Derek Underwood, England’s greatest spinner within the post-World War II period, handed away on the age of 78 in Kent on April 15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives
Derek Underwood, England’s greatest spinner within the post-World War II period, who gave a torrid time to the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, handed away at Kent on April 15. He was 78.
Underwood, a practitioner of sluggish left-arm orthodox spin, was extremely regarded by his contemporaries due to his pin-point accuracy, one thing which made him ‘Deadly’ on uncovered pitches of the 60s and 70s.
The Bromley-man had numbers to match his repute too — 297 wickets from 86 Tests, probably the most by an England spinner, and in a First-Class profession that spanned 24 years he took 2,465 wickets.
But the numbers instructed solely part of the story. One of Underwood’s most interesting moments on the sector got here in 1977 when he took 29 wickets to assist England beat India 3-1 in a five-match sequence.
It was the Three Lions’ first sequence win on these shores since their victory within the 1933-34 tour below the legendary Douglas Jardine.
Hedley Verity, one other artful left-arm spinner, was the architect of that triumph, taking 24 wickets throughout three Tests.
Four a long time down the road, Underwood stored the legacy of Verity intact within the firm of pacer John Lever, who took 24 wickets to help his spin colleague ably.
It was a beautiful effort from Underwood in opposition to a set of Indian batsmen, led by the inimitable Gavaskar, whom he had dismissed 12 instances in Test cricket, probably the most by any bowler.
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and West Indian fast-bowling legend Michael Holding had dismissed the ‘Little Master’ 11 instances every within the longest format.
Gavaskar too had admitted Underwood’s grip on him.
“It was tough to face Underwood in any conditions. He was so accurate and bowled on the stumps.
“Since he had this potential to bowl fast when he wished, you needed to be in place very early to play the photographs. He was the hardest bowler I confronted together with Andy Roberts,” Gavaskar had talked about just lately.
Overall, Underwood performed 20 Tests in opposition to India taking 62 wickets.
Though primarily a bowler, Underwood was additionally a gritty lower-order batter who put his physique on the road in opposition to among the fiercest pacers of his time, notably whereas coming down as a nightwatchman.
There had been additionally streaks of controversies in Underwood’s profession as he had forfeited two years of his Test profession to play within the Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket and later he was banned for touring South Africa with the England insurgent crew in 1981.
Much after his enjoying days, Underwood, who was additionally a profitable businessman as a retailer for roll-in pitches, additionally dabbled with administration, serving because the MCC president for a yr in 2008.
But for an older era, Underwood’s craft will stay stunning in execution and lethal in its impact.
