Dermott monteith

Dermott Monteith

James Dermott Monteith was an Irish international cricketer born in Lisburn on 2 June 1943. He was educated at RBAI and Queens University Belfast.

He played the majority of his club cricket for Lisburn Cricket Club and also had spells at Queens University and Middlesex County Cricket Club. He also toured with the MCC to Bangladesh and East Africa.

He captained Ireland on 38 occasions, winning 11 times, passing Jimmy Boucher's record number of wickets in 1984 and ending his Ireland career with 326 wickets in 76 matches. Still an Irish record.

He took 100 club wickets in a season twice for Lisburn(1971 and 1973) with his left arm spin. His maiden century for Lisburn came in 1971.

He was a 38-year-old veteran when he was called upon by Middlesex as cover for the 1981 season. He proved more than capable at county level, taking 24 wickets in eight Championship appearances with a best of 5 for 60 against Essex.

He was also an enthusiastic rugby player and played for Bangor Rugby Club. His sporting career ended when he became the victim of a terrible hit and run accident in early 1985.

He finished his first class cricket career with 94 wickets at 20.64 and 530 runs at 15.58.

He later went on to coach cricket at both Bangor and Donaghadee, even attempting a (short lived) playing comeback whilst at Donaghadee. Subsequently he became a national selector and president of the Irish Cricket Union.

He wrote his autobiography entitled ‘A Stone in the Glasshouse’ in 2004.

References

[http://www.cricketarchive.com/Middlesex/Players/26/26844/26844.html Cricket Archive -Middlesex CCC]

[http://www.lisburncricketclub.co.uk/inter.asp Lisburn Cricket Club Legends]

[http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ireland/content/player/24463.html Cricinfo]

[http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/GENERAL/TIMELINES/ireland.shtml Cricket Ireland]