David Ivon Gower OBE                         

David Gower was born on 01 April 1957 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He went to King’s School, Canterbury on a scholarship. He briefly studied law at University College, London but he had already played some cricket for Leicestershire so his academic career ended.

His nicknames are stoat, lubo and lu – maybe he will enlighten us as to how he acquired those?!

He played for Leicestershire (1975-89), Hampshire (1990-93), England (1978-92) and MCC in a career which lasted from 1975 to 1993. He was a languid, graceful left-handed bat who caressed the ball rather than belted it. He always looked elegant when he was batting whether in or out of form.

He played 448 first-class matches during which he scored 26,339 runs at 40.08 with 53 centuries and 136 fifties and a top score of 228. He was also a good fielder with a safe pair of hands which took 280 catches. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1979.

He played 117 Tests for England during which he made 8,231 runs at 44.25 with 18 centuries and 39 fifties and a top score of 215. He pulled his first ball in Test cricket for a four against Pakistan at Edgbaston in June 1978 aged just 21. He captained England in 32 Tests, 25 of which were in succession. His highlight was scoring 732 runs at 81.33 in the 1985 series against Australia which was won 3-1. He hit 9 Test centuries against Australia, the same as Wally Hammond, which is only bettered by Jack Hobbs with 12. Although he was a strokemaker, he could play a rearguard innings such as his match-saving 154* against the West Indies at Jamaica in 1981.

He also played 114 ODIs during which he scored 3,170 runs at 30.77 with 7 centuries and 12 fifties and a top score of 158. He had a healthy strike rate, for his era, of 75.15.

Following his playing career, Gower moved effortlessly into broadcasting where he has been an excellent presence on our T.V. screens for many years, principally with Sky Sports.

It will be a pleasure to welcome a man, for our 40th anniversary Special Event, who has graced both cricket fields and our T.Vs with such charm and charisma.

Ken Burney