Alex Tudor
{{short description|English cricketer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Alex Tudor
| image = Alex Tudor.jpg
| country = England
| fullname = Alex Jeremy Tudor
| nickname = Big Al, Tudes
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|10|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Kensington, London, England
| heightft = 6
| heightinch = 5
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm fast
| role = Bowler
| family =
| international = true
| testdebutdate = 28 November
| testdebutyear = 1998
| testdebutagainst = Australia
| testcap = 592
| lasttestdate = 29 November
| lasttestyear = 2002
| lasttestagainst = Australia
| odidebutdate = 7 July
| odidebutyear = 2002
| odidebutagainst = Sri Lanka
| odicap = 169
| lastodidate = 13 July
| lastodiyear = 2002
| lastodiagainst = India
| odishirt =
| club3 = Surrey
| year3 = 2008–2009
| club2 = Essex
| year2 = 2005–2008
| club1 = Surrey
| year1 = 1995–2005
| columns = 4
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 10
| runs1 = 229
| bat avg1 = 19.08
| 100s/50s1 = 0/1
| top score1 = 99*
| deliveries1 = 1,512
| wickets1 = 28
| bowl avg1 = 34.39
| fivefor1 = 1
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 5/44
| catches/stumpings1 = 3/–
| column2 = ODI
| matches2 = 3
| runs2 = 9
| bat avg2 = 9.00
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 6
| deliveries2 = 127
| wickets2 = 4
| bowl avg2 = 34.00
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 2/30
| catches/stumpings2 = 1/–
| column3 = FC
| matches3 = 129
| runs3 = 2,960
| bat avg3 = 21.92
| 100s/50s3 = 2/9
| top score3 = 144
| deliveries3 = 18,191
| wickets3 = 351
| bowl avg3 = 31.40
| fivefor3 = 14
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 7/48
| catches/stumpings3 = 36/–
| column4 = LA
| matches4 = 82
| runs4 = 470
| bat avg4 = 12.05
| 100s/50s4 = 0/1
| top score4 = 56
| deliveries4 = 3,451
| wickets4 = 111
| bowl avg4 = 25.09
| fivefor4 = 0
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 4/26
| catches/stumpings4 = 23/–
| date = 31 October
| year = 2009
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21607.html ESPNcricinfo
}}
Alex Jeremy Tudor (born 23 October 1977) is an English former professional cricketer who spent two spells with Surrey County Cricket Club as well as playing for Essex. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler. He was twice awarded the NBC Denis Compton Award during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. A highly talented performer with bat and ball, his career was hampered by frequent injury trouble.
Playing career
Tudor's Test debut came in the 1998/99 Ashes series in which he played solidly with the bat and further impressed selectors while bowling, winning the praise of his opponents, in particular Australia's captain Mark Taylor. His further contributions with the bat were the subject of much attention as he batted against New Zealand and hit 99 not out, the highest-ever score by an English nightwatchman, which led him towards a Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year award;{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21607.html|title=Alex Tudor Player Profile|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=15 January 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090227160642/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21607.html| archivedate= 27 February 2009 | url-status= live}} batting partner Graham Thorpe received much ribbing from their Surrey teammates for not letting him reach a century.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/cricket/Tudor-enthrals-tale-99-England/article-1089325-detail/article.html|title=Tudor enthrals with tale of 99 for England|publisher=This Is Croydon|accessdate=19 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822205244/http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/cricket/Tudor-enthrals-tale-99-England/article-1089325-detail/article.html|archive-date=22 August 2010|url-status=dead}}
Recalled to the England cricket team for the third Test at Nottingham against Australia in 2001, he took his best Test innings bowling figures, 5/44, but England lost the match, thereby confirming a seventh successive Ashes series defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2001-61345/england-vs-australia-3rd-test-63938/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia, 3rd Test 2001|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 June 2022}} The following year, recalled to the Test team again, he took his best match figures in a Test match, 7/109, winning the man of the match award in a victory at Manchester against Sri Lanka.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/sri-lanka-tour-of-england-2002-61596/england-vs-sri-lanka-3rd-test-63992/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 June 2022}} However two less successful Tests against India followed.
