Darren Maddy's time as an international cricketer was brief and not especially successful as he struggled against New Zealand and South Africa with just 53 in the final ODI against Zimbabwe, at Harare, to show for his efforts. He'd work hard for his chance, piling up runs for Leicestershire as they won the Championship in 1996 and 1998 and his highest first-class score, a double hundred, was made on an England A tour of Kenya. But his career was threatening to tail off before the dramatic intervention of Twenty20. Already a solid one-day player, Maddy exploded into life in the short form and by the end of 2006 season had become the first batsmen in the world to pass 1000 runs. He was a vital member of the team that won the trophy in 2004 and 2006, while his bowling and fielding mean he is never out of the action. However, while his one-day game flourished, his Championship form suffered and he slipped down the order and even out of the side. At the end of the 2006 season he signed for Warwickshire following rumours of unrest with Leicestershire. After one match, he was appointed captain when Heath Streak resigned following the opening Championship match of the season. In 2008, he led the club to promotion in the Championship but, in the winter, relinquished the captaincy and handed the reins over to Ian Westwood.
Andrew McGlashan