England

Martin Bicknell

Born: January 14, 1969, Guildford, Surrey

Martin Bicknell bio

Martin Paul Bicknell was an aggressive and talented cricket player hailing from England. Born on July 16, 1969, Bicknell emerged as one of the most underrated opening bowlers in England, despite not receiving adequate recognition from the selectors. With his high arm-action and ability to swing the ball both ways, he became an integral part of Surrey’s domination in the County Championship.

Bicknell’s immense contributions to domestic cricket were fueled by the frustration he experienced in his England career, which can be best described as a non-starter. At the tender age of 21, he was selected for the Ashes tour in 1990-1991, a call-up that was perhaps premature for his development as a cricketer. Nevertheless, he had to wait until 1993 to make his debut in Test cricket.

Although he played only two Tests before being dropped, Bicknell demonstrated his skill and commitment to the game. Unfortunately, he was overlooked for the majority of his career, with players like Angus Fraser, Darren Gough, and Andrew Caddick often preferred over him. However, Bicknell’s name repeatedly made its way into discussions prior to Test selection, without ever receiving the coveted recall.

In response, Bicknell redirected his focus to excelling at the county level. Recognizing his potential as a batting all-rounder, he honed his skills and developed into a highly valuable No. 8 or 9 batsman, known for ruthlessly dismantling tired bowlers. Despite giving up on his chances of representing England for a period of three years, Bicknell’s passion for the game never waned.

To everyone’s surprise, Bicknell’s career took an unexpected turn in 2003 when he was recalled to the Test squad at the age of 34. Making an impactful return, he secured a wicket with only his second ball at Headingley, before leading England to a memorable victory at his home ground, The Oval. Regrettably, this proved to be his swansong, as he was officially retired from international cricket after that triumph.

Throughout his career, Bicknell had faced numerous setbacks due to injury, and the flame of his sporting journey gradually dimmed. He made the difficult decision to retire from all forms of cricket at the conclusion of the 2006 season, marking the end of an era.

Despite not receiving the recognition he rightfully deserved, Martin Paul Bicknell’s legacy lives on as a determined and talented cricketer. His unwavering commitment to the sport and his invaluable contributions to Surrey’s success are a testament to his character and skill. Bicknell’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

Martin Bicknell career stats

Batting stats

Batting Matches Innings Nos Runs High score Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 4 7 0 45 15 6.42 130 34.61 0 0 6 0 2 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 7 6 2 96 31* 24 104 92.3 0 0 7 1 2 0
FC 292 358 87 6740 141 24.87 - - 3 26 - - 103 0
List A 332 174 72 1589 66* 15.57 - - 0 2 - - 78 0
T20s 3 2 2 11 10* - 8 137.5 0 0 1 0 1 0

Bowling stats

Bowling Matches Innings Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
Tests 4 7 1080 543 14 4/84 6/155 38.78 3.01 77.1 1 0 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 7 7 413 347 13 3/55 3/55 26.69 5.04 31.7 0 0 0
FC 292 - 55420 26589 1061 9/45 - 25.06 2.87 52.2 - 44 4
List A 332 - 16167 10771 429 7/30 7/30 25.1 3.99 37.6 11 3 0
T20s 3 3 66 61 4 2/11 2/11 15.25 5.54 16.5 0 0 0

Explore more cricketers