Ole Mortensen
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| Full name | Ole Henrik Mortensen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
29 January 1958 Vejle, Jutland, Denmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Stan (after the British soccer legend Stan Mortensen) and Bloodaxe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting style | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling style | Right-arm fast-medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler, coach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1994 | Derbyshire County Cricket Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First-class debut | 28 May 1983 Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last First-class | 27 June 1994 Derbyshire v New Zealanders XI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| List A debut | 5 June 1983 Derbyshire v Warwickshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last List A | 31 July 1994 Derbyshire v Warwickshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: CricketArchive, 22 July 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ole Henrik Mortensen (born 29 January 1958 in Vejle, Jutland) is a former Danish cricketer, probably the best his country has produced.[1] A fast-medium right-arm bowler, in a first-class career with Derbyshire that ran from 1983 to 1994 he took 434 wickets at a good average of 23.88.
He was 25 when he went to England to play cricket in 1983. He immediately established himself in the Derbyshire side and took 66 wickets at 24.31. Wisden that year described him as "accurate, hostile and, above all, a bowler of unquenchable spirit".[2] It was his most successful season, and also included his best innings and match figures, when in his seventh first-class match he took 6 for 27 and 5 for 62 to help Derbyshire beat Yorkshire by 22 runs at Sheffield.[3] In 1988 injury restricted him to 12 matches, but he topped the national first-class bowling averages with 34 wickets at 13.64. He was especially economical in one-day cricket, and in 1990, when Derbyshire won the Refuge Assurance League 40-over competition, he was the most economical bowler in the whole competition. In 1985 his first contract with Derbyshire expired. Carlsberg the Danish brewers attempted to sign him on behalf of Northamptonshire (where they had their UK base) and offering to double their countryman's wage. "Stan", as his team-mates knew him, decided to stay at Derby because he "felt that we were going places under Kim Barnett's leadership and sincerely believed we were going to win some trophies".[1]
He was a genuine tail-ender. The only time he exceeded 40 he made 74 not out against Yorkshire at Chesterfield in 1987, putting on 151 for the ninth wicket with Reg Sharma (who made his only first-class century).
For Denmark, Mortensen appeared in four ICC Trophy tournaments (1979, 1986, 1990 and 1994), claiming 63 wickets at a mere 10.41 apiece, including a return of 7-19 in a one-sided match against Israel (who were bowled out for 45) in Nairobi in 1994.
Mortensen earned the nickname "Stan" while playing for Derbyshire, a reference to the famous England football player of the 1940s and 50s, Stan Mortensen. He earned another nickname "Eric Bloodaxe" for his ability to swear in Danish. This cricketing Viking was caricatured in 1994 by Pete Sellman.[1]
Ole Stan Mortensen played for Ellerslie Cricket Club - Auckland - New Zealand 1983-1984. During that season Ellerslie won One Day-tournament played at Eden Park.
During the English off-season Ole Stan Mortensen played for Brighton Cricket Club - Melbourne, Australia - in Sub-District Cricket 1984-93. He took 401 wickets at average 13,0.
He represented Victoria against South Australia in a Christmas game which is an honour and probably his greatest achievement was to win the "R. M. Hatch Trophy" twice in 1986-87 and again in 1992-93. This trophy is awarded to the outstanding player in Sub-District cricket.
Danish national coach in cricket 1995-2000. German national coach 2002-2005. Norwegian national coach 2006-2010.
Coaching Copenhagen Cricket Club (KB), Glostrup Cricket Club (Danish championship 2005 and 2007).
Notes
- 1 2 3 Oliver, Scott (June 7, 2012). "Ole Mortensen, the Dane who played for Derbyshire (Derbyshire's great Dane)". Cricinfo Magazine. ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ↑ Wisden 1984, p. 340.
- ↑ Wisden 1984, p. 608.