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Full name Paul Rupert Downton
Born April 4, 1957, Farnborough, Kent
Current age 51 years 43 days
Major teams England,Kent,Middlesex
Nickname Nobby
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Height
5 ft 10 in
Education Sevenoaks School; Exeter University
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
30
48
8
785
74
19.62
2676
29.33
0
4
67
0
70
5
ODIs
28
20
5
242
44*
16.13
358
67.59
0
0
13
0
26
3
First-class
314
405
76
8270
126*
25.13
6
45
690
89
List A
297
212
64
3349
80*
22.62
0
9
281
64
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
30
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ODIs
28
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
First-class
314
55
9
1
1/4
9.00
0.98
55.0
0
0
List A
297
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Career statistics
Test debut
West Indies v England at Port of Spain, Feb 13-18, 1981 scorecard
Last Test
England v West Indies at Manchester, Jun 30-Jul 5, 1988 scorecard
Test statistics
ODI debut
Pakistan v England at Sahiwal, Dec 23, 1977 scorecard
Last ODI
England v West Indies at Lord's, May 23-24, 1988 scorecard
ODI statistics
First-class span
1977 - 1991
List A span
1977 - 1991
Profile
Paul Downton began his career at Kent, winning his cap in 1979, but the return of Alan Knott persuaded him to move to Middlesex, who themselves had been struggling to fill the void left by the retirement of John Murray in 1975. Indeed, it was Murray, in his role as a selector, who was instrumental in getting Donwton picked to tour Pakistan and New Zealand as Bob Taylor's understudy in 1977-78. He made an immediate impact with Middlesex, helping them to a Championship/Gillette double in 1980, and winning selection for that winter's Caribbean tour. He made his debut in Trinidad, ending the series with a match-saving 26 in Jamaica. But at Trent Bridge in the first Test of 1981 he dropped a straightforward chance, England lost to Australia, and he was dropped in favour of Taylor. The selection see-saw continued in 1984 when he returned following Taylor's retirement, and he was England's first choice until 1986, largely as a result of his much-improved batting, especially against quick bowling. But his wicketkeeping, although generally sound, was blighted by the occasional high-profile howler and those cost him dear. He was in the England side which reached the 1987 World Cup final, and played in the first three Tests against West Indies in 1988 before being dropped as the selectors' desperation to stem the run of defeats increased. In 1990 he suffered a freak accident when a bail struck him in the eye during a Sunday League match, and what at first seemed a minor incident forced him to retire midway through the 1991 season. He subsequently forged a successful career in the City.
Downton was a constantly cheerful character, well-liked by his fellow professionals, and coped with the constant sniping of the press during his 30 England appearances with good grace. He was unfortunate that he followed two outstanding keepers (Alan Knott and Taylor) and was - unfairly - viewed as an establishment figure. But behind the stumps he was a calming influence in a Middlesex side packed with big names.
Martin Williamson
