Alex Loudon
{{short description|English cricketer}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Alex Loudon
| image =
| country = England
| fullname = Alexander Guy Rushworth Loudon
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|9|6|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Westminster, London, England
| heightft = 6
| heightinch = 3
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right arm off break
| family = Hugo Loudon (brother)
| international = true
| oneodi = true
| odidebutdate = 24 June
| odidebutyear = 2006
| odidebutagainst = Sri Lanka
| odicap = 195
| club1 = Durham UCCE
| year1 = 2001–2003
| club2 = Kent
| year2 = 2003–2004
| club3 = Warwickshire
| year3 = 2005–2007
| columns = 4
| column1 = ODI
| matches1 = 1
| runs1 = 0
| bat avg1 = 0.00
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 0
| deliveries1 = 36
| wickets1 = 0
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 0/–
| column2 = FC
| matches2 = 76
| runs2 = 3,594
| bat avg2 = 31.25
| 100s/50s2 = 5/20
| top score2 = 172
| deliveries2 = 8,381
| wickets2 = 116
| bowl avg2 = 39.75
| fivefor2 = 7
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 6/47
| catches/stumpings2 = 52/–
| column3 = LA
| matches3 = 77
| runs3 = 1,312
| bat avg3 = 23.42
| 100s/50s3 = 0/8
| top score3 = 73*
| deliveries3 = 2,199
| wickets3 = 44
| bowl avg3 = 40.43
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 4/48
| catches/stumpings3 = 29/–
| column4 = T20
| matches4 = 25
| runs4 = 222
| bat avg4 = 10.57
| 100s/50s4 = 0/0
| top score4 = 27
| deliveries4 = 270
| wickets4 = 20
| bowl avg4 = 16.35
| fivefor4 = 1
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 5/33
| catches/stumpings4 = 12/–
| date = 15 February
| year = 2010
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/16388.html CricInfo
}}
Alexander Guy Rushworth Loudon (born 6 September 1980) is an English former professional cricketer. A right-handed batsman and off spin bowler, he was considered a promising future international player.
Early life
Raised in the family home at Olantigh near Wye, Kent, Loudon was educated at Wellesley House School and Eton College, where he was President of the Eton Society. There he captained the 1st XI, and subsequently the Durham University 1st XIDavid Fulton: {{cite web| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/counties/article1887369.ece| title = One to watch – Alex Loudon}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} In: The Times 7 June 2007 while studying at Collingwood College, and captained both the England Under-15 and England Under-19 teams. He was awarded the NBC Denis Compton Award in 1999.
Cricket career
He started his professional career at Kent before moving to Warwickshire in 2005. Initially known for his batting, in later years he worked hard to improve his bowling, gaining recognition as an all-rounder. An off spin bowler, he was reported to be working on the doosra, the much-discussed variation ball which turns the other way, although by his own admission his technique was still at an inconsistent stage.
Loudon was selected for the 17-man Test squad to tour Pakistan in autumn 2005, when England were looking for a second spinner in addition to Ashley Giles. However, he was not called upon to play.
He was subsequently called up as a part of the 15-man squad for the One Day Internationals versus Sri Lanka in June 2006, playing a solitary game. He took 0/36 off 6 overs and was run out without facing a ball. He was not selected for either the Test or One Day legs of England's tour to Australia the following winter.
Retirement
On 19 October 2007, Loudon announced his retirement from cricket to pursue a business career.{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/warwickshire/7052372.stm| title = Cricket {{!}} Counties {{!}} Warwickshire {{!}} Warwickshire's Loudon ends career| work = BBC Sport| archive-date = 21 October 2007| access-date = 21 November 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071021042356/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/warwickshire/7052372.stm| url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1094742.html |title=Pilots, tenors and administrators |accessdate=26 April 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}} In 2008, Loudon enrolled in the full-time MBA programme at the London Business School. As of 2017, he was a partner in investment firm Abercross Holdings.{{cite web| url = https://www.businessinsider.com/interview-with-former-professional-cricketer-alex-loudon-2017-7?r=UK| title = Interview With Former Professional Cricketer Alex Loudon| website = Business Insider| access-date = 18 August 2020| archive-date = 7 October 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221007065059/https://www.businessinsider.com/interview-with-former-professional-cricketer-alex-loudon-2017-7?r=UK| url-status = live}}
Personal life
Loudon attracted significant media attention in 2011, when he was dating Pippa Middleton, although the duo subsequently broke up.{{cite web| url = https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/pippa-middletons-boyfriend-alex-loudon-things/story?id=13539805| title = Pippa Middleton's Boyfriend Alex Loudon: Five Things to Know - ABC News| website = ABC News| access-date = 18 August 2020| archive-date = 11 November 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232357/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/pippa-middletons-boyfriend-alex-loudon-things/story?id=13539805| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pippa-middleton-and-alex-loudon-why-they-split/| title = Pippa Middleton and Alex Loudon: Why they split - CBS News| website = CBS News| access-date = 18 August 2020| archive-date = 7 March 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210307033025/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pippa-middleton-and-alex-loudon-why-they-split/| url-status = live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{ESPNcricinfo|id=16388}}
- Angus Fraser: [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/alex-loudon-richly-talented-500040.html Alex Loudon: Richly talented] In: The Independent, 23 April 2005
{{DEFAULTSORT:Loudon, Alex}}
Category:England One Day International cricketers
Category:Warwickshire cricketers
Category:Alumni of Collingwood College, Durham
Category:Alumni of London Business School
Category:Durham MCCU cricketers
Category:People educated at Eton College
Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers
Category:Kent Cricket Board cricketers
Category:NBC Denis Compton Award recipients