Mike Denness - Playing Career

Playing Career

Denness captained England on nineteen occasions, winning six, losing five and drawing eight matches. He stepped down from the captaincy after the first Test of the 1975 series against Australia. Throughout his career, he suffered a lack of support from Geoffrey Boycott, which contributed to his downfall as a skipper – Boycott's absence costing England during matches against Australia. Once while in Australia, Denness received an envelope that had been sent with the address "Mike Denness, cricketer". The letter inside read, "Should this reach you, the post office clearly thinks more of your ability than I do." Denness played in twenty eight Tests overall, scoring 1,667 runs including four centuries. His best of 188 came against Australia on 8 February 1975. His seven accompanying half-centuries helped to leave him with a Test batting average of 39.69. His ODI career was less successful, playing only 12 matches and scoring 264 runs at 29.33, with a best of 66.

In domestic cricket, Denness played for both Essex and Kent between 1959 and 1980, making 501 appearances in first-class cricket and 232 more in one day matches. He scored over 30,000 domestic runs in all, including 33 first class hundreds and a best of 195; and six one day centuries with a top score of 188 not out. He also took two wickets with his occasional bowling.