Raymond Carter

A versatile bowler who played for Warwickshire as a seamer and offspinner, Ray Carter enjoyed nine years in county cricket between 1951 and 1961. He began as a teenage bowler with the advantage of good height and very long arms, making his debut against Scotland at Edgbaston and one other first XI appearance that summer.

His career was interrupted by national service in 1953 and 1954, during which he played once for Combined Services, but on his return to Edgbaston, he found the competition for a pace bowler's spot in the side so stiff he learned how to bowl offspin, adding the slow variety to his seamers for the remainder of his career.

His dual mode of attack saw him become a first team regular in 1957, taking 70 first-class wickets at 29.15 that season, including five against Nottinghamshire with his pace bowling and two weeks later, 7 for 57 in the second innings with offspin, to take Warwickshire to victory against Gloucestershire. He bettered his return a year later with 81 wickets at 20.01, including best figures of 8 for 82 in a match haul of 14 for 135 against Somerset at Edgbaston.

But 1958 was where his career peaked. A back injury limited his availability thereafter, although 29 wickets at 21.37 was a good return from the 1960 season, but after only seven matches in 1961, Carter was forced into a reluctant early retirement at the age of 28.

Carter played Birmingham League cricket for Mitchells & Butlers and later worked as the groundsman at Kings Heath, for whom he also played hockey.
ESPNcricinfo staff