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24 Facts About Graham Dilley

1.

Graham Roy Dilley was an English international cricketer, whose main role was as a fast bowler.

2.

Graham Dilley played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and Worcestershire County Cricket Clubs, and appeared in 41 Test matches and 36 One Day International for the England cricket team.

3.

Graham Dilley was born and raised in Dartford, Kent and was educated at Dartford High School.

4.

Graham Dilley played his early cricket for Dartford Cricket Club at Hesketh Park and trained as a diamond cutter at Hatton Garden before embarking on a cricketing career with Kent County Cricket Club.

5.

Graham Dilley first played for the Kent Second XI in 1976, aged 17.

6.

Graham Dilley was married and divorced twice and had four children, including Chris Pennell, who has played rugby union for England and Worcester Warriors, whilst his youngest son, Jonathan, has played cricket for both Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Second XIs.

7.

Graham Dilley failed to take a wicket, and was not selected again until the following season when was again wicketless against the touring Pakistanis.

8.

Graham Dilley was selected for England Young Cricketers against their West Indian counterparts.

9.

In 1979, Graham Dilley played 31 senior games for Kent, including taking four wickets for the cost of 41 runs in a World Cup warm-up match against the New Zealanders.

10.

Graham Dilley finished with 49 first-class wickets at an average of 23.48 runs per wicket.

11.

Graham Dilley opened the bowling and took his first wicket in his third over.

12.

In England's reply Graham Dilley scored an unbeaten 38 runs, the second-highest score of the innings as England were all out for 228.

13.

In 1980, Graham Dilley was not selected until the third Test against West Indies, at Old Trafford.

14.

Graham Dilley took ten wickets on the tour, enough to retain his place for the 1981 Ashes series.

15.

Graham Dilley began the 1981 Ashes series strongly, taking 12 wickets in the first two Tests, and was retained for the third Test at Headingley.

16.

Botham said, "Right then, let's have a bit of fun", and the two men put on 117 in just 80 minutes before Graham Dilley was bowled by Terry Alderman.

17.

England eventually established a lead of 130, and Graham Dilley then held a boundary catch to dismiss Rod Marsh in Australia's second innings, England going on to dismiss Australia for 111, winning by 18 runs.

18.

Between 1986 and 1988, Graham Dilley took 83 Test wickets at an average of 26.43 runs per wicket.

19.

Graham Dilley took a further five-wicket haul at Auckland, and finished the series with 15 wickets at an average of 14.

20.

Graham Dilley made certain that he would not be picked again by accompanying Mike Gatting on the rebel tour to South Africa that winter.

21.

Graham Dilley continued to play for his county and in the 1991 season came sixth in the first-class bowling averages in domestic cricket, taking 37 wickets at 22.24, helping Worcestershire to win the Benson and Hedges Cup.

22.

Graham Dilley's move to Worcestershire denied him the financial security of a benefit season.

23.

Graham Dilley worked in a coaching capacity for Zimbabwe and Scotland.

24.

Graham Dilley died in a hospice at Leicester on 5 October 2011, aged 52, just one week after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.