Fred Trueman
Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 12:14 amJust heard that former English fast bowler Fred Trueman has passed away, aged 75.
He was the first bowler to ever take 300 test wickets
He was the first bowler to ever take 300 test wickets
England cricket great Trueman dies
Saturday, July 1, 2006
Trueman was the first bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket.LEEDS, England -- England fast bowling great Fred Trueman has died at the age of 75, his wife has announced.
Yorkshire legend Trueman, the first man to take 300 Test wickets, was diagnosed with a form of lung cancer in May.
His final Test haul of 307 wickets was a world record which stood until 1976, when it was broken by West Indies off-spinner Lance Gibbs.
Trueman made his Yorkshire debut in 1949 and retired 20 years later, having taken more than 2,000 wickets.
The man known as "Fiery Fred" finished with 307 wickets in 67 Test matches, averaging 21.57. He took five wickets in an innings 17 times and 10 wickets in a match on three occasions.
Trueman's aggressive performances for England and Yorkshire made him a national sporting hero in the 1950s and 60s.
His finest hour came at the Oval in 1964 when he had Australia's Neil Hawke caught at slip by Colin Cowdrey for his 300th Test wicket.
When asked whether he thought anyone would surpass his achievement, his reply was typically forthright. "If anyone beats it, they'll be bloody tired," said Trueman.
Trueman was 21 when he made his Test debut against India on his home ground at Headingley, Leeds in 1952.
He played a pivotal role in a seven-wicket victory for England, taking three wickets in eight balls as India slumped to 0 for four in their second innings.
He went on to take 29 wickets in the series, including figures of eight for 31 in the third Test at Old Trafford when India were bowled out for 58.
Trueman played his last Test against New Zealand at Lord's in 1965.
He also excelled for his county, taking 1,745 wickets for Yorkshire. He helped them become the dominant team in county cricket, winning the championship seven times between 1959 and 1968.
His bowling average for Yorkshire was 17.12 in 459 matches. After he retired Trueman commentated for BBC radio and became a popular after-dinner speaker.
He is still the third highest England Test wicket taker of all time, behind Ian Botham (383) and Bob Willis (325).
Former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close, who had known Trueman since they were both teenagers, said: "Cricket has lost a great character."
David Gower, another ex-England captain said: "Trueman was a great fast bowler in his day and a great character who lived and breathed the game."