Alan Ward

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Alan Ward
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast
tests = 5
test runs = 40
test bat avg = 8.00
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 21
test balls = 761
test wickets = 14
test bowl avg = 32.35
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 4/61
test catches/stumpings = 3/-
FCs = 163
FC runs = 928
FC bat avg = 8.43
FC 100s/50s = -/-
FC top score = 44
FC balls = 21905
FC wickets = 460
FC bowl avg = 22.81
FC 5s = 15
FC 10s = 4
FC best bowling = 7/42
FC catches/stumpings = 51/-
debut date = 24 July
debut year = 1969
last date = 22 July
last year = 1976
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/22292.html

:"For the Judge and Privy Counsellor Sir Alan Ward, see Lord Justice Ward."

Alan Ward (born August 10, 1947, Dronfield, Derbyshire) is a former English cricketer who played in 5 Tests from 1969 to 1976. A brutally fast right-arm bowler, he could, with more fortune, have been the perfect foil of his era for John Snow. Injury-plagued and subject to great fluctuations in form, he never fulfilled his promise.

As fast as any of his era, his awkward action, frail physique and Derbyshire's abundance of shirt-front wickets let him down. He went to Australia in 1971/72 under Ray Illingworth, who lauded his Ward-Snow opening combo. Snow prospered, picking up 31 wickets to become the decisive factor in England's claiming the Ashes, but Ward, even before injury struck, battled.

In 1973, he refused to bowl in a Sunday League game, so the Derbyshire captain banished him from the field, ensuring some controversial next-day headlines. In 1976, he left the county in unhappy circumstances but was called up to play against the West Indies in the fifth and final Test Match of his career. Although he took four wickets, he earned far greater acclaim for his stout resistance with the bat. On the last day, with the West Indians pressing for victory, he held them for almost an hour before falling for a duck. The crowd rose as one in a standing ovation.

Joining Leicestershire in 1976, Ward was largely ineffective. His first-class career ended quietly in 1978.