Andy Ducat

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Andy Ducat
England (ENG)
Andy Ducat
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling type -
Tests First-class
Matches 1 429
Runs scored 5 23373
Batting average 2.50 38.31
100s/50s -/- 52/109
Top score 3 306*
Balls bowled - 1981
Wickets - 21
Bowling average - 43.00
5 wickets in innings - -
10 wickets in match - -
Best bowling - 3/12
Catches/stumpings 1/- 206/-

Test debut: 2 July 1921
Last Test: 2 July 1921
Source: [1]

Andrew Ducat (February 16, 1886-July 23, 1942) was an England and Surrey cricketer and an England footballer, being one of an elite group to have represented their country in both sports.

He is best known for being the only man to have died during a game at Lord's Cricket Ground, where he died of an apparent heart attack after lunch, whilst playing in a wartime cricket match between teams from his unit of the Home Guard from Surrey against another from Sussex. The match was abandoned.

Ducat was born in Brixton, London, but grew up in Southend. He joined the ground staff at the Oval in 1906, and soon became a regular member of the county team, playing alongside Tom Hayward, Jack Hobbs and Ernest Hayes. Standing 5'10" high, he was a powerful, forcing batsman, and made 52 centuries for Surrey, including 306 not out against Oxford University in 1919. He was also one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1920. He missed many matches due to injury: a broken leg in 1912 almost ended his career, and he missed the 1924 season after breaking his arm in the nets. In 1928, he made 994 runs in less than six weeks, including centuries four successive matches.

He played in only one Test, the 3rd Test against Australia at Headingley in 1921 when he was unlucky to only make 3 and 2.

In another significant "first", he was doubly out in the first innings: his bat disintegrating playing a ball bowled by Ted McDonald; the ball looped to slip where it was caught, and a bail was dislodged by a flying splinter (he was given out caught rather than hit wicket).

Ducat also had a successful football career. He started out playing for non-league Southend United before joining First Division Woolwich Arsenal in 1905. He made his Arsenal debut on February 11, 1905 against Blackburn Rovers, playing at centre forward. After losing his place in 1906-07, he was later switched to right half and became a regular in 1907-08 and 1908-09. During his time at Arsenal, he won three caps for England, with his debut coming against Ireland in Belfast on February 12, 1910; England won 6-1. On his second appearance for England, against Wales on March 14 the same year, Ducat scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.

Ducat's ability and success with England brought attention from bigger clubs than Arsenal, who were at the time going through a financial crisis. Eventually, he was sold for £1,000 to Aston Villa in 1912, having played 188 matches and scored 21 goals for Arsenal. After suffering a broken leg in his first season at Villa, he recovered to become a stalwart in the side, captaining Villa to their sixth FA Cup win, beating Huddersfield Town in 1920. He also regained his England place; having not played since 1910, he won three more caps during 1920, the last coming in a 2-0 win against Ireland at Roker Park on October 23, 1920, bringing his total number of England appearances to six.

He moved to Fulham in 1921, and upon his retirement from playing in 1924, he succeeded Phil Kelso (his former boss at Arsenal) as Fulham manager. However, the Cottagers struggled with Ducat at the helm, however, and he was sacked in 1926.

After retiring from cricket, Ducat became cricket coach at Eton College for 5 years. He was also a sports reporter before his sudden death.

Preceded by
Phil Kelso		 Fulham F.C. Manager
1924–1926		 Succeeded by
Joe Bradshaw

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.) (1995). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4. 
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