Nolan Clarke Explained

Nolan Clarke
Country:Netherlands
Fullname:Nolan Ewatt Clarke
Birth Date:22 June 1948
Birth Place:Saint Michael, Barbados
Batting:Right-handed
Bowling:Legbreak googly
Role:Batsman
International:true
Odidebutdate:17 February
Odidebutyear:1996
Odidebutagainst:New Zealand
Odicap:4
Lastodidate:5 March
Lastodiyear:1996
Lastodiagainst:South Africa
Columns:3
Column1:ODI
Matches1:5
Runs1:50
Bat Avg1:10.00
100S/50S1:0/0
Top Score1:32
Deliveries1:
Wickets1:
Bowl Avg1:
Fivefor1:
Tenfor1:
Best Bowling1:
Catches/Stumpings1:3/–
Column2:FC
Matches2:26
Runs2:1,331
Bat Avg2:31.69
100S/50S2:2/6
Top Score2:159
Deliveries2:60
Wickets2:0
Bowl Avg2:
Fivefor2:
Tenfor2:
Best Bowling2:
Catches/Stumpings2:27/–
Column3:LA
Matches3:8
Runs3:185
Bat Avg3:23.12
100S/50S3:0/1
Top Score3:86
Deliveries3:54
Wickets3:2
Bowl Avg3:17.50
Fivefor3:0
Tenfor3:0
Best Bowling3:2/35
Catches/Stumpings3:4/–
Date:14 May
Year:2017
Source:http://www.espncricinfo.com/netherlands/content/player/24875.html ESPNcricinfo

Nolan Ewatt Clarke (born 22 June 1948) is a Barbados-born Dutch former cricketer. A big-hitting right-handed batsman, Clarke played five One Day Internationals for the Netherlands in the 1996 Cricket World Cup. At the age of 47, he was the oldest cricketer to play in the World Cup.[1] He once topped the six hitting tally in the Hong Kong Sixes, a tournament that included Brian Lara.

School times

Clarke was educated at St Michael's parish, the same school that West Indian cricketers Vanburn Holder and David Murray went to.

Domestic career

He represented Barbados in first-class cricket from 1970 until 1978 and played 26 games for them in total. His highest first-class score of 159 was against Mike Denness's touring England side in 1973–74.

He then began coaching in the Netherlands and played for Quick Haag before moving to Sparta 1888 in Rotterdam. His score of 265 not out for Quick against Bloemendaal in 1990 remains the highest score ever made in Dutch domestic cricket.[2]

In 1995, he made 86 for the Netherlands in a NatWest Trophy game against Northamptonshire.

International career

When the Netherlands qualified for the 1996 World Cup, Clarke was heavily influential in getting them there, having made 121 not out against Bermuda in a crucial 1994 ICC Trophy play-off match.

Clarke played in all five of the Netherlands' World Cup matches as an opening batsman, though he scored only 50 runs at an average of 10. He did, however, achieve two records: in the first match he became, at the age of 47 years and 240 days, both the oldest One Day International debutant and player in history.[3] He beat the previous record for oldest debutant, held by England's Norman Gifford, by almost three years,[4] and the previous record for oldest player, held by Zimbabwe's John Traicos, by almost two years.[5]

In 2005 Clarke returned to cricket at the age of 56 to play for VVV Amsterdam in the Hoofdklasse and after a gap of six years, he hit 782 runs. He also aired trenchant opinions on the state of cricket in the Netherlands.[6]

Clarke has retired from playing, but remains active as a coach in the Dutch youth programme.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Was Jason Behrendorff's five-for the first in a World Cup match at Lord's? . ESPN Cricinfo . 5 July 2019.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2014-09-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213118/http://cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/nedHKoverall/NHKhome.htm . 2016-03-03 . dead .
  3. Web site: Help the aged . EXPNcricinfo . 11 March 2017.
  4. Web site: Records / One-Day Internationals / Oldest players on debut . . 23 September 2007.
  5. Web site: Records / One-Day Internationals / Oldest players . . 23 September 2007.
  6. Web site: Taking on the bowling - and the Establishment. Lyall. Rod. 27 February 2006. CricketEurope. 12 September 2013.
  7. Web site: Sparta, VVV face a Hoofdklasse battle. Lyall. Rod. 26 March 2008. CricketEurope. 12 September 2013.