A FAST bowler who learned his early cricket in Darlington helped England wallop the Aussies 5-1 Down Under to claim the Ashes nearly 50 years ago.

He was Mike Hendrick, a nagglingly accurate bowler, who attended Catholic schools in Darlington and began his cricketing career at Feethams when he was 10.

As England’s cricketers, already 1-0 down after just two days of play, gamely battle in the Second Test in Australia, it feels appropriate to look back to 1977 when, with players like Geoffrey Boycott, Bob Willis, Derek Underwood and a debutant called Ian Botham, England won the Ashes 3-0 at home before going to Australia and winning by humiliatingly wide margin – with the Darlo-honed bowler one of the stars.

Mike Hendrick playing for England

Hendrick was born near Matlock in Derbyshire i

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