Sporting legends : Ted Dexter: The Cavalier of English Cricket- Career HLs , video

 



Edward Ralph "Ted" Dexter was born on May 15, 1935, in Milan, Italy. A stylish and aggressive right-handed batsman, Dexter played with flair and confidence, often dominating bowlers with his fearless stroke play. Known as “Lord Ted” for his regal bearing and charisma, he was also a more-than-capable medium-pace bowler and an astute captain. Dexter brought glamour and modernity to English cricket during the 1950s and 1960s.

Style of Play

Dexter was an attacking batsman with a wide range of strokes and a love for taking on fast bowling. He was known for his quick footwork, strong drives, and bold shot selection. As a medium pacer, he was occasionally useful with the ball, particularly when the team needed a breakthrough. He was also an agile fielder and an inspirational leader.

Career Highlights

  • Test debut: vs New Zealand, 1958
  • Captaincy: Dexter captained England in 30 Tests from 1961 to 1964, including the Ashes series.
  • Famous 70 against West Indies (1963): A counterattacking knock at Lord's, often hailed as one of the finest innings ever played on that ground.
  • 1962–63 Ashes tour: Scored two centuries in Australia and impressed with bold tactics as captain.
  • Played a crucial role in restoring pride in England's cricket during a period of transition.
  • Served as chairman of selectors in the 1990s and was instrumental in introducing performance analysis systems to the team setup.
  • Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame posthumously in 2021.

Test Record

  • Matches: 62
  • Runs: 4,502
  • Batting average: 47.89
  • Centuries/50s: 9/27
  • Highest score: 205
  • Wickets: 66
  • Best bowling: 4/40
  • Catches: 49

First-Class Record

  • Matches: 327
  • Runs: 21,150
  • Batting average: 40.75
  • Centuries/50s: 51/103
  • Highest score: 312*
  • Wickets: 419
  • Best bowling: 7/56

Notable Innings

  • 205 vs Pakistan at Karachi (1961): A masterclass in subcontinental conditions.
  • 70 vs West Indies at Lord’s (1963): Played under immense pressure, regarded as one of the finest innings in Test history.
  • 174 vs Australia at Melbourne (1962): A bold, counter-attacking innings in hostile conditions.

Legacy

Ted Dexter is remembered as one of England’s most charismatic and courageous cricketers. He brought attacking flair and bold captaincy to the national team, often putting entertainment and instinct above caution. Off the field, his contribution to cricket continued with media work and innovations in selection. Despite having a relatively short international career due to business commitments, his influence on English cricket was profound. His boldness, both with the bat and as a leader, remains part of England’s cricketing folklore.


Watch the below tribute video & enjoy the glorious strokeplay of Ted Dexter 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Olympics24 : Julien Alfred of St Lucia becomes fastest woman on earth by winning 100 mtrs

Image
  Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred did wonders to put her country in the Olympics map by beconing the fastest woman on earth . Before the semi-finals, when Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew, everyone thought Sha'Carri Richardson would easily win the gold. She was expected to become the world's fastest woman. However, Sha'Carri disappointed. St. Lucia's Julien Alfred won the gold in the women's 100 meters at the Olympics, finishing in 10.72 seconds. Sha'Carri secured the silver by finishing second, while America's Melissa Jefferson took bronze. The event was delayed slightly due to rain before the race. Despite the wet track, Julien seemed unaffected. She took the lead right from the start and maintained it until the end. Despite her efforts, Sha'Carri couldn't catch up. Julien set a national record by finishing in 10.72 seconds. Her celebration after winning gold showed how significant this victory was for her and her country. Sha'Car...
Read more

Olympics24 : China dominates TT with 5th consecutive title , France retain volleyball gold , some other event results

Image
  China successfully defended their Golds medal in the men’s table tennis team event with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sweden at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This marks their fifth title in the men’s team event, a competition they have dominated since its debut at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Host nation France secured the Olympic TT bronze in the men’s event by defeating Japan 3-2. In the women’s table tennis competition, China continued their dominance by winning their fifth consecutive gold medal with a 3-0 victory over Japan. This victory also marked China’s historic 300th Olympic gold medal. Japan took home the silver, while Korea Republic earned the bronze, their first medal in the team event since 2008. In badminton, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen successfully defended his men’s singles Olympic gold, defeating Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight sets. Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia won the bronze after a three-set victory over India’s Lakshya Sen. Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of C...
Read more

Olympics24 : Ten men India edge out Britain in tie breaker to storm into hockey SF

Image
  India reached the Olympic hockey semifinals by defeating Britain in a shootout. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, leading to a shootout where India won 4-2. India played with ten players for 42 minutes to secure the victory. In the semifinals, India will face the winner of the Germany-Argentina match. A win in Tuesday's match will ensure a silver medal for last time's bronze winners at the Paris Olympics. Following the advice of video umpire , Indian defender Amit Rohidas was shown a red card in the fourth minute of the second quarter for unintentional stick contact with a British player’s head. Video umpire Goyentzen suggested it was intentional, and South African field umpire Sean Rapaport recommended a red card, resulting in India playing the rest of the match with ten players. This is the first red card issued in this Olympic hockey tournament. Despite this, India remained undeterred. Coach Craig Fulton adjusted the strategy after going down to ten players. Captain ...
Read more