Mike Hendrick - an appreciation

If, as one might rightly expect, we have seen the last of Mike Hendrick as a man of Derbyshire cricket, we owe him a debt of gratitude.

Many might say he was the last great Derbyshire-born seamer in a line that goes right back to the nineteenth century. You all know the names and while there have been fine seamers since, they've been imports, rather than county born and bred.

There was always a degree of reassurance in watching Hendo take the new ball. There was confidence that it would not be wasted and he was always probing on that spot that was always called the "Derbyshire length". Too far up to cut, too short to drive, too difficult for a great many batsmen. John Arlott, he of the apposite phrase, called it a "grudging length" which sums it up quite nicely. On those rare occasions that Hendo got hit, you knew that we were in big trouble. His run up was economical and his action a textbook and classical sideways on, with the body action generating movement and lift that took many by surprise

I recall a game against Yorkshire at Queens Park back in the 1970s when Hendrick was bowling from the Pavilion end and looked as if he had the ball on a string, ready to jerk away from the bat as the unsuspecting Yorkshireman played forward. The wicket appeared to be unplayable to all except one man, Geoffrey Boycott. In a two-hour masterclass of batting before stumps, the great Boycs played them all with the middle of his bat and looked the class act that he was.

Unlike many of his predecessors, Hendrick earned England call ups and ended up with thirty caps. Some might say that he was lucky to play in an age where there was less competition and cynics said that his regular length was aimed at containing, rather than getting top players out. Be that as it may, he was good enough to take 87 Test match wickets at 25 each and that average was better than those achieved by Messrs Larwood, Snow, Botham or Gough. What George Pope and Les Jackson may have done with similar opportunity is a matter of conjecture, but Hendrick's record stands up to scrutiny and allows him to take his place in the Derbyshire pantheon. I can still recall the feeling of pride when England won in Australia with a side that featured Hendrick, Geoff Miller and Bob Taylor.

770 first class wickets for the County at 20. Not bad is it? Nearly 300 one day wickets at 19. For the younger readers, think Charl Langeveldt. Maybe a little slower, possibly even more outrageous in the lift and movement. His best first class performance was 8-45, while his best one day bowling was a "mere" 6-7...

He was a very fine slip fielder, unusually so for a seam bowler, most of whom spend their fielding time ruminating in the outfield at third man or long leg. He also had a fine throwing arm and a number of players took him on and regretted it soon afterwards. As a batsman he was entertaining and worth a watch. Again, think Langeveldt - if it was in his arc, it went a long way, although often straight up in the air. If he got his range, the area between mid on and mid wicket could look out for a brief bombardment, though with a highest acore of 46 we always knew it was only a matter of time...

We were disappointed when he left us, a victim of that rare Derbyshire problem of dressing room discord - and devastated when his final years were spent across the border at Trent Bridge, where he was only a qualified success after a number of injuries.

He subsequently spent a short while as an umpire, before coaching both Scotland and Ireland prior to his return to Derbyshire. Hendo was pleasant company, very funny with a beer in his hand and an appreciative audience. Those of long memory will remember with fondness the Radio Derby recordings of he and Geoff Miller as old Derbyshire miners discussing Derbyshire's glorious past. "Gladstone and Jackson" were favourites, "Cliff Gladstone used to baaarl big benders". Then there was "that Eric Bartlett from South Africa" who got Derbyshire really fit. So fit, as Hendrick once said "if someone hits our bowling into the next county we'll be the fastest team around to fetch it back".

I remember a few convivial chats with him about the state of Scottish cricket. Like many up here, he became frustrated by the imbalance between Edinburgh and Glasgow (many feel that Edinburgh players have a much better chance of national selection and Glasgow players need to be twice as good to get a rub of the green). Maybe this was a reminder of the difficulties encountered by northern players in England selection. The ridiculous way that average county bowlers like JJ Warr gained England selection ahead of Les Jackson over the years still rankles, while one can go back to the likes of "Topsy" Wass of Nottinghamshire, apparently overlooked because his table manners were poor.

He didn't leave Scottish cricket on the best of terms and the amicability of the Derbyshire departure may be something we will hear in due course. Whatever else, Mike Hendrick can hold his head high in Derbyshire cricket circles. As they say in all the best places, he owes us nowt.