Michael Keith Kettle (born 18 March 1944) is an English former cricketer who played first-class cricket for Northamptonshire from 1963 to 1970. Kettle was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, but moved with his father to Southern Rhodesia in 1953. He was spotted by Northamptonshire at the age of 16, while playing a trial match for them whilst on holiday in England. In 1962, he returned from Africa to join the county side at the age of 18. He remained with Northamptonshire until 1970, playing 88 first-class matches. In February 1974, he appeared for Rhodesia in a Gillette Cup match against Natal. After retiring from playing Kettle became a cricket coach at Repton School in Derbyshire and, in his late 70s, a groundskeeper at Mickleover.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Michael Keith Kettle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 March 1944 Stamford, Lincolnshire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Left-arm medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1963–1970 | Northamptonshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1974/75 | Rhodesia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 30 December 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editKettle was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire.[1] He is the eldest son of Betty Healey and Keith Kettle, who bowled for Burghley Park Cricket Club, based near Stamford, and previously for Oakham Cricket Club. In 1953 Kettle went to Southern Rhodesia with his father, who was offered a job as a teacher in Bulawayo.[2]
Cricket career
editAt the age of 16 and on vacation in England, he was playing for Burghley Park when he was spotted by Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and in August 1960 took a five-for for just three runs in a trial for them bowling against a Wellingborough second team. Percy Davis recommended that he join the county team but Kettle was due to return to Southern Rhodesia that August and did so.[2] In October 1961 Northamptonshire announced that Kettle would return from Africa to join the team in March 1962, when he would be 18.[3] Before his first match Kettle underwent surgery for appendicitis.[4]
Kettle appeared in 88 first-class matches for Northamptonshire as a left-arm medium-pace bowler and useful tail-end batsman between 1963 and 1970. He scored 1,117 runs with a highest score of 88 and took 179 wickets with a best performance of 6 for 67 against Sussex in 1968.[1] In July 1965 his five-for-53 in the first innings played a key role in a 2-day defeat of Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.[5]
He took 2 for 30 and 5 for 58 when Northamptonshire beat the touring West Indians in 1966.[6] His favourite cricket memory came from this match when he took the wicket of Garfield Sobers in both innings (for 45 runs in the first innings and 4 in the second).[7]
Kettle appeared for Rhodesia in a Gillette Cup match against Natal at Salisbury on 8 February 1974. He took one wicket for 47 runs conceded in a match that Rhodesia lost by two wickets with five balls remaining.[8]
Later life
editAfter retiring from playing, Kettle became a cricket coach at Repton School in Derbyshire and also became an umpire. In later life he became a groundskeeper at Mickleover Cricket Club and on 9 September 2024 received Cricket World Magazine's Groundcare Lifetime Achievement award at Lord's Cricket Ground.[7] He and fellow winner Alan Hancock worked over two seasons to improve the club's square, which had been left in a very poor condition.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Northamptonshire v Sussex 1968". CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Michael Kettle is Wanted". Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 12 August 1960. p. 4.
- ^ "Michael Kettle to join Northants". Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 27 October 1961. p. 4.
- ^ "Michael Kettle has operation". Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury. 27 April 1962. p. 4.
- ^ "Notts polished off in two days". Guardian Journal. 9 July 1965. p. 8.
- ^ Wisden 1967, pp. 307–8.
- ^ a b "Mickleover groundsmen receive trip to Lord's for lifetime award". BBC News. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Rhod vs Natal Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Semi-Final at Harare, February 08, 1975". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Cricket World Groundcare Awards 2024". Cricket World. 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.