# Colin Milburn

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**Colin Milburn** (23 October 1941 – 28 February 1990)[1] was an English [cricketer](/source/Cricket), who played in nine [Test matches](/source/Test_cricket) for [England](/source/England_cricket_team), before an accident led to the loss of much of his sight and prompted his retirement.

Cricket writer Colin Bateman commented, "he was a clean, natural hitter of the ball who had an infectious zest for the game and life". Bateman added, "he hit the ball with the strength of a lumberjack and he had the courage of a lion, but he was no [Neanderthal](/source/Neanderthal) clubber".[1]

## Early life

Milburn was born in [Burnopfield](/source/Burnopfield), [County Durham](/source/County_Durham).[1] His father, a local tradesman, was a noted [professional](/source/Professional_sports) player in [Tyneside](/source/Tyneside) [league](/source/Sports_league) cricket. The young Colin showed exceptional talent at the game, making his first-team debut at the age of thirteen. As a seventeen-year-old school pupil, he made his debut for [Durham](/source/Durham_County_Cricket_Club) (then still a [Minor county](/source/Minor_counties_of_English_and_Welsh_cricket)) in 1959, against the touring [Indian](/source/Indian_national_cricket_team) team. Playing at [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland,_Tyne_and_Wear), Milburn scored a dynamic century, which brought him to the attention of the [first-class](/source/First-class_cricket) counties. He dedicated the century to his school friend Stuart Turner, stating "that was for you Stu".[1]

Milburn obtained seven O-levels from school in 1958 and went half-way through his A-levels when he left school for a cricket career. Milburn's mother wanted him to go to Teacher Training College before taking up cricket.[2]

## First-class career

In 1960, Milburn signed for [Northamptonshire](/source/Northamptonshire_County_Cricket_Club) because they offered 10 [shillings](/source/Shilling_(British_coin)) a week more than [Warwickshire](/source/Warwickshire_County_Cricket_Club).[3] He soon made a name for himself with his forceful strokeplay and useful medium-paced [bowling](/source/Bowling_(cricket)), backed up by a larger-than-life, gregarious and convivial personality. By 1963 he was being talked about for the England team, but an indifferent game for [Marylebone Cricket Club](/source/Marylebone_Cricket_Club) (MCC) against [Frank Worrell](/source/Frank_Worrell)'s [West Indians](/source/West_Indian_national_cricket_team) meant he was passed over. He also taught PE during the off season at Cherry Orchard SM School in Northampton, just about a mile from the site of his later accident.

## Test career

Milburn had a reputation as an all-or-nothing batsman, sparkling centuries alternating with indifferent scores, but by 1966 he had forced himself back into the Test reckoning. Selected for the First Test against the West Indies, he had the most ignominious start for an opener, run out for a first-[innings](/source/Innings) duck.[1] He redeemed himself with 94 in the second innings as England went down to a heavy defeat. An aggressive century (126 not out) helped England to draw the Second Test, and despite standing up courageously to the formidable [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean) pace attack in the following matches, he was dropped for the final Test, supposedly because his bulk hindered his mobility in the field.[1] Milburn's riposte was typical of the man, an innings of 203 for Northamptonshire against [Essex](/source/Essex_County_Cricket_Club). His swashbuckling season earned him a nomination as one of *[Wisden's](/source/Wisden_Cricketers'_Almanack)* [Cricketers of the Year](/source/Wisden_Cricketers_of_the_Year) in the 1967 edition.

That winter Milburn travelled to [Australia](/source/Australia), where he played [Sheffield Shield](/source/Pura_Cup) cricket for [Western Australia](/source/Western_Warriors).[1] He played two Tests in 1967, scoring 40 against India and 32 against [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan_national_cricket_team) in 1967,[4] and was selected to tour the West Indies in the winter, where he was much more successful off the field than on. He was picked for the [Lord's](/source/Lord's) Test against [Australia](/source/Australia_national_cricket_team) in 1968, scoring 83, mostly before lunch on the second day, almost all of the first being lost to rain. He had been listed to bat at number six, but was sent in with an aggressive move by England at the fall of the first wicket. The fact that he was an experienced opener was presumably a factor, the first wicket falling quite early. Milburn returned to [Perth](/source/Perth), where he enjoyed a prolific season for Western Australia.[1] The highlight was an innings of 243 against [Queensland](/source/Queensland_Bulls) in [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane), where he scored 181 runs between lunch and tea.[5] Milburn was called up in an emergency to reinforce the MCC touring party in Pakistan. He scored a spectacular 139 in the [Karachi](/source/Karachi) Test in March 1969, before it was abandoned because of rioting.[1] It was his highest Test score in what would prove to be his final Test innings.[1]

## Injury and retirement

Returning to [Northampton](/source/Northampton) for the 1969 season, Milburn started out with 158 against [Leicestershire](/source/Leicestershire_County_Cricket_Club). On 23 May, he was returning home when he was involved in a motor accident. This cost him the sight of his left eye, the lead eye for a right-handed batsman. His right eye was also damaged.[1] Taking as an example the [Nawab of Pataudi](/source/Mansoor_Ali_Khan_Pataudi), who had resumed his career after suffering eye damage, Milburn harboured thoughts of a comeback. On 8 January 1971, *[The Times](/source/The_Times)* reported his retirement, but Milburn did return in 1973 and 1974.[1] However, he was a shadow of his former self, and these games did little beyond reducing his career [batting average](/source/Batting_average_(cricket)).

## After cricket

Milburn continued in league cricket, and went into the world of coaching youngsters, after dinner speaking, public appearances and radio commentary. However, on 28 February 1990, he collapsed with a [heart attack](/source/Myocardial_infarction) in [Newton Aycliffe](/source/Newton_Aycliffe) and died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.[1] His funeral was attended by hundreds, including ex-players and fans, with [Ian Botham](/source/Ian_Botham) one of the [pallbearers](/source/Pallbearer). [Nicknamed](/source/Nickname) "Ollie" in reference to [Oliver Hardy](/source/Oliver_Hardy). Milburn never married. He is buried at Burnopfield.

He was a subject of the television programme *[This Is Your Life](/source/This_Is_Your_Life_(British_TV_series))* in April 1970.

## References

1. Bateman, Colin (1993). [*If The Cap Fits*](https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/122). Tony Williams Publications. pp. [122–123](https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/122). ISBN 1-869833-21-X.

1. ["Watch Colin Milburn online"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170116140535/http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-colin-milburn-1977/). Archived from [the original](http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-colin-milburn-1977/) on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2016.

1. [Colin Milburn - An Indomitable Spirit](http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/146414.html), Cricinfo, Retrieved on 29 March 2009

1. ["Colin MILBURN - International Test cricket Career. - England"](http://www.sporting-heroes.net/). *Sporting Heroes*. Retrieved 2025-10-11.

1. Sengupta, Arunabha (22 November 2012). ["Colin Milburn: An English 'sumo wrestler' scores 181 runs in a session in Australia!"](http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/colin-milburn-an-english-sumo-wrestler-scores-181-runs-in-a-session-in-australia-19980). *www.cricketcountry.com*. Retrieved 23 January 2015.

## External links

- [Oxford Dictionary of National Biography entry on Milburn. This differs in some details from the accounts in Wisden and Cricinfo.](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/64625)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colin Milburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Milburn) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Milburn?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.