Geoff Arnold
CountryEngland
FullnameGeoffrey Graham Arnold
Birth date3 September 1944 (age 82)
Birth placeEarlsfield, Surrey, England
Heightft6
Heightinch1
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
Internationaltrue
Testdebutdate10 August
Testdebutyear1967
TestdebutagainstPakistan
Testcap436
Lasttestdate14 July
Lasttestyear1975
LasttestagainstAustralia
Odidebutdate24 August
Odidebutyear1972
OdidebutagainstAustralia
Odicap13
Lastodidate18 June
Lastodiyear1975
LastodiagainstAustralia
Club 1Surrey
Year 11963–1977
Club 2Orange Free State
Year 21976/77
Club 3Sussex
Year 31978–1982
Columns4
Column 1Test
Matches 134
Runs 1421
Bat avg 112.02
100s/50s 10/1
Top score 159
Deliveries 17,650
Wickets 1115
Bowl avg 128.29
Fivefor 16
Tenfor 10
Best bowling 16/45
Catches/stumpings 19/–
Column 2ODI
Matches 214
Runs 248
Bat avg 216.00
100s/50s 20/0
Top score 218*
Deliveries 2714
Wickets 219
Bowl avg 217.84
Fivefor 20
Tenfor 20
Best bowling 24/27
Catches/stumpings 22/–
Column 3FC
Matches 3365
Runs 33,952
Bat avg 313.67
100s/50s 30/7
Top score 373
Deliveries 361,028
Wickets 31,130
Bowl avg 321.91
Fivefor 346
Tenfor 33
Best bowling 38/41
Catches/stumpings 3122/–
Column 4LA
Matches 4248
Runs 4687
Bat avg 48.48
100s/50s 40/0
Top score 424*
Deliveries 412,460
Wickets 4332
Bowl avg 419.45
Fivefor 44

Geoffrey Graham Arnold (born 3 September 1944) is an English cricketer who played 34 Test matches and 14 One Day Internationals for the England cricket team. His nickname of "Horse" was based on his initials of GG.[1] He was a seam and swing bowler, who finished his first-class cricket career, which lasted from 1963 to 1982, with 1130 wickets at an average of 21.91. He played for Surrey and Sussex, winning the County Championship with the former county in 1971. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1972.

Life and career

After touring Pakistan with the MCC Under-25 side in 1966–67, Arnold made his England debut in 1967 against Pakistan, a season during which he claimed 109 wickets. A succession of niggling injuries meant that he had to wait until the early 1970s before he became a fixture in the team. In 1974, he assisted Chris Old in bowling out India for 42 at Lord's. Surprisingly for an out-and-out seam bowler, he was fairly successful everywhere except in the West Indies. In 1972–73 series in India and Pakistan, he claimed 17 wickets (at 17.43), starting with match figures of 9 for 91 – his best – in the England win in Delhi.[1] Against both New Zealand and the West Indies the following summer, Arnold delivered 310 overs and took 31 wickets. He and John Snow destroyed the New Zealand batting, but their potentially devastating bowling partnership fizzled out at that point.[1] Initially joining Surrey as an allrounder, he made a half century in his second innings for England. Dropped after the 1975 Ashes series, he remained effective in county cricket.

In 1978, Arnold moved to Sussex, as a replacement for the then retired Snow, where he remained for five seasons.[1] In later years he occasionally proved a determined lower order batsman.

After his playing career ended, he returned to Surrey as a bowling coach, and assisted at national level with upcoming pace bowlers.[1] Arnold subsequently had a stint as bowling coach for Kent, and is currently[when?] performing that role at Northamptonshire.

References

  1. ^ Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 15. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.