{{short description|English cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use British English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Mervyn Burden | image = Mervyn Burden in 1958.png | caption = Mervyn Burden in 1958 | country = England | fullname = Mervyn Derek Burden | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|10|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Southampton, Hampshire, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1987|11|9|1930|10|4|df=yes}} | death_place = Whitchurch, Hampshire, England | heightft = | heightinch = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm off-break | role = | club1 = Hampshire | year1 = {{nowrap|1953–1963}} | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 174 | runs1 = 901 | bat avg1 = 6.82 | 100s/50s1 = –/1 | top score1 = 51 | deliveries1 = 29,210 | wickets1 = 481 | bowl avg1 = 26.11 | fivefor1 = 23 | tenfor1 = 4 | best bowling1 = 8/38 | catches/stumpings1 = 76/– | date = 10 December | year = 2009 | source = http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/9298.html Cricinfo }}
'''Mervyn Derek Burden''' (4 October 1930 – 9 November 1987) was an English first-class cricketer.
==Early life== Burden was born at Southampton in October 1930, being educated there at King Edward VI School.<ref name="OBIT">{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228608.html|title=Wisden – Obituaries in 1987|date=5 December 2005 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref> The school was evacuated to Poole during the Second World War, where he excelled at football more than cricket. While practicing in the cricket nets at the Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft factory in March 1947, in order to maintain his fitness for football,<ref name="ARLOTT">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/johnarlottsbooko0000arlo|title=John Arlott's Book of Cricketers|first=John|last=Arlott|author-link=John Arlott|publisher=Sphere Books|location=London|pages=91–98|year=1982|isbn=9780722112779|language=en}}</ref> he was spotted by Hampshire coach Sam Staples and their captain and secretary Desmond Eagar, who recommended him for a trial at the County Ground.<ref name="HCH">{{cite web|url=https://hampshirecrickethistory.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/a-z-b21/|title=A–Z (B21)|date=7 November 2017 |publisher=www.hampshirecrickethistory.wordpress.com|access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref> He reportedly turned up to his trial with no pads or bat. Bowling medium pace, his first delivery of his trial (bowled at Neil McCorkell)<ref name="ARLOTT"/> flew over the nets without bouncing and shattered a dining-room window. His misfortune continued on the second day of his trial, when he was asked to assist groundsman Ernie Knights, having been struck on the ankle by a shot from Johnny Arnold, only to kick a bucket of whiting all over the square.<ref name="CULT">{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/229628.html|title=Hampshire cult heroes|first=Pat|last=Symes|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=December 2005|access-date=10 December 2009}}</ref> He subsequently spent two years on National Service.<ref name="HCH"/>
==Cricket career== Burden would eventually turn to off spin bowling following a discussion with Staples successor, Arthur Holt, about Hampshire's lack of a spin-bowler following a number of retirements.<ref name="HCH"/> He made his debut for Hampshire in first-class cricket against Worcestershire at Worcester in the 1953 County Championship, with him making a second appearance that season against Surrey.<ref name="FCM">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6512/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Mervyn Burden|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=1 March 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He established himself in the Hampshire side following a match against Leicestershire, in which he took figures of 7 for 48.<ref name="OBIT"/> He played regularly for Hampshire throughout the 1950s in partnership with fellow spinner Peter Sainsbury,<ref name="HCH"/> taking over fifty wickets in a season in 1955, 1957, and 1958.<ref name="FCBS">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6512/f_Bowling_by_Season.html|title=First-Class Bowling in Each Season by Mervyn Burden|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=1 March 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He received his county cap in 1955, the same season in which he took 70 wickets at an average of 21.75.<ref name="OBIT"/> Described as a genuine number eleven, he made one half century in 1960 when he came in as a nightwatchman against Warwickshire.<ref name="CULT"/> The following season, he played an important role in helping Hampshire win their first County Championship title, taking exactly fifty wickets at an average of 22.92;<ref name="FCBS"/> these included his career best bowling figures of 8 for 38 against Somerset at Bournemouth.<ref name="HCH"/> However, despite a successful season, he did not feature after July, with slow left-arm orthodox spinner Alan Wassell being preferred.<ref name="HCH"/> He returned to make seventeen appearances in 1962, taking 65 wickets, albeit at a higher average of 30.38.<ref name="FCBS"/> In 1963, he made just three appearances in the County Championship,<ref name="FCM"/> but did take 6 for 84 in his penultimate match against Gloucestershire.<ref name="HCH"/> He was subsequently released from his contract in August of that year to take up an appointment outside of cricket.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003330/19630801/191/0010|title=Hants' off-spinner released|work=Leicester Evening Mail|date=1 August 1963|access-date=2 March 2024|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> In 174 first-class matches, Burden took 481 wickets at an average of 26.11; he took 23 five wicket hauls and took ten-wickets in a match on four occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6512/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Mervyn Burden|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=2 March 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Burden was popular among both players and spectators and was included in a 2005 list of popular Hampshire cricket figures.<ref name="CULT"/> His obituary in ''Wisden'' declared, "The value of such a man is not to be estimated in figures."<ref name="OBIT"/> Tony Lewis said of him that "his humour was never extinguished by failure" and noted that John Arlott called Burden "salt of the cricketing earth".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DltxgSkbt6kC|title=Taking Fresh Guard|first=Tony|last=Lewis|author-link=Tony Lewis|publisher=Headline Publishing Group|location=London|page=103|year=2010|isbn=9780755361588|language=en}}</ref> Arlott himself devoted a chapter to Burden in his book, ''John Arlott's Book of Cricketers''.<ref name="ARLOTT"/> Burden died suddenly at Whitchurch on 9 November 1987, aged 57.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19871110/233/0028|title=Cricket: Mervyn Burden|work=Derby Daily Telegraph|date=10 November 1987|access-date=2 March 2024|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{cricinfo|id=9298}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burden, Mervyn}} Category:1930 births Category:1987 deaths Category:Cricketers from Southampton Category:People educated at King Edward VI School, Southampton Category:English cricketers Category:Hampshire cricketers Category:20th-century English sportsmen