Ian Folley

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Ian Folley (January 9, 1963 – August 30, 1993) was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a left-arm bowler, initially a medium-pacer and latterly a spinner.

Initially Folley played for Lancashire, starting his career as a seamer in 1982, though he switched to spin bowling after coaching and encouragement from Jack Bond. Over the next two seasons, he averaged less than thirty with the ball, taking 129 wickets, and in one match, had match figures of 12/57. Lined up for an England team spot, he then suffered an injury of the left arm, and had to quit the game, after tours to Jamaica and Zimbabwe.

In 1991 he was given a second chance at success, playing for Derbyshire, but his first-team performances did not live up to the promise of those performances he had been making prior to his break.

Two years later, Folley was accidentally hit underneath the eye in a freak accident, and, though he continued to run around the field during the day, he was later taken to hospital and, while under anaesthesia, suffered a heart attack and died. He was thirty years old.