Richard John Blakey is a former professional cricket player from England who was born on September 10, 1962, in Bradford, Yorkshire. He began his cricket journey as a batting prodigy, quickly displaying his immense talent in county cricket.
Blakey’s breakthrough moment came in 1989-90 when he scored an impressive 221 runs for England A in Zimbabwe. His remarkable performance caught the attention of the cricketing world, and he was hailed as one of the brightest batting prospects in the country. However, the following summer, Yorkshire was desperately searching for a wicketkeeper to replace the iconic David Bairstow and decided to groom Blakey for the role.
Initially, the transition from being a specialist batsman to a wicketkeeper-batsman proved successful for Blakey. He adapted well to his new role, displaying his skills behind the stumps as well as contributing valuable runs with the bat. However, over time, his batting form started to suffer due to the added responsibility of wicketkeeping.
As his batting performances dwindled, Blakey found himself demoted in the batting order to number seven. Despite his struggles, he was selected to represent England in two one-day internationals against Pakistan in 1992. Controversially, he was chosen ahead of the experienced Jack Russell for the winter tours of India and Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, Blakey’s stint as a national player did not go as planned. While he managed to avoid conceding byes during India’s mammoth score of 560-6 at Madras, his questionable handling of spin bowler Anil Kumble cost him dearly. His place in the national team was never regained, exhibiting his lack of consistency and skill in handling world-class spinners.
Returning to county cricket, Blakey remained a regular member of the Yorkshire team until the 2000 season. He faced significant criticism during this period for his lack of runs from the pivotal position of number three in the batting order. Eventually, he was dropped from the first team for the first time in his 15-year county career, making way for Simon Guy.
Despite his setbacks in the latter part of his career, Blakey had made a substantial impact in the world of cricket. His contribution to Yorkshire cricket was commendable, and he remained a highly respected figure within the sport. However, it was not just his cricketing abilities that garnered attention, but also the cheeky title of his autobiography, “Taking it from Behind,” which became a headline in itself.
After being released by Yorkshire after the 2006 summer, Blakey gradually faded from the limelight of professional cricket. While he may not have achieved the same level of success as some of his contemporaries, Richard Blakey’s dedication, talent, and determination have left an indelible mark on the cricketing history of England.
