Born On This Day: 29th January

Sir Andy Roberts was born in Antigua in 1951. He was a genuine fast bowler who played for the Leeward Islands from 1970, and came to Hampshire in 1973 when, not qualified for the Championship, he played just in one match v his fellow countrymen at Southampton.

At the end of that season, Hampshire had to choose a second overseas player between O’Sullivan who had just played a major part in bowling them to the title, and Roberts, whose pace in 2nd XI cricket was often fearsome. They chose Roberts, and in 1974 he probably bowled faster than anyone else for the county before or since.

In what was surely the unluckiest season in their history, the rain consigned Hampshire to runners-up by just two points, but Roberts took 119 wickets at just 13.62, six times taking five or more in an innings – ironically his best of 8-47 at Cardiff, came in what can now be seen as a crucial late season and improbable defeat.

He also took 7-45 at Hove, while his match figures of 9-39 v Kent at Basingstoke, included putting Cowdrey out of the match. For his performances in 1974, he was nominated as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year.

In 1975, and again in 1979, he was in the West Indies sides that won the first two World Cups, and in 1976 he toured England, so there were fewer Championship matches, after this, and in 1975 he missed the successful conclusion to Hampshire’s Sunday League campaign in Derbyshire.

In 1977, his first-class average was still below 20 but there were fewer wickets, and during the unrest caused by World Series cricket, in which he took 50 wickets, he became disenchanted with county cricket.

In July 1978, as Barry Richards announced his retirement from Hampshire, Andy Roberts asked to take a break, but the request was refused, so he too left the county, during the season when they would win their second Sunday League title.

He returned to county cricket with Leicestershire in 1981. He took 202 Test wickets for the West Indies in just 47 games, and for Hampshire his 244 wickets in just 58 games came at an average of 16.70, the lowest by any regular bowler in the county’s history. There were also 104 limited-overs wickets at 13.65.

Also today: Richard Dibden (1995), William Evans (1902-1910).