Alan Castell (1943-2024)

Hampshire Cricket is saddened to learn of the passing of former spin bowler Alan Castell.

Alan made his debut for the club in 1961, and dismissed future England captain Brian Close the following summer where he made 14* in Hampshire's draw against Yorkshire at Bournemouth.

His 76 against Surrey at Northlands Road was part of a record ninth wicket partnership of 230 with Danny Livingstone, who made a double century, which still stands to this day.

Back at Bournemouth, in 1963, Castell took figures of 10-102 against Somerset, where the visitor's Bill Alley suggested he was more promising than Richie Benaud at the same age.

However, he reinvented himself as a pace bowler and took 36 wickets at 22.55 in 1966, including 6-69 against Worcestershire at Portsmouth and then 6-49 against Derbyshire at Southampton.

At the start of his limited overs career, Hampshire played only in Gillette Cup matches, until the Sunday League arrived; when it did, Castell played regularly in the 1970 season, taking 12 wickets, while overall there were 28 wickets, and a best of 4-52 (and 23) in a quarter-final defeat v Sussex at Hove in 1967.

In first-class cricket 1967 and 1968 were quieter, but in 1969 he took 50 wickets for the only time, including 6-22 v Somerset at Bath as Somerset were dismissed for 88, despite which they won a thrilling game by just two runs.

He also had three wickets and 61* in a victory v Sussex at Portsmouth – one of four half-centuries.

In 1969, his wickets had cost 25.90 each but in 1970, 43 came at nearly 40 and in 1971, 27 around 30 each, after which he was gone – and a rather romantic dream went with him.