Roger Prideaux

Roger Prideaux was a free-scoring right-hand opening batsman who promised much at the start of his career and was ultimately unlucky to play only three times for England. Tall and upright, he won Blues in all three years at Cambridge (1958-60), scoring heavily, but he had to wait until 1968 for his Test debut. Against Australia at Headingley, he scored a excellent 64, but missed the final Test at The Oval through injury. His place was taken by Basil D'Oliveira, triggering a chain of events which led to South Africa being banned. Prideaux was named in the 1968-69 South African tour which never took place, although he retained his place for the first two Tests against Pakistan later that winter - he scored 36 runs in four innings and was dropped. His main county career was at Northamptonshire (he joined after a brief spell with Kent) from 1962 to 1970, leading them in his last four seasons, and he then had three years with Sussex where he batted lower down the order. From 1971-72 he played for Orange Free State in the winter, eventually emigrating to South Africa. His wife, Ruth, coached and managed the England women's side.
Martin Williamson