Joey Benjamin: One of a kind, who proved the doubters wrong

HUW TURBERVILL reflects on the career of the former England international seamer, who passed away recently at the age of 60

When a famous and much-loved cricketer is taken from us too early, it is a kick in the teeth. And so it is with the news that former Warwickshire, Surrey and England seam bowler Joey Benjamin has died. He was just 60.

He had been living in Reigate, Surrey, and coaching cricket at Reigate Grammar School, and his death, from a heart attack, was announced in a school email.

Benjamin was born in St Kitts in 1961, and after moving to England, he broke into professional cricket late.

He proved his worth in the Minor Counties with Staffordshire, enough to be given a chance by Warwickshire in 1988. With Bob Willis and Gladstone Small leading the battery of seamers at Edgbaston, however, he ventured south and achieved greater success at Surrey in 1991.

^{Joey Benjamin pictured with Devon Malcolm in their hotel room on the Ashes tour of 1994/95}

He did well enough to win a Test cap, played well in a famous match, and convinced Ray Illingworth to give him a place on the Ashes tour of 1994/95. He caught chickenpox, however, and his chances were restricted. Two ODI caps were added to his collection.

“I’m really saddened by this news,” his former Warwickshire team-mate Paul Smith told The Cricketer. “He was a lovely guy. I knew him for the best part of a decade. He was always highly rated on the local club scene, but it took him a long time to get on the staff. He proved the doubters wrong after moving to Surrey.”

Surrey and England seamer Martin Bicknell said he was shocked, telling his Twitter followers: “Joey was one of a kind, incredibly popular in the Surrey dressing room back in the day – it’s so sad. RIP Benjy.”

Later he added on Surrey's website: “He hustled batsmen and nicked them off with his outswinger. He was a fine bowler and even though he didn't start until pretty late he was unlucky not to play more Test cricket. It's come as a massive and terrible shock to all of us that he's been lost to us, he seemed so incredibly fit.”

Darren Gough recall his trip to Australia, calling him “a great tourist” on Twitter.

I was there for his only Test, at The Oval against South Africa in 1994. He had waited a long time for it – he was 33. He bowled really well, taking 4 for 42 in the first innings. He bounded in with a bouncy run-up, and his arms were like a whirligig.

He bowled mean outswingers, and captain Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje and Dave Richardson were among his victims – decent scalps.“There were whispers, but it was still a surprise to be selected,” he told Scott Oliver. “I was having a good season, though, and ended up with 80 wickets. The only thing I was disappointed with was that I wanted to take a five-for on my debut!”

His performance was overshadowed by Devon Malcolm’s amazing 9 for 57 in the second innings, but it was enough to earn him a spot on the tour to Australia that winter.

No more Test caps followed, which was harsh. Chickenpox earlier on the tour didn’t help.

I was also there as a backpacker to watch one of his two ODIs, a win over Zimbabwe at Brisbane. He bowled tidily in both his international appearances down under. He had five more seasons with Surrey, taking 53 first-class wickets in 1995.

In another ODI I watched on that trip to Australia, I vividly recall him looking the happiest 12th man I have ever seen, carrying drinks, with a towel flung over his shoulder. Clearly he loved being with England on an Ashes tour.

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