Amar Virdi Explained

Amar Virdi
Country:England
Fullname:Guramar Singh Virdi
Birth Date:19 July 1998
Birth Place:Chiswick, London, England
Heightft:5
Heightinch:10
Batting:Right-handed
Bowling:Right-arm off break
Role:Bowler
Club1:Surrey
Clubnumber1:19
Club2:Somerset (on loan)
Year2:2022
Club3:Worcestershire (on loan)
Year3:2024
Type1:First-class
Debutdate1:26 May
Debutyear1:2017
Debutfor1:Surrey
Debutagainst1:Essex
Type2:List A
Debutdate2:2 August
Debutyear2:2022
Debutfor2:Surrey
Debutagainst2:Leicestershire
Columns:2
Column1:FC
Matches1:42
Runs1:231
Bat Avg1:9.62
100S/50S1:0/0
Top Score1:21
Deliveries1:6,903
Wickets1:123
Bowl Avg1:30.71
Fivefor1:5
Tenfor1:1
Best Bowling1:8/61
Catches/Stumpings1:11/–
Column2:LA
Matches2:10
Runs2:31
Bat Avg2:5.16
100S/50S2:0/0
Top Score2:8
Deliveries2:300
Wickets2:7
Bowl Avg2:41.42
Fivefor2:0
Tenfor2:0
Best Bowling2:3/38
Catches/Stumpings2:1/–
Date:2 July 2024
Source:https://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/1037701.html Cricinfo

Guramar Singh Virdi (born 19 July 1998), known as Amar Virdi, is an English cricketer.[1] An off-spin bowler,[2] Virdi played in two Under-19 internationals for England against Sri Lanka in 2016.[3] He made his first-class debut for Surrey in the 2017 County Championship on 26 May 2017.[4]

Career

Virdi was the leading English-born spin bowler in the 2018 County Championship with 39 wickets.[5] He struggled with a stress injury to his back in January 2019, which kept him out of the opening weeks of the 2019 cricket season, and was asked by Surrey to lose some weight and improve his fitness while he recovered.[6] Surrey's director of cricket, Alec Stewart, called it "tough love".[7] When Virdi returned to the Surrey team in mid-July for his first match of the season he took 14 wickets in the victory over Nottinghamshire: 8 for 61 and 6 for 78.[8]

On 29 May 2020, Virdi was named in a 55-man group of players to begin training ahead of international fixtures starting in England following the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] [10] On 17 June 2020, Virdi was included in England's 30-man squad to start training behind closed doors for the Test series against the West Indies.[11] [12]

In December 2020, Virdi was named as one of seven reserve players in England's Test squad for their series against Sri Lanka.[13] In January 2021, he was also named as a reserve player in England's Test squad for their series against India.[14]

Personal life

Virdi is a practising Sikh.[15] His family originate from the Punjab, but his parents emigrated to the UK from Kenya and Uganda.[15] He grew up in a sporting family: his father represented Kenya in junior tennis and his brother introduced him to cricket.[15] As a teenager, he turned down offers of scholarships from private schools because he didn't wish to board, and because he had been playing adult cricket since he was 13.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Marshall . Ian . Playfair Cricket Annual, 2017 . 2017 . Headline . 978-1-4722-3256-4. 173.
  2. News: Amar Virdi: Surrey spinner believes he can win England Test place . BBC Sport . 26 June 2020.
  3. Web site: Amar Virdi . 29 May 2017 . ESPN Cricinfo.
  4. Web site: Specsavers County Championship Division One, Essex v Surrey at Chelmsford, May 26-29, 2017 . 26 May 2017 . ESPN Cricinfo.
  5. Web site: 8 July 2019. Hobson . Richard . Amar Virdi substitute appearance for Surrey blocked by last-minute ECB ruling . Cricinfo . 21 July 2019.
  6. News: Notts doomed as Amar Virdi leads spinning show. Scott. Neville.
  7. Web site: Amar Virdi responding to tough love as Surrey seek improvement. www.thecricketer.com.
  8. Web site: 15 July 2019. Culley. Jon. Amar Virdi claims 14 wickets for the match as Surrey crush Nottinghamshire . Cricinfo . 21 July 2019.
  9. Web site: England Men confirm back-to-training group . England and Wales Cricket Board . 29 May 2020.
  10. Web site: Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett left out as England name 55-man training group . ESPN Cricinfo . 29 May 2020.
  11. Web site: England announce 30-man training squad ahead of first West Indies Test . International Cricket Council . 17 June 2020.
  12. Web site: Moeen Ali back in Test frame as England name 30-man training squad . ESPN Cricinfo . 17 June 2020.
  13. Web site: Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer rested for England Test tour of Sri Lanka . ESPN Cricinfo . 11 December 2020.
  14. Web site: India v England: Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to Joe Root's squad for first two Tests in Ahmedabad . BBC Sport . 21 January 2021.
  15. Web site: Surrey's England graduates inspire Amar Virdi to set sights on higher honours . ESPN Cricinfo . 29 July 2019.