Clive Radley

Clive Radley was not the most gifted or graceful batsman, but he more than made up for that with determination, hard work, and the absence of anything approaching risk. He accumulated runs rather than stroked them, scurrying between the wickets quicker than almost any contemporary, with a characteristic slide in the final yards which enabled him to turn quickly. Watching him in partnership with the equally swift Graeme Barlow was a delight. his ability to eke out quick singles made him a valuable one-day player in a side which dominated the one-day knockouts from the mid seventies. An archetypal county stalwart, international recognition came when Middlesex finally emerged from two-and-a-half decades in the doldrums and again became fashionable - that their captain, Mike Brearley, also led England probably helped. Radley made his Test debut in New Zealand in 1977-78 aged almost 34, and in his second Test at Auckland ground out a typically gritty 11-hour 158. In 1978 he made an equally dour 115 in the first Test of the season against Pakistan, and innings of 59 and 77 in the last two Tests of the summer gained him a place in that winter's tour party to Australia. But he was struck a sickening blow in the first match and was a peripheral figure on the trip thereafter and did not play for England again. He continued to play for Middlesex until he was well into his forties, and then moved from the main ground to the Nursery where he took over from Don Wilson as MCC's head coach. His retirement in 2009 brought to an end almost five decades of association with Lord's.
Martin Williamson