Ron Headley
CountryWest Indies
FullnameRonald George Alphonso Headley
Birth date29 June 1939 (age 87)
Birth placeKingston, Colony of Jamaica
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingLeg break
FamilyGeorge Headley (father)
Dean Headley (son)
Oneoditrue
Internationaltrue
Testdebutdate26 July
Testdebutyear1973
TestdebutagainstEngland
Testcap147
Lasttestdate9 August
Lasttestyear1973
LasttestagainstEngland
Odidebutdate7 September
Odidebutyear1973
OdidebutagainstEngland
Odicap12
Lastodidate7 September
Lastodiyear1973
LastodiagainstEngland
Club 1Worcestershire
Year 11958–1974
Club 2Jamaica
Year 21965–1974
Club 3Derbyshire
Year 31975–1976
Columns4
Column 1Tests
Matches 12
Runs 162
Bat avg 115.50
100s/50s 10/0
Top score 142
Deliveries 10
Wickets 1
Bowl avg 1
Fivefor 1
Tenfor 1
Best bowling 1
Catches/stumpings 12/–
Column 2ODIs
Matches 21
Runs 219
Bat avg 219.00
100s/50s 20/0
Top score 219
Deliveries 20
Wickets 2
Bowl avg 2
Fivefor 2
Tenfor 2
Best bowling 2
Catches/stumpings 20/–
Column 3FC
Matches 3423
Runs 321,695
Bat avg 331.12
100s/50s 332/117
Top score 3187
Deliveries 31,232
Wickets 312
Bowl avg 349.00
Fivefor 30
Tenfor 30
Best bowling 34/40
Catches/stumpings 3356/–
Column 4LA
Matches 4162
Runs 44,788
Bat avg 432.35
100s/50s 42/30
Top score 4132
Deliveries 40
Wickets 4
Bowl avg 4
Fivefor 4
Tenfor 4

Ronald George Alphonso Headley (born 29 June 1939) is a former Jamaican cricketer who played in two Tests and one ODI in 1973. An opening batsman, in first-class cricket he scored 21,695 runs at an average of 31.12, with 32 hundreds and a highest score of 187.

Headley moved to England at age 11: his father George Headley, who played 22 Tests for West Indies, was the professional at Dudley Cricket Club.[1] He spent most of his career in England, playing for Worcestershire from 1958 to 1974. He was capped by the county in 1961, and was awarded a benefit season in 1972 which raised just over £10,000.[2] In 1971 he scored 187 and 108 against Northamptonshire, becoming the first Worcestershire player to score a century in both innings of a first-class match since Edwin Cooper in 1946.[3]

Headley was eligible to play for England: indeed, his father discouraged him from playing for the West Indies because he believed that the West Indies Board treated their players badly. But in 1973, following an injury to Steve Camacho, Headley was co-opted from Worcestershire into the West Indies touring team.[4] He played seven first-class matches for the West Indians, including the first and second matches of a three-match Test series. His 42 in the second innings of the first match was his highest Test score. He also played in the second of two One Day International matches for the Prudential Trophy.

After retiring from playing, Headley went into coaching.

His son Dean Headley played 15 Tests and 13 ODIs for England. This was the first case of three consecutive generations of the same family (George, Ron and Dean Headley) playing Test cricket.

Notes

  1. ^ Longmore, Andrew (23 October 2011). "In the name of the father". The Independent. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Ron Headley". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  3. ^ Green, Benny (ed.) (1983). "The County Matches – Worcestershire". Wisden Anthology 1963–1982. Queen Anne Press. p. 491.
  4. ^ "West Indies in England, 1973". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Wisden. 1974. pp. 327–354.