Graham Dilley

Graham Dilley was plucked from Kent as a 20-year-old and taken to Australia in 1979-80 as the Great White Hope fast bowler. Tall, blond, good-looking and seriously quick, he had obvious star quality. But though he played 41 Tests and in several of them lived up to his billing, his career meandered through loss of rhythm - his action was always a bit ugly and chest-on - and some thoroughly nasty injuries. He reached his peak in 1986 and 1987 when he was undisputed as England's spearhead, but it was his fate to be remembered more for supporting Ian Botham as a batsman at Headingley 1981. After retirement, he endured a period of well-publicised poverty, caused partly by his impulsive mid-career move from Kent to Worcestershire, which meant he never got a benefit. He returned to the cricket fold with a spell as bowling coach to the England women's team, and was appointed assistant coach of the men's side for the tour of India in 2001-02. He died aged just 52 in 2011 following a short illness.
Matthew Engel