Gladstone Small

Small was born in Barbados, and moved to England shortly after his fourteenth birthday, which at the time was past the normal cut-off for a change of cricketing nationality. However, he applied for eligibility to play cricket for England, and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) accepted his application.[2]

Small has Klippel–Feil syndrome, which accounts for his distinctive "no neck" appearance.[3]

His life story was made into a documentary by director Pogus Caesar in 1995, and broadcast on Carlton Television for the Respect television series.

He is a graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University.[4]

Small encountered early problems in his career with the no ball rule, on one occasion recording ten in a single over.[5] But he overcame the issue to became a useful bowler for Warwickshire, and earned a Test debut for England against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in 1986, retaining his place for the following match.

He was selected that winter for the 1986–87 Ashes series. Initially overlooked for the Test matches, Small was called up as a last-minute replacement for Graham Dilley in the fourth Test, and rose to the challenge, taking 5-48 in Australia's first innings and claiming two wickets in the second. He was given the Man of the Match award, and this was to be the highlight of his career.[6] His success as an outswing bowler is demonstrated by the fact that all of these seven dismissals were out caught. Again he retained his place for the following match.

Small was in England's squad for both the 1987 and 1992 Cricket World Cups, playing in the 1987 final,[7] and the semi-final (although not the final) in 1992. He was also part of the England side which improbably beat a powerful West Indies team in Jamaica in 1990, England's first Test victory against the West Indies for sixteen years. Small took five wickets in this match.[8]

An unpretentious lower-order batsman, Small helped save a Test match when making his highest score, 59 against Australia in the sixth test in 1989. His innings helped England save the follow on, a landmark which when achieved received an exaggerated ovation from England fans, who had seen their team humiliated during the rest of the series (this being Small's only match in the series).[9]

Small was selected again for the 1990–91 Ashes series, although on this occasion Small and the team were less successful, and he played no more Test cricket thereafter. He was involved in an unusual incident in the third test of this series when wicketkeeper Jack Russell dismissed Dean Jones stumped off his bowling, at the time a manner of dismissal only common off spin bowlers.[10]

He was integral to the strong Warwickshire side of 1994, but retired soon after. Later, he became a director of the Professional Cricketers' Association.