Derek Gillespie (cricketer)

Derek Gillespie
Personal information
Full name
Derek William Gillespie
Born26 April 1917
Aberford, Yorkshire, England
Died21 August 1981(1981-08-21) (aged 64)
Oxton, Yorkshire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-fast[1]
Right-arm off break[1]
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1938–1939Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 10
Runs scored 155
Batting average 12.91
100s/50s –/1
Top score 60
Balls bowled 1,442
Wickets 22
Bowling average 31.04
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 4/48
Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: Cricinfo, 24 December 2021

Derek William Gillespie (26 April 1917 – 21 August 1981) was an English first-class cricketer and solicitor.

Gillespie was born at Aberford in West Yorkshire in April 1917. He was educated at Uppingham School, where he captained the school cricket team in 1936.[1] From Uppingham he went up to Clare College, Cambridge.[2] He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club, making his debut against Northamptonshire in 1938. The following year he secured the final place in the Cambridge side and went onto make eight first-class appearances in 1939.[1][3] Picked primarily to play as a right-arm fast-medium bowler, with the Cambridge side having a shortage of spin bowlers, Gillespie change to bowling off breaks from June 1939.[1] In ten first-class matches for Cambridge, Gillespie took 22 wickets at an average of 31.04 and with best figures of 4 for 48,[4] which came against Surrey at The Oval in 1939 when he dismissed four of the first five Surrey batsman.[1] His change of bowling style was present in seven of his ten first-class matches. Described as a "solid batsman" by Wisden, he scored a total of 155 runs with one half century, a score of 60,[5] which was made in three hours against the Free Foresters in 1939.[1]

Gillespie completed his studies in 1939 and immediately went into military service with the Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant in September.[6] He served throughout the Second World War and relinquished his commission in May 1946, on account of ill health and was granted the honorary rank of major.[7] After his military service, Gillespie qualified as a solicitor and was a partner in the legal firm Middletons.[8] Gillespie died in August 1981 at Oxton, Yorkshire.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Wisden - Obituaries in 1982". ESPNcricinfo. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  2. ^ The Cambridge University List of Members for the Year 1976. Cambridge University Press. 1976. p. 348. ISBN 9780521209281.
  3. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Derek Gillespie". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  4. ^ "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Derek Gillespie". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  5. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Derek Gillespie". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  6. ^ "No. 34662". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 September 1939. p. 5986.
  7. ^ "No. 37559". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 May 1946. p. 2234.
  8. ^ The American Bar, the Canadian Bar, the International Bar. R.B. Forster & Associates. 1975. p. 2047.