Maurice Holmes (cricketer)
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maurice Gibson Holmes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
19 May 1990 Tenterden, Kent, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Mozza, Maverick[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting style | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling style | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Loughborough MCCU | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Warwickshire (squad no. 33) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Cricinfo, 16 August 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maurice Gibson Holmes (born 19 May 1990) is an English cricketer. Holmes is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off break. He was born at Tenterden, Kent, and educated at Tonbridge School.
Holmes first came to the public eye in 2009. At this time he was playing for the Kent Second XI, but during the 2009 World Twenty20 he bowled to the New Zealand team during their practice sessions.[2] His bowling impressed then New Zealand coach Andy Moles and then captain Daniel Vettori, who likened his bowling to that of Muttiah Muralitharan.[2] On the back of this he was flown out to Sri Lanka for New Zealands 2009 tour to bowl at the New Zealand players, as well as working with New Zealands then spin consultant, Saqlain Mushtaq.[2]
However, it wouldn't be until 2011 while studying for his degree in Sport Science with Management at Loughborough University,[1] that he made his first-class debut for Loughborough MCCU, making two appearances against Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.[3] Signed by Warwickshire for the 2011 season, he made his first-class debut for the county against Durham MCCU, in the process taking a wicket with his first ball. Holmes made a further first-class appearance for the county against Lancashire in the County Championship.[3] His List A debut came against Leicestershire in the Clydesdale Bank 40. Holmes made two further List A appearances for Warwickshire in 2011, against Scotland and Northamptonshire, both in the Clydesdale Bank 40.[4]
However, in June 2011 he was twice reported by umpires for a suspected illegal bowling action, with particular concern surrounding his doosra delivery.[5] On 8 July, the England and Wales Cricket Board suspended Holmes from bowling following an independent analysis of his bowling action, deeming it to be illegal.[6] He was released by Warwickshire at the end of the 2011 season.[7] Following a period of remedial work on his bowling action, it was found that his standard delivery was legal, but his doosra was not. Following these findings, Holmes' suspension was lifted, but he is not allowed to bowl his doosra in competitive county cricket.[8]
He took a year out of his studies at Loughborough University in 2012 to concentrate on resurrecting his county career, travelling to the Global Cricket School in Pune, India, to work on his bowling action.[9]
A highly academic and well-spoken individual, Holmes is also known to have an interest in a career as a barrister.
References
- 1 2 "Player profile: Maurice Holmes". www.loughboroughmccu.com. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- 1 2 3 Alter, Jamie (14 August 2009). "Unknown teenage spinner assists New Zealand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- 1 2 "First-Class Matches played by Maurice Holmes". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ↑ "List A Matches played by Maurice Holmes". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ↑ "Holmes reported for suspect action". ESPNcricinfo. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ↑ "Maurice Holmes suspended from bowling". ESPNcricinfo. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ↑ "Tim Ambrose signs new Warwickshire contract". BBC Sport (www.news.bbc.co.uk). 22 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ↑ "Holmes suspension lifted". ESPNcricinfo. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ↑ Bolton, Paul (19 January 2012). "Holmes aiming to resurrect career at Indian academy". The Wisden Cricketer. www.thecricketer.com. Retrieved 14 April 2012.