Ian Ward (cricketer)
{{short description|English cricketer and commentator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Ian Ward
| image =
| country = England
| fullname = Ian James Ward
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|09|30}}
| birth_place = Plymouth, Devon,
| nickname = Stumpy, The Chimp, The Gnome, Cocker
| heightft = 5
| heightinch = 8
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| international = true
| testdebutdate = 17 May
| testdebutyear = 2001
| testdebutagainst = Pakistan
| testcap = 605
| lasttestdate = 2 August
| lasttestyear = 2001
| lasttestagainst = Australia
| club1 = Surrey
| year1 = 1992
| club2 = Surrey
| year2 = {{nowrap|1997–2003}}
| club3 = Sussex
| year3 = 2004–2005
| columns = 4
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 5
| runs1 = 129
| bat avg1 = 16.12
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 39
| deliveries1 = –
| wickets1 = –
| bowl avg1 = –
| fivefor1 = –
| tenfor1 = –
| best bowling1 = –
| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–
| column2 = FC
| matches2 = 138
| runs2 = 8,575
| bat avg2 = 40.25
| 100s/50s2 = 23/43
| top score2 = 168*
| deliveries2 = 319
| wickets2 = 3
| bowl avg2 = 65.66
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 1/1
| catches/stumpings2 = 72/–
| column3 = LA
| matches3 = 160
| runs3 = 4,059
| bat avg3 = 28.99
| 100s/50s3 = 2/27
| top score3 = 136
| deliveries3 = 149
| wickets3 = 2
| bowl avg3 = 90.50
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 2/27
| catches/stumpings3 = 34/–
| column4 = T20
| matches4 = 18
| runs4 = 351
| bat avg4 = 23.40
| 100s/50s4 = 0/2
| top score4 = 50
| deliveries4 = –
| wickets4 = –
| bowl avg4 = –
| fivefor4 = –
| tenfor4 = –
| best bowling4 = –
| catches/stumpings4 = 4/–
| date = 14 July
| year = 2020
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/22301.html Cricinfo
}}
Ian James Ward (born 30 September 1972){{Cite web|title=Ian Ward|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/22301.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Cricinfo}} is a British broadcaster and former professional cricketer. A left-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium bowler for Surrey and Sussex, Ward played 5 times for the England Test team all in 2001 under the captaincy of future Sky sports colleague Nasser Hussain.{{Cite web |title=Ian Ward |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/22301.html |access-date=2020-07-13 |website=Cricinfo}} Since retiring from professional cricket in 2005, he has worked for Sky Sports as a cricket commentator and presenter.{{Cite web|title=Ian Ward announces retirement {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23071904/ian-ward-announces-retirement|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}}
Early life
Playing career
Ward made his professional debut for Surrey in 1992, but was released by the county at the end of the 1992 season, aged 20.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}} Without a county for the following five years, he worked as a petrol station attendant, barman and aircraft cleaner, while continuing to play club cricket.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}} In 1997, Ward rejoined Surrey, becoming part of the side that won the County Championship three times between 1999 and 2002.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}} His form for Surrey earned him a call-up to the 2000-01 England A tour of the West Indies where he scored 689 runs at an average of 68.90, including three centuries.{{Cite web|title=Ian Ward|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/22301.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Cricinfo}}{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}}
He made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lord's in 2001, scoring 39 runs in an England victory by an innings and 9 runs. Ward struggled in his second Test, scoring only 12 and 10 runs in a 108 run defeat to Pakistan at Old Trafford.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of Pakistan vs England 2nd Test 2001 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15536/scorecard/63933/england-vs-pakistan-2nd-test-pakistan-tour-of-england-2001|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}} He retained his place, however, for the beginning of the 2001 Ashes series against Australia.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 1st Test 2001 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15533/scorecard/63936/england-vs-australia-1st-test-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2001|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}} Ward made 23 and 3 runs in the first Test of the series at Edgbaston, before scoring 23* and a duck in the second Test at Lord's.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 1st Test 2001 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15533/scorecard/63936/england-vs-australia-1st-test-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2001|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 2nd Test 2001 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15533/scorecard/63937/england-vs-australia-2nd-test-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2001|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}} His final Test appearance came in the third match of the 2001 Ashes series at Trent Bridge, scoring 6 and 13 runs.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 3rd Test 2001 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15533/scorecard/63938/england-vs-australia-3rd-test-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2001|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}} England lost the Test by 7 wickets, which meant Australia retained The Ashes with two Tests to spare.{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 3rd Test 2001 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15533/scorecard/63938/england-vs-australia-3rd-test-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2001|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}}
Having scored 6,923 runs for Surrey at an average of 40.01, including 17 centuries, Ward left the county for a second time in 2003, opting to join Northumberland for the 2004 season.{{Cite news|date=2003-09-30|title=Ward joins Sussex|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/counties/sussex/3152938.stm|access-date=2020-07-13}}{{Cite news|last=Weaver|first=Paul|date=2004-04-16|title=Cricket: Interview with Ian Ward|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/apr/16/cricket.sussexccc|issn=0261-3077}} After scoring a further 6 centuries across two seasons, he announced his retirement from professional cricket in 2005, in order to pursue a career in broadcasting.{{Cite web|title=Ian Ward announces retirement {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23071904/ian-ward-announces-retirement|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.espncricinfo.com|language=en}}
Broadcasting career
Ward first worked for Sky Sports during its coverage of the 2001 England tour of Sri Lanka.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}} Yet to make his Test debut at the time, he was employed at short notice upon the recommendation of Mark Butcher, the England batsmen and teammate of Ward at Surrey.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}}
After his retirement from professional cricket in 2005, Ward sought to forge a full-time career in broadcasting.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}} A brief stint as an anchor on Sky Sports News followed, as did increasingly frequent appearances on Sky Sports' cricket coverage.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-13|website=The Independent|language=en}} By the 2013 Ashes series, Ward had become an integral part of cricket coverage on Sky Sports. During that series, he anchored coverage from the 'Ashes Zone', which, drawing upon his professional cricket experience, saw Ward and guests perform detailed technical analysis.{{Cite news|last=Weaver|first=Paul|date=2004-04-16|title=Cricket: Interview with Ian Ward|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2004/apr/16/cricket.sussexccc|issn=0261-3077}}
Following the 2013 Ashes series, Ward's prominence on Sky Sports' cricket coverage continued to increase, with Ward regularly presenting One Day International and Twenty20 International matches, as well as overseas tours, in lieu of David Gower, the primary presenter of international cricket on Sky Sports. In 2019, Ward presented coverage of the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Sky Sports, and was one of only six British commentators to be heard on global broadcast coverage of the tournament.{{Cite web|title=ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 announces most advanced Cricket World Cup coverage to date|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1221576|access-date=2020-07-14|website=www.icc-cricket.com|language=en}}
In 2020, Ward succeeded Gower as the primary presenter of international cricket on Sky Sports.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-05|title=Ian Ward's journey from cleaning aircraft to cricket's favourite presenter|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ian-ward-sky-sports-cricket-presenter-country-a9550516.html|access-date=2020-07-14|website=The Independent|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Ian}}
Category:England Test cricketers
Category:English cricket commentators