16 Facts about David Gower: The former England captain

The cricketing career of David Gower, as many says were clouded by his incorrigible need for adrenaline. It was a massive ‘first’ in the context of English cricket. Those who had played the game knew what it felt like to be a gentleman. David Gower, on the other hand, was a gentleman on it and an adrenaline junkie off it. Class, elegance and a distinct touch of an Englishman flowed from his bat as he became one of the most prolific run scorers for England. However, for the 21st-century cricketer, Gower is nothing more than a man in a suit who splurges on the telly from time to time. On his birthday, we take a look at a few interesting facts about the former England captain.

1. Birth:

David Ivon Gower was born on April Fool’s Day 1957 at Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

2. Nickname:

The nicknames given to David Gower include Lubo, Lu, Stoat, Snooters and “Lord” Gower.

3. Quite the student:

The King’s school in Canterbury is perhaps one of the most prestigious schools in England. He was awarded a cricket scholarship to attend The King’s School in Canterbury, where his father had once been Head Boy.

4. A pull to the Edgbaston fence:

David Gower made his debut against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Such was his assertiveness and dominance at the Test level that he pulled Sarfaraz Nawaz to the midwicket fence to open his account in Test cricket.

5. A hairstyle well before it’s time:

A young David Gower is generally associated with someone with English royalty. His sun-blond hair intertwined in curls made him look like a law enforcer in the late 17^th century England, therefore earning the nickname ‘Lord Gower’.

6. The ‘Laid-Back ’batting technique:

A left-handed batsman, and perhaps one of the best of his time, Gower introduced the world to what became known as ‘Laid-Back’ batting.” His character appeared as uncomplicated as his cricket, but his devil-may-care men hid some complexities, even perhaps an inner loneliness. Lazy journalists called him “laid-back” but you don’t score 8231 Test runs without a cladding of steel.” – Matthew Engel.

7. Trouble in Paradise:

Despite being perhaps one of the most elegant batsmen to be produced by England, David Gower had a rather nasty habit. The habit being that he was always dismissed at the wrong time. Until he got out, Gower, as one journalist said, played with ‘unforgettable brilliance’. The Guardian, a prominent newspaper in the UK once wrote: “At times Gower’s habit of getting out just when he ought to have been settling in may have frustrated fans and selectors, but in half-hour highlight-package terms he was worth a dozen Allan Borders and a hundred Geoffrey Boycotts.”

8. The Wrong era:

A famed British journalist of yesteryear, Sclyd Berry once said: “Gower might have been more at home in the 1920s or 1930s, cracking a dashing hundred for MCC, the darling of the crowds, before speeding away in a Bugatti and cravat for a night on the town.”

9. Flying with (out) the Ashes:

During the 1991 Ashes series in Australia, David Gower, and his teammate John Morris decided to go on a joy ride in a biplane without informing the England management. or this, Gower, was fined £1000, a penalty that could have been steeper had he released the water bombs he had also prepared. He posed with the plane the following day for the press.

10. The boredom of Domestic cricket:

Gower was handed the England captaincy following impressive performances with the bat in 1984. His philosophy was simple:”Pick the best players and let them get on with it.” This worked against Australia but failed horribly against the West Indies. Gower was in charge once again in the 1989 edition of the Ashes. This time, England was hammered into the ground by a determined Australia team. The loss meant that Gower was dropped into the labyrinth of county cricket. He eventually became bored of it after a while with Kent.

11. Premature retirement:

A 35-year old David Gower played his final Test match against the same side he had debuted against – Pakistan in August 1992. “He was out of tune with Graham Gooch’s tote-that-barge regime that followed and county cricket bored him, so he retired prematurely into a career as a TV personality so successful that his cricket seemed mere preparation.” – Matthew Engel

12. They Think It’s All Over?!:

He also became a team captain on the BBC quiz show They Think It’s All Over

13. Most centuries by an Englishman:

David Gower retired having amassed 18 Test centuries to his name. This was the most by an Englishman until it was equalled by Michael Vaughan and surpassed by Alastair Cook.

14. Old’uns v Young’uns:

David Gower rescinded to the four walls of the commentary box following his retirement from all forms of cricket. Gower commentated on sky read, “It’s the old’uns versus the young’uns, Ian and myself versus Nasser and Mike. There’s a lot of cross-generational banter as well as pure dressing-room banter. It helps pass the time of day, really.

15. With time to spare:

David Gower has authored many books following his amazing cricketing career. These include Gower: The Autobiography with The Independent journalist Martin Johnson in 1992, David Gower: With Time to Spare with Alan Lee in 1995 and Can’t Bat, Can’t Bowl, Can’t Field also with Johnson.

16. ICC Hall of Fame:

In 2009, David Gower was inducted into the ICC Hall of fame.