Michael Dighton

Michael Gray Dighton (born 24 April 1976) is an Australian cricket coach and former player. He played domestic cricket for Western Australia and Tasmania as well as English county cricket for Hampshire and Derbyshire. He was head coach of Canada from 2011 to 2012.

Michael Dighton

Personal information
Full name	Michael Gray Dighton
Born	(1976-04-24) 24 April 1976 (age 48) Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Nickname	Dights
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium-fast
Role	Batsman
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1997/98–2000/01	Western Australia
2001/02–2009/10	Tasmania (squad no. 3)
2004	Hampshire County Cricket Club
2007	Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Head coaching information
Years	Team
2011–2012	Canada
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20 Matches 71 99 22 Runs scored 4,208 3,190 455 Batting average 33.93 33.57 23.94 100s/50s 8/21 4/23 1/0 Top score 182* 146* 111 Balls bowled 570 522 96 Wickets 6 15 9 Bowling average 53.66 30.80 13.44 5 wickets in innings 0 0 1 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 Best bowling 2/47 2/23 6/25 Catches/stumpings 50/– 34/1 6/–
Source: CricInfo, 18 July 2020

Playing career

Dighton was educated at Kent Street Senior High School in Perth .^[1] He began his career with the Western Warriors but later switched to the Tasmanian Tigers. He plays club cricket for North Hobart Cricket Club. He is an opening batsman, particularly in One-day cricket, and played a leading role in the Tigers victorious ING Cup campaign of 2004–05. He bowls occasional leg spin, and is also a wicket-keeper. Dighton has failed to recapture the form which saw him score at an average of 55 in 2003 in the Pura Cup, but still retains his place as one-day opener.

In 2007, he recorded the best bowling figures by a bowler on T20 debut (6-25) and was the only debutant to take a 6 wicket haul on T20 debut.^[2][3]

On 15 November 2008, Dighton scored 34 off 13 balls for the Emirates All*Stars against the Australian National Team in an exhibition Twenty/20 match. He and Adam Gilchrist scored quickly, hitting boundaries and helping the team (specially made for the occasion) on to win. During the fielding innings, he caught a surprising one handed catch in the deep to dismiss Cameron White.

Coaching career

Dighton was appointed head coach of the Canada national cricket team in September 2011. He resigned in April 2012 after the team failed to progress through the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.^[4]

References

1. "Volunteers to be Recognised". waca.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
2. "Records | Twenty20 matches | Bowling records | Best figures in a innings on debut | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
3. "Queensland v Tasmania at Toowoomba, Jan 1, 2007 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
4. "Canada cricket coach Michael Dighton resigns after just seven months on the job". Toronto Star. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2023.