Gareth Batty

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Gareth Batty
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm off break
balls = true
tests = 7
test runs = 144
test bat avg = 20.57
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 38
test overs = 1394
test wickets = 11
test bowl avg = 66.63
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 3/55
test catches/stumpings = 3/-
ODIs = 7
ODI runs = 6
ODI bat avg = 1.50
ODI 100s/50s = 0/0
ODI top score = 3
ODI overs = 362
ODI wickets = 4
ODI bowl avg = 73.50
ODI 5s = 0
ODI best bowling = 2/40
ODI catches/stumpings = 4/-
date = 6 April
year = 2006
source = http://content.cricinfo.com/natwestseries/content/player/9042.html

Gareth Jon Batty (born October 13, 1977 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England) is an English cricketer, more specifically a spin-bowler.

The off-spinner has been largely backup to Ashley Giles throughout his career, though he did play four Tests in the English tour of the subcontinent in 2003, as conditions favoured the inclusion of a second spinner in a team. However, despite being given plenty of chances to bowl, Batty was very ineffective, inexplicably he was still picked for tours of the West Indies in 2003/04. Batty was the bowler Brian Lara faced when he scored his world record 400th run in the 4th Test Match in Antigua. He was picked as second spinner for the South African tour the next season.

The selectors continued to show faith in him, picking him for the two Tests against Bangladesh in 2005 when Giles suffered a hip injury - in the first, he did not bat, did not bowl, and did not hold a catch, and but for Bangladeshi resilience in the second innings, he might have gone through the entire series without bowling. He has gone down to the spinning pecking order due to the emergence of Monty Panesar and re-emergence of Graeme Swann.

County career

Batty began his county career with his native Yorkshire, after playing for England Under 19's, making his County Championship debut in 1997. Due to lack of opportunities he transferred to Surrey in 1998 where he played mainly one-day games. He joined Worcestershire in 2002 where he became the main spinner and came to prominence with the national team.

Gareth is the younger brother of former Yorkshire and Somerset off-spinner Jeremy Batty.

Gareth has been sponsored by Slazenger for the past 5 years and currently uses the SX model, which features a pronounced bow, suiting his aggressive style. His bats weigh 2.8 lbs (1.2 kg)

Teams

International

* England

English first-class

* Surrey
* Worcestershire
* Yorkshire

Career highlights

= Tests =

Test debut: vs Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2003/04Last Test: Bangladesh, Chester-le-Street, 2005

* Batty's best Test batting score of 38 was made against Sri Lanka, Kandy, 2003/04
* His best Test bowling figures of 3 for 55 came against Sri Lanka, Galle, 2003/04

One Day Internationals

ODI debut: vs Australia, Sydney, 2002/03Last ODI: vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2004/05

* Batty's highest ODI score of 3 was made against Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2003/04
* Batty's best ODI bowling figures of 2 for 40 were taken against West Indies, St Lucia, 2003/04