Norman Cowans

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Norman Cowans
England
Personal information
Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling style	Right-arm fast
Career statistics
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	19	23
Runs scored	175	13
Batting average	7.95	2.60
100s/50s	-/-	-/-
Top score	36	4*
Balls bowled	3452	1282
Wickets	51	23
Bowling average	39.27	39.69
5 wickets in innings	2	-
10 wickets in match	-	n/a
Best bowling	6/77	3/44
Catches/stumpings	9/-	5/-
As of 1 January 2006 Source: [1]

Norman George Cowans (born April 17, 1961, Saint Mary, Jamaica) is a former English cricketer who played in 19 Tests and 23 ODIs from 1982 to 1985.

Norman was born in the West Indies, but moved to England with his family when he was eleven. He played County Cricket for Middlesex and then Hampshire, winning three Championships and four limited-overs titles (all with Middlesex) in his fifteen seasons. On his first tour overseas, on England's defence of the Ashes in Australia in 1982/83, he often struggled, was wayward in line and length, and was underbowled by captain Bob Willis until the crucial 4th test at Melbourne, a match England had to win if they had any hope of retaining the Ashes they won at home in 1981.

Cowans played the game of his life at the MCG, where he took a match-winning 6 for 77, following his first innings 2 for 69 (which included the first ball scalp of Greg Chappell), in England's dramatic 3-run victory over Australia. For these five days, Norman Cowans was the star of English cricket, and had sent the series to Sydney for the deciding 5th test, which ended in a controversial draw. Australia won this centenary Ashes series 2-1.

Norman was nicknamed 'Flash' as a result of being able to bowl a cricket ball at almost 100mph.

He was Richard Hadlee's 200th test wicket, of which Hadlee said: "I would have preferred it to have been Gower, Randall, or Lamb, but Flash will do in the circumstances!"

Cowans has a daughter named Kimberley Lucy, is currently a regular commentator on Sky News and BBC 24, and has his own Sports Promotions company.

v • d • e England squad - 1983 Cricket World Cup 1 Willis (c) • 2 Allott • 3 Botham • 4 Cowans • 5 Dilley • 6 Fowler • 7 Gatting • 8 Gould • 9 Gower • 10 Jesty • 11 Lamb • 12 Marks • 13 Tavaré