In November’s issue of All Out Cricket – in shops on Thursday October 11 – former England wicketkeeper Jack Russell spoke to Jo Harman about the runs and catches that defined his distinguished career.
Check out the magazine for Jack’s top 10, but in the meantime here are two quick-as-a-flash stumpings he was particularly proud of that narrowly missed the cut.
The Championship Debut
Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire, County Championship, Northampton, 1982
“I made my Championship debut against Northamptonshire and I stumped David Steele off the part-time bowling of Barry Dudleston. Barry hardly ever bowled but he came on to bowl steady left-arm spin and Steele played forward but just fell out of his ground, right into the dust and I took the bails off. Whenever I see Barry nowadays we have a laugh about it. He claims he got me started in Championship cricket with that stumping.”
Hard Work Pays Off
Surrey v Gloucestershire, County Championship, The Oval, 1997
“I’d spent a couple of years working with Alan Knott on taking the ball that turned through the gate. Martyn Ball was bowling at Jason Ratcliffe at The Oval and this one turned so much it missed leg stump by another set of stumps. Fortunately Ratcliffe was a long way down and I managed to get the bails off. That was nice, because I’d spent two years waiting for that ball to come.”
To read Jack Russell’s Definitive Performances in full, pick up a copy of the November issue of All Out Cricket magazine, in shops on November 6.
