Neil Williams (cricketer)

Neil Fitzgerald Williams (2 July 1962 27 March 2006) was an England cricketer, who played first-class cricket for both Middlesex and Essex. In a first-class career spanning over seventeen years, he took 675 wickets and scored 4,457 runs.

Neil Williams
Personal information
Full nameNeil Fitzgerald Williams
Born(1962-07-02)2 July 1962
St Vincent, Windward Islands
Died27 March 2006(2006-03-27) (aged 43)
Kingstown, St. Vincent
BattingRight-handed batsman (RHB)
BowlingRight Arm Fast-Medium (RFM)
International information
National side
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 1 255
Runs scored 38 4,457
Batting average 38.00 18.64
100s/50s / /13
Top score 38 77
Balls bowled 246 37,485
Wickets 2 675
Bowling average 74.00 30.29
5 wickets in innings 22
10 wickets in match 2
Best bowling 2/148 8/75
Catches/stumpings / 67/
Source:

Life and career

Williams was born in St Vincent and emigrated to Britain when he was 13. He joined Middlesex after a season-and-a-half as an MCC Young Professional during which time he had been playing for Hornsey. A deeply religious man, when he first arrived at Lord's, he refused to play on Sundays. He made his county debut in 1982. A brisk bowler with good accuracy and late away-swing. He was a key part of four Championship-winning sides (1982, 1985, 1990, 1992). In 1995, following a successful benefit, he moved to Essex where he played until 1998. He also played three seasons for Windward Islands and one season with Tasmania in 1983-84.

His Test call-up for the last Test of 1990 against India at The Oval came when Chris Lewis withdrew with a migraine. Williams took 2 for 148 (the victims were Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin) with 38 scored as a nightwatchman.

Mike Brearley, his first captain at Middlesex, said he was a "modest, unassuming person who always did his absolute best for the team," while Christopher Martin-Jenkins described him as a "courteous, friendly man brought up to believe in the precious traditions of fair play". Former team-mate Angus Fraser said he was "a very talented bowler who, in another era and had he not picked up so many injuries, may have played for England a few more times."

After retiring he took up coaching and was the coach of St Vincent's Academy for Kids at the time of his death. He died of pneumonia, in St Vincent, three weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 43 years old.

See also

References

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