15 Facts About Paul Downton

Paul Rupert Downton was born on 4 April 1957 and is a retired cricketer and cricket administrator.

Paul Downton previously served as director of cricket at Kent County Cricket Club [1] and managing director of the England and Wales Cricket Board between February 2014 and April 2015.

Paul Downton was a part of the English squad which finished as runners-up at the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

Paul Downton is a former English professional cricketer who played in 30 Test matches and 28 One Day Internationals for the England cricket team between 1977 and 1989.

Paul Downton was a wicket-keeper who played for Kent County Cricket Club from 1977 to 1979 and for Middlesex between 1980 and 1991.

Paul Downton attended Sevenoaks Prep School, Sevenoaks School and the University of Exeter.

Paul Downton obtained a law degree, a coaching certificate and earned international honours at youth level in both cricket and rugby union.

Kent shared the 1977 County Championship and won the competition outright in 1978 but Paul Downton became frustrated deputising for Alan Knott in the 1979 season and moved to Middlesex in 1980.

Paul Downton tasted Test cricket for the first time in the West Indies that winter.

Paul Downton was dropped after the first Test against Australia in the summer of 1981 and had to wait until the summer of 1984 for further such honours, when he was picked at home to bolster England's batting options against the West Indies.

Paul Downton was on the winning side against the West Indies when recalled to the England team for the 1987 Cricket World Cup, but England lost in the final to Australia.

Paul Downton played for England for the last time in 1988.

On 16 October 2013, Paul Downton was appointed to the position of Managing Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board with effect from 1 February 2014.

Paul Downton replaced Hugh Morris who resigned to become chief executive and managing director of Glamorgan County Cricket Club.

Paul Downton served as Director of Cricket of Kent between January 2018 and his retirement in September 2023.