R.I.P. Derek Underwood (1945-2024)
Another sporting hero of my youth has passed away. Derek Underwood – “Deadly” was his nickname – was a bowler like no other. Officially a left-arm orthodox spinner, with a rather flat-footed run-up, and a characteristic twist of his body as he delivered the ball at a brisk medium pace with infallible accuracy, he was not only a prolific taker of wickets but also an extremely difficult bowler to score off. He played for Kent for 24 seasons, his entire First Class career, during which he took 2,465 wickets at a remarkable average of 20.28. Underwood was a regular in the England Test side from 1966 onwards, barring an interruption when he joined Kerry Packer’s cricket circus in the 70s, and played his last Test match in 1982.
Tributes to Derek Underwood have understandably focused on his bowling, but it should be mentioned that, although of limited ability with the bat, he was a capable and stubborn night-watchman who didn’t give his wicket away easily. I remember seeing him bat in that role with great courage (and without a helmet) against Lillee and Thomson, getting struck on the body several times in the process.
When I was a kid I used to get completely absorbed watching him bowl, even on good wickets, and he never seemed to bowl badly and you could see batters getting visibly impatient at his refusal to bowl them a ball they could hit. Here is a little tribute video produced by Kent Cricket Club, with action mostly from the 1960s: you can see what a handful he was when he could use his pace to extract extra bounce from the pitch.
Rest in Peace Derek Underwood (1945-2024)
In the Dark 
April 16, 2024 at 2:07 pm
I wondered if you would mention this sad sad loss. (Wikipedia states that he died of “complications of dementia”.) I hadn’t realised that he was a mere 12 years older than me; I always thought of him as much older – but he wasn’t. I fancied myself as a night watchman but I’d have been far more terrified to face him than quicks.
April 16, 2024 at 2:18 pm
“Complications of dementia” basically means that basic bodily functions fail. It can include infections such as pneumonia, which was the case for my Mam.
As for his bowling, it must have been hard to use the feet like batters do against regular spinners because he was significantly quicker. A left-arm orthodox bowler will usually loop the ball into the right-hander and then make it turn away. Underwood took many wickets with deliveries that looped in and then kept going with the arm. Nobody seemed to be able to pick any change in action, which made it extremely difficult to play.
I guess one thing that I like about cricket is there are people who don’t look especially sporty but manage to be utterly brilliant. He was an example.
June 2, 2024 at 7:01 am
we played on the beach in Broadstairs for years & my parents used to visit his parents in Oakley close Keston.
we will miss him.
l have some tribute signed books of his.
June 2, 2024 at 7:04 am
Sorry we never got to your funeral but no won told us,not sure if his brother was is still alive Keith.
if so let me know 07508735074 please