

20 March 1993 v Sri Lanka

Domestic team information

Years

Team

1973–1995

Middlesex

1982/83–83/84

Western Province

1996–97

Northamptonshire

Career statistics

Competition	Tests	ODIs	FC	LA
Matches	64	61	513	536
Runs scored	1713	501	12021	3865
Batting average	22.53	14.31	23.38	15.77
100s/50s	–/10	–/–	7/55	–/2
Top score	75	34	133	50
Balls bowled	15391	3425	112862	26399
Wickets	147	76	1608	647
Bowling average	38.40	30.86	26.09	25.98
5 wickets in innings	6	–	72	3
10 wickets in match	–	n/a	12	n/a
Best bowling	7/78	4/37	8/40	5/23
Catches/stumpings	34/–	19/–	458/–	181/–

Source: CricketArchive, 22 August 2007

John Ernest Emburey (born 20 August 1952, Peckham, London) is a former English cricketer, who played for Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Western Province, Berkshire and England.

According to cricket writer Colin Bateman, Emburey's participation in two South African rebel tours "cost him six lost years as far as Test cricket was concerned... and, more significantly, probably an extended run as England captain, a job for which he was better suited than some who held the position post-Mike Brearley".

Emburey was a right arm spin bowler and a slightly eccentric but useful lower-order batsman with the style of a grafter. He was more notable as an economical performer than a "demon" spin bowler, but on his day could leave the best batsmen groping outside off-stump. One of his dangerous balls was his arm ball outswinger. Emburey was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1984.

Emburey was briefly made England Test captain in 1988, the notorious "Summer of four captains".Mike Gatting was sacked after the first Test match against the West Indies and Emburey was appointed for two matches, both of which were lost. Emburey too was fired and was replaced by Chris Cowdrey for the fourth Test. Cowdrey lasted just one match, replaced in turn by Graham Gooch.

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