Full name Jack Birkenshaw
Born November 13, 1940, Rothwell, Leeds, Yorkshire
Current age 80 years 112 days
Major teams England, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Yorkshire
Nickname Birky
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Other Umpire, Coach
Height 5 ft 9 in
Education Rothwell Grammar School
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 5 | 7 | 0 | 148 | 64 | 21.14 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
First-class | 490 | 665 | 123 | 12780 | 131 | 23.57 | 4 | 53 | 316 | 0 | ||
List A | 163 | 126 | 24 | 1831 | 101* | 17.95 | 1 | 6 | 56 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 5 | 9 | 1017 | 469 | 13 | 5/57 | 6/146 | 36.07 | 2.76 | 78.2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
First-class | 490 | 69171 | 29276 | 1073 | 8/94 | 27.28 | 2.53 | 64.4 | 44 | 4 | |||
List A | 163 | 3406 | 2108 | 82 | 5/20 | 5/20 | 25.70 | 3.71 | 41.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Test debut | India v England at Kanpur, Jan 25-30, 1973 scorecard |
Last Test | West Indies v England at Port of Spain, Mar 30-Apr 5, 1974 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1958 - 1981 |
List A span | 1964 - 1981 |
Test debut | England v India at Leeds, Jun 19-23, 1986 scorecard |
Last Test | England v West Indies at Nottingham, Jun 2-7, 1988 scorecard |
Test matches | 2 |
Test statistics | |
ODI debut | India v Zimbabwe at Leicester, Jun 11, 1983 scorecard |
Last ODI | England v West Indies at Birmingham, May 19, 1988 scorecard |
ODI matches | 6 |
ODI statistics |
Like many a Yorkshireman Jack Birkenshaw left his native county to find opportunity elsewhere, in his case Leicestershire. He played 420 first-class matches for his adopted county, as well as five Tests. An offspinner with a high action, deceptive flight and variation, and considerable accuracy, he was not a big spinner of the ball. A neat and useful left-hand bat, with four first-class centuries, he had a good defence and a strong drive. He played 30 games over two seasons in Yorkshire without winning a cap, before moving to Leicestershire. He played all his Tests abroad, where he was picked several times as a second offspinner, but in general his Test career was blocked by the presence of that other Yorkshire expatriate, Ray Illingworth. Birkenshaw made 64 on his Test debut as well as picking up wickets, and was well worth his place in his brief opportunities. He played 10 matches for Worcestershire in 1981, his final season before joining the first-class umpires list, where he served with distinction, officiating on Tests and one-day internationals. He subsequently returned to Leicestershire as coach.
Dave Liverman
Awarded the MBE in June 2011