Brief profile of Joey Benjamin by Matthew Reed

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Player:

JE Benjamin

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DateLine: 20th December 2005

 

At the age of 33, Joey Benjamin was one of the oldest Test debutants of the modern era. His was a rare example of a county pro with no great cricketing pedigree being selected during his annus mirabilis, which in Benjamin’s case was 1994. The fact that his sole Test (in the third and final match of the series against South Africa) took place at his home ground of The Oval was also pleasing for both him and the Surrey faithful. Although his international career was never going to be a long one, when he took 4-42 in the visitors first innings with his well-honed in and outswingers he may have expected to escape the one cap trap. Although his impressive bowling was overshadowed by Devon Malcolm’s series levelling assault, he did win selection for that winter’s Ashes tour. Despite featuring in most of the pre-Test state matches, a bout of chicken-pox really held him back, and despite Martin McCauge, Darren Gough and Craig White leaving the tour early, their replacements of Angus Fraser, Mark Ilott and Chris Lewis were preferred for the Tests, although he performed perfectly credibly in his two ODI’s of that tour. Benjamin gave great service to Surrey (313 First-class wickets), although by the time their Championship winning run began in 1999 he was a peripheral member of the squad. His bowling action was an unlikely combination of a floating gather and splayed arms, although movement rather than express pace was his primary weapon. Benjamin could hold a bat, although in a strong Surrey line-up he was usually no.11, and frustratingly his highest ever First-class score was 49. However he has the consolation that, with a Test bowling average of 20, he technically has a record superior to Glenn McGrath, although with just 4 Test wickets he’d be well advised to not labour that point.

 

December 2005

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)