Bob Broadbent

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Bob Broadbent


country = England
fullname = Robert Gillespie Broadbent
nickname =
living =
dayofbirth = 21
monthofbirth = 6
yearofbirth = 1924
placeofbirth = Beckenham, Kent
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 26
monthofdeath = 4
yearofdeath = 1993
placeofdeath = Bromyard, Herefordshire
countryofdeath = England
heightft =
heightinch =
role =
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right arm fast-medium
club1 = Worcestershire
year1 = 1950–1963
club2 = Hertfordshire
year2 = 1964
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = FC
matches1 = 307
runs1 = 12,800
bat avg1 = 27.58
100s/50s1 = 13/70
top score1 = 155
deliveries1 = 576
wickets1 = 4
bowl avg1 = 95.50
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 1-16
catches/stumpings1 = 297/0
column2 = LA
matches2 = 5
runs2 = 66
bat avg2 = 16.50
100s/50s2 = 0/1
top score2 = 51
deliveries2 = 0
wickets2 = -
bowl avg2 = -
fivefor2 = -
tenfor2 = N/A
best bowling2 = -
catches/stumpings2 = 2/0
date = 11 October
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28143/28143.html CricketArchive

Robert Gillespie Broadbent, known as Bob Broadbent (21 June 1924 – 26 April 1993) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Worcestershire between 1950 and 1963. He was capped by the county in 1951, and ten years later received a benefit season which raised £5,481. He was a fine close fielder, holding nearly 300 catches in his career.

Broadbent was educated at Caterham School, then became a navigator in the Royal Air Force.Obituary. "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" 1994.] By 1949 he was appearing for Middlesex's Second XI; he scored 82 for them against Glamorgan II in July of that year. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/90/90392.html |title=Middlesex Second XI v Glamorgan Second XI in 1949 |accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive] He made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against Leicestershire at Grace Road; in a 177-run Worcestershire win Broadbent scored 77 and 29 not out. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/19/19523.html |title=Leicestershire v Worcestershire in 1950 |accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive] Nevertheless, it proved to be his only first-class appearance of the summer.

Broadbent became much more of a regular in the Worcestershire side in 1951 and enjoyed a fine season, which saw him capped by the county. He finished the year with 1,370 first-class runs at an average of over 39, by some margin his highest in any English season. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/28/28143/f_Batting_by_Season.html |title=First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Bob Broadbent |accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive] It was in the course of this summer that he hit what was to remain his highest score, a second-innings 155 against Middlesex in late June. Worcestershire had been in some trouble at 92/4, but Broadbent and captain Ronald Bird put on 132 for the fifth wicket and in the end the county ran out comfortable ten-wicket victors. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/19/19813.html |title=Worcestershire v Middlesex in 1951 | accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive]

In 1952 Broadbent hit 1,556 first-class runs, his highest season's aggregate, and he was to pass a thousand in five further seasons, the last of these being 1961. (He had a near miss in 1962, with 968 runs.) His "Wisden" obituary records that, although he was often forced to play a stubbornly solid role on account of Worcestershire's frequent difficulties, when the Australians visited in 1953 he hit Keith Miller out of the New Road ground.

Broadbent remained a regular in the side until the early 1960s, and stayed with the county just long enough to take part in some of the first one-day games, contributing an important 51, as part of a vital stand of 116 with Tom Graveney (93), to Worcestershire's Gillette Cup quarter-final victory over Glamorgan in June 1963. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/26/26141.html |title=Glamorgan v Worcestershire in 1963 | accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive] He also played in the final, which Worcestershire lost narrowly, but failed in making only 13. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/26/26444.html |title=Sussex v Worcestershire in 1963 | accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive]

Broadbent played no more first-class cricket after 1963, but he did turn out a few times in minor counties matches for Hertfordshire, making one List A appearance when Hertfordshire travelled to Durham in the first round of the 1964 Gillette Cup. It was a chastening experience: Broadbent himself scored 2, and Extras (13) was the highest score as Hertfordshire were bowled out for 63, losing by seven wickets. [cite web |url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/26/26659.html |title=Durham v Hertfordshire in 1964 | accessdate=2008-10-11 |publisher=CricketArchive]

Outside cricket, Broadbent was an accomplished hockey player, good enough to represent Worcestershire.

Notes

References

*cricketarchive|ref=Archive/Players/28/28143/28143.html
*cricinfo|ref=england/content/player/9999.html