Brief profile of Nathan Dumelow by Matthew Reed

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Player:

NRC Dumelow

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DateLine: 25th October 2005

 

Nathan Dumelow was a cricketer who may have been hampered by never quite knowing which whether he was a batting or a bowling all-rounder. On his First-class debut (barely a week after his 20th birthday) , he took 4-84 in his debut bowl against Pakistan, although the word from those in the know was that his off-spinners were merely a support act to his belligerent strokeplay. Dumelow certainly had a range of shots, the most pleasing, (though at times ending his innings) being the hook, pull and lofted off-drive. Too many of his best innings came as defiant hit outs with the game lost though, although he briefly looked as though he may settle successfully into the role of pinch hitter in the Sunday League. Twenty20 suited his slow bowling, although the combination of a license to attack married to his aggressive instincts really was too much, and all that followed were a series of cheap dismissals. His off-spin mainly looked at it’s most threatening on dustbowls like Northampton, although his career best 5-51 came against the West Indian tourists at Derby. However that match also saw the debut of 16 year old Chris Paget, who it was felt would (along with fellow Academy off-spinner Jake Needham) be a better bet for the future. Dumelow agreed to leave Derbyshire in February 2005, despite only being 23 himself, although in the end his place ended up being taken by new registration (and 31 year old) Andy Gray. Dumelow now plays for Oulton Park in the Cheshire league, where his ferocious hitting continues to threaten car windscreens and bowling analysis alike.

 

(October 2005)

 

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)