John Barclay (cricketer)

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John Robert Troutbeck Barclay (born 22 January 1954) was an English cricketer.

John Barclay was born in Bonn, Germany. He was educated at Eton and was an acclaimed schoolboy cricketer. He was honoured by The Cricket Society and he made his first-class debut for Sussex, while still at school in 1970.

He was a sublime opening batsman, who never got quite as many runs as he should have, but he was gifted with an excellent technique and eye. As a bowler, he dominated and destroyed opposition with his off-spin. He dismissed Ian Botham and Viv Richards several times. He succeeded Arnold Long as the County Captain of Sussex CCC in 1981 and led the team to second place in the County Championship. In his time, he was hailed as one of the best county captains around and he was tipped for the Test captaincy. He was forced to retire in 1986, due to a finger injury.

After his playing career ended he became the Director of Cricket at the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club, which he continues to this day, in tandem with the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation. He has been a successful tour manager, as he took the England Under-19's, the England A's and also managed the England team for two tours. He briefly returned to management recently with the blind team, but he is now working for the MCC and running a charity for young cricketers and underprivileged children in Arundel, West Sussex. He holds a number of posts, such as President of the English Schools Cricket Association, Chairman of the Sussex Cricket Board, Chairman of Cricket for Sussex CCC and Vice-President of the Cricket Society.