020 8914 8966
020 8914 8966
Mike Gatting is a legendary England cricketer who played for over 20 years at Middlesex. He spent 14 years as their captain and remains on the Middlesex board of Directors to this day. Mike was also Middlesex’ Coach between the years1999 and 2000.
Early Days:
Playing both cricket and football, it was the football that came first. In his early teens Mike Gatting ended up as the reserve goalkeeper at Watford Football Club. At the age of 14 he tried out for Queens Park Rangers and also The Gunners (Arsenal). It was around then during his early football days, he was described as too short and overweight. This might have been the first time his weight and height came into question but it wasn’t the last. His size and height earned Mike a constant string of jokes throughout his career. Even after Mike took over as England cricket captain, he was described as The Fat Controller. That being said, Mike won a medal in his youth for Ballroom Dancing.
Mike eventually decided a long term football career was probably not on the cards. Apart from that, his younger brother Steve was to be the footballer of the Gatting family. Steve played for Arsenal and also Brighton Albion.
Cricket was the way forward for Mike Gatting and he became part of England’s Under 19’s team. In an England versus The West Indies game in 1976, Mike scored a century, becoming the first batsman to do so in a Youth One Day International debut.
Ouch!
Whilst playing against the West Indies in 1986, Mike was struck on the nose by a fast bowl from Malcom Marshall. Malcolm was later to be know as one of the best fast bowlers ever for the West Indies. It was a fierce delivery with Mike’s nose being described as “pulped“. Apparently, Malcolm found part of Mike’s nose bone embedded in the ball’s leather when he was handed it back.
Test Cricket in the 80’s and 90’s was fast and furious and Mike Gatting was one of the most successful England captains of his time. In 1987 Mike took England to the World Cup Final. He also was England captain, winning the Ashes in Australia (86/87).
The England Rebel Team:
Controversially, in 1990 Mike led a team of England cricketers to South Africa during the boycott by the International Cricket Council. This earned him a three year ban from Test Cricket.
Mike Gatting received an OBE for services to Cricket in 1987. He is also a former Cricketer of the Year.
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