Darren Flint

{{short description|English cricketer and cricket coach}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Darren Flint

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Darren Peter John Flint

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|6|14|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Basingstoke, Hampshire, England

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm orthodox

| club1 = Hampshire

| year1 = 1993–1995

| club2 = Wiltshire

| year2 = 1996

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 15

| runs1 = 72

| bat avg1 = 8.00

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 17*

| deliveries1 = 2,924

| wickets1 = 34

| bowl avg1 = 38.76

| fivefor1 = 1

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 5/32

| catches/stumpings1 = 8/–

| date = 11 December

| year = 2009

| source = http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/12858.html Cricinfo

}}

Darren Peter John Flint (born 14 June 1970) is a former English first-class cricketer and the current lead spin bowling coach at Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Flint was born at Basingstoke in June 1970. He was educated there at Cranbourne School, before attending Queen Mary's College. He made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Gloucestershire at Bristol in the 1993 County Championship.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4262/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Darren Flint|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 August 2023|url-access=subscription}} His debut was met with success, with Flint taking figures of 5 for 32 in Gloucestershire's second innings, and scoring an unbeaten single in Hampshire's second innings to help guide them to a one wicket victory.{{cite web|url=https://hampshirecrickethistory.wordpress.com/2017/12/21/a-z-f2/|title=A-Z (F2)|website=www.hampshirecrickethistory.wordpress.com|accessdate=21 August 2023}} Following his debut, he made a further nine appearances in the 1993 County Championship. Thereafter, he made just four further first-class appearances, playing twice in the 1994 County Championship and once in the 1995 County Championship. Noted as a promising young slow left-arm orthodox bowler, he took 34 wickets in his fifteen first-class matches at an average of 38.76; his best bowling figures remained those taken on debut.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4262/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Darren Flint|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 August 2023|url-access=subscription}} As a lower order batsman, he scored 72 runs with a highest score of 17 not out.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4262/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Darren Flint|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 August 2023|url-access=subscription}} Following his release by Hampshire, Flint played minor counties cricket for Wiltshire in 1996, playing eight Minor Counties Championship and three MCCA Knockout Trophy matches.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4262/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Darren Flint|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 August 2023|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/4/4262/Minor_Counties_Trophy_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Trophy Matches played by Darren Flint|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=21 August 2023|url-access=subscription}} He later played club cricket for Winchester in the Southern Cricket League, captaining the side in 1997.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004074/19970719/217/0018|title=Southern League|work=New Milton Advertiser|location=New Milton|page=7|date=19 July 1997|access-date=21 August 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}}

Flint is currently a member of the coaching staff at Hampshire, holding the position of lead spin bowling coach, overseeing the development of spin bowling up to and including the professional squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.ageasbowl.com/cricket/news/hampshire-pair-to-take-part-in-winter-coaching-courses/|title=Hampshire Pair to Take Part in Winter Coaching Courses|website=www.ageasbowl.com|date=29 September 2015|accessdate=21 August 2023}} Amongst those he has coached is the leg spinner Mason Crane.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/crane-s-emergence-invites-heady-expectations-922255|title=Crane's emergence invites heady expectations|first=Alan|last=Gardner|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=24 September 2015|accessdate=21 August 2023}} Prior to his appointment at the Rose Bowl, he coached cricket in North Hampshire.