12 Facts About Alan Castell

Alan Terry Castell was born on 6 August 1943 and is an English former cricketer who played for Hampshire between 1961 and 1971 at both first-class and List A level.

Alan Castell began his career as a leg-break and googly bowler, but later switched to medium-pace.

Alan Castell first came to the attention of Hampshire coach Arthur Holt as a leg break googly bowler while playing for an Oxford juniors team in 1959, who invited Castell to join the Hampshire staff without a trial.

Alan Castell made his debut for the Hampshire first eleven in a first-class match against Oxford University at Portsmouth in 1961.

Alan Castell appeared in the same fixture the following season, before making three appearances in the County Championship.

Notably, against Surrey he shared in a partnership of 230 for the ninth wicket with Danny Livingstone, which as of 2025 remains a Hampshire record for that wicket; Castell contributed 76 runs to the partnership, which would become his highest first-class score.

Alan Castell played infrequently for Hampshire in 1964 and 1965, failing to live up to the early promise his leg break bowling had shown; the Australian Bill Alley had suggested that Castell was more promising than Richie Benaud was at the same age.

Alan Castell reinvented himself as a right-arm medium pace bowling ahead of the 1966 season, in which he made eleven first-class appearances, taking 36 wickets at an average of 22.55, which included two five wicket hauls and what were, at that point, his career best bowling figures of 6 for 49.

Alan Castell made 22 first-class appearances in 1969, having his most successful season in terms of wickets, with 50 at an average of 25.90; amongst his three five wickets hauls that season were his career best figures of 6 for 22, taken against Somerset.

Alan Castell again featured in 21 first-class matches in 1970, taking 43 wickets at an average of 39.86.

Alan Castell left Hampshire at the end of the 1971 season to pursue a career in the alcoholic drinks industry.

Alan Castell retired from the industry in the late 1990s.