Douglas Vivian Parson Wright (1914 - 1998)
Doug Wright, the only leg-spinner to take 100 Test wickets for
England, died last Friday aged 84. Despite an international bowling
average of 39, he was regarded as one of the most unplayable of
England bowlers immediately before and after World War Two.
Douglas Vivian Parson Wright made his first appearance for Kent in
1932, but it wasn't until the retirement of another legendary Kent
leggie, A.P.(Tich) Freeman, that he established himself in the county
side. In his first full season, 1937, he took 107 wickets. His rise to
England selection was swift, making his debut in the First Test of the
1938 series against Australia at Trent Bridge. After the interruption
for the War (in which he served in the British Army), his career
continued, including tours to Australia in 1946-47 and 1950-51.
Bradman had a lot of respect for Wright's bowling, but also took a lot
of runs off him.
When Wright played his last Test in New Zealand in 1951 he had taken
108 wickets in 34 Tests at 39.11 apiece. He took 10/175 for the match
in the Lord's Test against South Africa in 1947. His best innings
analysis was 7/105 against Australia at the SCG in 1946-47, including
the wicket of Bradman for 12.
An unusually fast bowler for a leg-spinner, almost a genuine
medium-pacer, Wright took 2056 wickets in all first-class matches at
23.98 by the time he played his last game in 1957. His seven
hat-tricks is more than anyone else has taken in their first-class
career.