Initial omission from the 2002/03 Ashes squad was over-ruled when he was selected above several injured players. But he only appeared in the third Test at Perth, which confirmed another Ashes defeat, his tour also ending in injury as he was forced to retire hurt when batting after being struck by a delivery from Brett Lee.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-2002-03-61708/australia-vs-england-3rd-test-64011/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia, 3rd Test 2002/3|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 June 2022}} This, his tenth Test, proved to be his last international appearance. He had also played three One Day Internationals in 2002, but his One Day International career also ended in disappointment as England narrowly lost the 2002 NatWest Series final to India at Lord's.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/natwest-series-2002-61110/england-vs-india-final-66292/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of England vs India, Final 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 June 2022}}
Injuries in 2003 and 2004 followed, and despite his recovery being aided by visits to the German doctor Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, Tudor was released from his contract by Surrey at the end of the 2004 season. Essex gave him the chance to continue playing first-class cricket the following season, but it was to be another year blighted by injury. He managed to return to action in 2006, playing almost the full season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/domestic/fresh-start-for-essex-new-boy,3819,EN.html |title=Tudor back to full fitness |access-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520125430/http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/domestic/fresh-start-for-essex-new-boy,3819,EN.html |archive-date=20 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}
In August 2008, after a season in which he had failed to hold down a regular place in the Essex side, the county announced that they would be releasing Tudor at the end of the season. Later that month, he returned to Surrey, initially as part of a loan deal.[http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/domestic/counties/essex/essex-agree-to-let-tudor-go,301606,EN.html Essex agree to let Tudor go] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520125532/http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/domestic/counties/essex/essex-agree-to-let-tudor-go,301606,EN.html |date=20 May 2011 }} from the ECB, retrieved 14 January 2009 He rejoined Surrey on 24 October 2008, and spent one final season there, before retiring from county cricket at the end of 2009.
He holds the distinction of bowling one of the most expensive overs on record. Bowling for Surrey against Andrew Flintoff at Old Trafford in 1998 he went for 6–4–4–4–4–6–6–0 (34) and in bowling 2 no balls incurred, under ECB regulations at the time, four more penalty runs for a total of 38 runs in one over.
Alex continued to play for Nottingham's West Indian Cavaliers CC until 2012 but later rejoined his boyhood side of Spencer CC in London. Along with playing PCA (of which he is an ambassador) and charity games. Alex runs his own successful company Alex Tudor Coaching. He has been active in Surrey's African-Caribbean Engagement (ACE) Programme, aimed at encouraging black teenagers into cricket.
Tudor currently coaches cricket at Kimbolton School, an independent school in the Cambridgeshire countryside. Tudor also had a role in the first episode of the Freddie Flintoff documentary Field of Dreams coaching novice cricketers in the Preston region, his involvement was limited however and his contributions in later episodes were less regular.
Personal life
Born in England, Tudor is of Barbadian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://i.imgci.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2001/JAN/072646_NATION_24JAN2001.html|title=Two England A lads have Barbados roots|website=i.imgci.com}} He is married to wife Mel, a serving police officer. Tudor is also fan of English football team Queens Park Rangers.{{Cite web |last=Rostron-Pike |first=Nick |date=2012-03-20 |title=Alex Tudor on Surrey, England and QPR |url=https://talksport.com/uncategorized/242556/alex-tudor-surrey-england-and-qpr/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=talkSPORT}}{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Clare |date=6 July 2021 |title=Former England cricketer Alex Tudor takes on charity challenge in Kimbolton |url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/22957550.former-england-cricketer-alex-tudor-takes-charity-challenge-kimbolton/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The Hunts Post}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{ESPNcricinfo|id=21607}}
- [http://alextudor-coaching.co.uk/content/home.php Alex Tudor Coaching] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218064320/http://alextudor-coaching.co.uk/content/home.php |date=18 December 2012 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tudor, Alex}}
Category:England One Day International cricketers
Category:England Test cricketers
Category:English people of Barbadian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Barbadian descent
Category:NBC Denis Compton Award recipients
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:Cricketers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea