Dean Headley

Dean Warren Headley (born 27 January 1970) is a former English professional cricketer who played as a right-arm fast bowler for the England cricket team. Domestically he played for Middlesex and Kent County Cricket Clubs. Headley is now an ECB match referee and the current director of cricket at Blundell's School.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Playing career

Headley was born in Stourbridge and comes from a famous cricketing family, being the son of Ron Headley and grandson of George Headley. He was the first Test cricketer to be both the son and grandson of Test cricketers. He was educated at Old Swinford Hospital and then Royal Grammar School Worcester where he excelled at rugby union and cricket.

He played for Worcestershire's second team in 1989, and played as a professional for Leycett Cricket Club<ref name="Interview"/> based in Leycett just outside Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, but his senior debut was in 1991 after he had moved to Middlesex. Clive Lloyd helped him a lot in those early years.<ref name="Interview"/> In 1993 he moved counties again, this time to Kent. Whilst at Kent he was selected for England, playing Test and ODI cricket between 1996 and 1999. One of his greatest moments was when he won the Man of the Match award for his performance in the 4th Ashes Test in 1998 at Melbourne: Australia was making light work of chasing a target of 175, before Headley took four wickets in three overs to reduce Australia from 130/3 to 140/7; he finished with 6/60 in the innings and England won by 12 runs, their only Test victory on that tour.<ref name="in Melbourne">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Australia v England, 4th Test, 1999-12-29, CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2 September 2008.</ref> Due to injury he retired from cricket in 2001.

He played club cricket for Upchurch Cricket Club in Upchurch, Kent and worked as a cricket coach at Stamford School.<ref name="Interview">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />

World record

On 14 September 1996, Dean Headley equalled a world record by taking three hat-tricks in a single English county season. He achieved this feat against Hampshire in Canterbury. He equalled the world record earlier set by Charlie Parker in 1924 and J.S. Rao in 1963–64.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

The father of three children, Headley enjoys rugby, football, hockey, and golf in his spare time.<ref name=":0" /> He's also a fan of English football side West Bromwich Albion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:ESPNcricinfo