A former Cumberland seam bowler Bob Ratcliffe has died at the age of 71.
Bob played 14 Minor Counties Championship games between 1981 and 1986 and took 49 wickets at 21.71. His best bowling figures were 5-88.
He had a highest score for the county of 61 not out and finished with a batting average of 26.64.
Accrington-born Ratcliffe played for his hometown team before signing for Lancashire in 1972 and in 82 first-class matches between 1972 and 1980 took 205 wickets with an average of 26.39 for the Red Rose, with best bowling figures of 7-58 against Hampshire.
With the bat he scored 1,022 runs at an average of 16.48. His best of 101 not out was scored against Warwickshire, which was a then record eighth wicket stand of 158 with John Lyon.
Bob played in 99 one-day games for Lancashire, including two Gillette Cup finals in 1975 and 1976.
His 9-35 against Warwickshire Second XI at Old Trafford and match figures of 13/54 v Worcestershire at Urmston – both in 1974 – remain as bowling records for Lancashire’s Second XI.
Unfortunately his first class career was cut short by injuries, which forced his retirement aged just 28, before he played Minor Counties cricket with Cumberland.
