(From Lords.org). He was the leading spin bowler in England for two decades, forming a deadly combination with wicket-keeper Alan Knott both at Test and county level. A precocious talent, he took 100 wickets for Kent in 1963 at the age of 17, the youngest to do so in first-class cricket. He captured his 1,000th first-class wicket aged just 25, and took 1,000 wickets in a season 10 times, notably 157 in 1966. He was the leading bowler in England on four occasions: 1966, 1967, 1978 and 1979. In nine Test Matches at Lord’s, he took 38 wickets at 16.92, claiming four five-wicket hauls and becoming the only bowler in history to take 10 wickets in a Test Match at Lord’s twice. His first Test at the Home of Cricket was against Australia in 1968, when he bowled a wonderful spell of 18-15-8-2 as England pressed for an unlikely victory. The following year he succeeded in bowling England to victory against New Zealand with figures of 31-18-32-7, part of an 11-wicket match haul. He did better still against Pakistan in 1974; hauls of 5 for 20 and 8 for 51 bringing him match figures of 13 for 71, the third best in Lord’s history.
(From Wisden.com)
Minutes to spare and Derek mops up with 4/6 in 27 deliveries in the Oval test 1968 v Australia.
Brilliant bowler, he was also a very brave tailender. I remember the West Indian quickies battering him with their bowling, no way was he going to give his wicket away.
I always dreamed of owning a pub in Kent overlooking a village cricket pitch. I would have called it “Caught Knott Bowled Underwood.” RIP…..Deadly…..RIP.
Truly sad moment. Deadly was a huge part of the Kent scene when I started going - I remember my dad telling me about him the first time I saw him (Sunday league JPS) and you always expected wickets. RIP Derek.
One of my heroes from when I started watching cricket, his stats are still impressive, given DRS and the number of test matches now he'd probably have had hundreds more wickets.
He was also a reasonable tail end batsman, and very brave, you had to be going in as night watchman v Holding and Roberts et al.
Posted this before, but it's well worth another look.
He played in the very first cricket match I went to - day two of the 5th Test, England v The West Indies at The Oval in August 76.
3/165 off 60 overs as we were battered by Richards & Lloyd - in my minds eye I can still see him wheeling in against those Windies legends on a hot summer afternoon nearly 50 years ado. RIP
Comments
One of my childhood heroes
RIP Deadly
Lots of people are called legends these days, but Underwood was a true great.
RIP.
Sleep tight, Derek x
(From Lords.org).
He was the leading spin bowler in England for two decades, forming a deadly combination with wicket-keeper Alan Knott both at Test and county level. A precocious talent, he took 100 wickets for Kent in 1963 at the age of 17, the youngest to do so in first-class cricket. He captured his 1,000th first-class wicket aged just 25, and took 1,000 wickets in a season 10 times, notably 157 in 1966. He was the leading bowler in England on four occasions: 1966, 1967, 1978 and 1979. In nine Test Matches at Lord’s, he took 38 wickets at 16.92, claiming four five-wicket hauls and becoming the only bowler in history to take 10 wickets in a Test Match at Lord’s twice. His first Test at the Home of Cricket was against Australia in 1968, when he bowled a wonderful spell of 18-15-8-2 as England pressed for an unlikely victory. The following year he succeeded in bowling England to victory against New Zealand with figures of 31-18-32-7, part of an 11-wicket match haul. He did better still against Pakistan in 1974; hauls of 5 for 20 and 8 for 51 bringing him match figures of 13 for 71, the third best in Lord’s history.
(From Wisden.com)
Minutes to spare and Derek mops up with 4/6 in 27 deliveries in the Oval test 1968 v Australia.
May he RIP ♥️
I would have called it “Caught Knott Bowled Underwood.”
RIP…..Deadly…..RIP.
RIP Derek.
RIP Derek you were a true cricketing great.
He was also a reasonable tail end batsman, and very brave, you had to be going in as night watchman v Holding and Roberts et al.
Posted this before, but it's well worth another look.
https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1226514/deadly-venom--the-terror-of-derek-underwood
RIP deadly.
RIP Deadly.
Wonderful bowler.
RIP Derek.