Geoff Arnold

Geoffrey Graham Arnold (born 3 September 1944) is an English cricketer who played 34 Test matches and 14 One Day Internationals for the England cricket team. His nickname of "Horse" was based on his initials of GG.^[1] He was a seam and swing bowler, who finished his first-class cricket career, which lasted from 1963 to 1982, with 1130 wickets at an average of 21.91. He played for Surrey and Sussex, winning the County Championship with the former county in 1971. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1972.

Geoff Arnold

Personal information
Full name	Geoffrey Graham Arnold
Born	(1944-09-03) 3 September 1944 (age 80) Earlsfield, Surrey, England
Nickname	Horse
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 436)	10 August 1967 v Pakistan
Last Test	14 July 1975 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 13)	24 August 1972 v Australia
Last ODI	18 June 1975 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1963–1977	Surrey
1976/77	Orange Free State
1978–1982	Sussex
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 34 14 365 248 Runs scored 421 48 3,952 687 Batting average 12.02 16.00 13.67 8.48 100s/50s 0/1 0/0 0/7 0/0 Top score 59 18* 73 24* Balls bowled 7,650 714 61,028 12,460 Wickets 115 19 1,130 332 Bowling average 28.29 17.84 21.91 19.45 5 wickets in innings 6 0 46 4 10 wickets in match 0 0 3 0 Best bowling 6/45 4/27 8/41 5/9 Catches/stumpings 9/– 2/– 122/– 53/–
Source: Cricinfo, 26 November 2009

Life and career

After touring Pakistan with the MCC Under-25 side in 1966–67, Arnold made his England debut in 1967 against Pakistan, a season during which he claimed 109 wickets. A succession of niggling injuries meant that he had to wait until the early 1970s before he became a fixture in the team. In 1974, he assisted Chris Old in bowling out India for 42 at Lord's. Surprisingly for an out-and-out seam bowler, he was fairly successful everywhere except in the West Indies. In 1972–73 series in India and Pakistan, he claimed 17 wickets (at 17.43), starting with match figures of 9 for 91 – his best – in the England win in Delhi.^[1] Against both New Zealand and the West Indies the following summer, Arnold delivered 310 overs and took 31 wickets. He and John Snow destroyed the New Zealand batting, but their potentially devastating bowling partnership fizzled out at that point.^[1] Initially joining Surrey as an allrounder, he made a half century in his second innings for England. Dropped after the 1975 Ashes series, he remained effective in county cricket.

In 1978, Arnold moved to Sussex, as a replacement for the then retired Snow, where he remained for five seasons.^[1] In later years he occasionally proved a determined lower order batsman.

After his playing career ended, he returned to Surrey as a bowling coach, and assisted at national level with upcoming pace bowlers.^[1] Arnold subsequently had a stint as bowling coach for Kent, and is currently^[when?] performing that role at Northamptonshire.

References

1. Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 15. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.

External links

• Geoff Arnold at ESPNcricinfo
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year article