When Durham released Martin Saggers in 1998 it seemed as if his flirtation with county cricket was over after three seasons and that he would return to his Minor Counties roots with his native Norfolk. But Saggers was snapped up by Kent and, helped by injuries to some regular bowlers, soon nailed down a first-team place. Tall and blond, with an energetic delivery after a galloping run, Saggers moves the ball around at a lively pace, and finished 2002 as the joint-top wicket-taker in the English season with 83. He was already 30 by then, and England recognition seemed to have passed him by, much to the chagrin of his county captain David Fulton, who advanced a spirited case for his inclusion late in 2003 when Martin Bicknell (34) finally got the call. But Saggers was put on standby for the winter tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and was diverted to Dhaka when Andrew Flintoff's groin injury proved slow to respond to treatment. He duly made his debut in the second Test at Chittagong, which he lit up with a spectacular one-handed back-flip of a catch at fine leg, and then in dank conditions against New Zealand at Headingley the following season, he grabbed the wicket of Mark Richardson with his first ball in home Tests. One match later he was dropped and faded into obscurity once again. He retired from first-class cricket in 2009 and took up umpiring, standing on the reserve list in 2010 and 2011. He was added to the full list of ECB umpires for the 2012 season.
Steven Lynch