Derek Randall, known to cricket fans as 'Arkle' after the famous racehorse but always 'Rags' to himself, was a Nottinghamshire and England batsman of the late seventies and early eighties beloved far beyond what his figures might suggest.
A player with a boyish sense of joy in an age of dull professionalism, Randall first came to note as an outstanding cover fielder. As one day cricket forced fielding standards ever upwards Randall led the way in redefining outfielding, as Hobbs and Bland had done before him. His runout of Gordon Greenwich in the world cup final of 1979 is but one highlight and his partnership with a youthful David Gower was a feature of the successfull England team of the immediate post Packer era. Known for his eccentric movement at the crease, Randall was actually a determined batsman, the flashing cover drives, pulls and square cuts masking a steely desire to succeed.
His finest hour was the Centenary test of 1977, and his innings of 174 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in the teeth of an Australian attack led by Dennis Lillee, thrilled and enchanted all who saw him pull England from an impossible position to the brink of victory. Randall often saved his best for the Aussies, with the next tour in 1978/79 bringing a 5-1 England Ashes win and two man of the match performances, an intensely dogged 150 in a series dominated by fast bowlers being the highlight. Randall scored centuries against New Zealand and India, even one from the unlikely position of opener against Pakistan, but he was finally blown away by the awesome West Indian attack of 1984, never to return. He played 47 test matches in all, scoring 2470 runs with 7 centuries and took 31 catches. He took the catch which clinched the Ashes in 1977 at Headingly, turning a cartwheel in celebration in typically exuberant style. He appeared for England in 49 one day internationals, in an era where far fewer matches were played than today, an action packed 88 in his debut against the mighty West Indians of 1976 being his best.
Randall batted brilliantly for the succesful Notts team of his era, winning the County Championship in a team which boasted the great Sir Richard Hadlee and Clive Rice . He made his second team debut back in 1969 and went on to score 28,456 first class runs, including 52 hundreds - he made 209 and 146 in the same game against Middlesex in 1979. He took 361 catches and a rather more surprising 13 wickets at just over 31. His first class bowling strike rate of 31 balls per wicket compares well to Sir Richard Hadlee's 45! He reappeared for Suffolk in 2003 to cap a career which saw this embodiment of eternal youth play in an amazing 5 decades. In retirement he coached university sides, among many other projects, and is remembered still with great affection in the game.