Former England cricketer Ken Shuttleworth passes away

Former England and Lancashire fast bowler Ken Shuttleworth died at the age of 80. Shuttleworth played five Tests for England between 1970 and 1971, debuting in the first Test of the Ashes-winning tour of Australia in 1970-71, where he took five wickets in the second innings in Brisbane.

Shuttleworth, a tall and well-built right-arm pacer, was recognised for his long run-up, side-on motion, and ability to generate true pace. Born in St Helens, he joined Lancashire in 1964, bringing a cutting edge to the assault to complement the famous Brian Statham’s metronomic steadiness.

“I was bowling as quick as what you see the fast bowlers bowl now. Brian and Ken Higgs were still the two main bowlers with Peter Lever and myself taking turns as the third seamer,” Shuttleworth had told The St Helens Star in 2021.

Ken Shuttleworth’s first first-class wicket came against Geoff Boycott at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Throughout his career, he took 484 wickets at 22.92 for Lancashire, followed by 99 wickets for Leicestershire in his last years. His finest bowling performance came in 1968, when he took 7 for 41 against Essex at Leyton, concluding the season with 73 first-class wickets. Two years later, he improved his haul to 74 wickets at an average of slightly over 21.

Despite his talent, injuries cut short what may have been a lengthy international career. Shuttleworth toured Pakistan with the Commonwealth XI, captained by Richie Benaud, in 1967-68, and played for England in a special match against the Rest of the World at Lord’s in June 1970.

He played in the first two drawn Tests of the Ashes trip in 1970-71, led by Ray Illingworth. In addition, he made history in his single one-day international outing at the MCG in January 1971, when he grabbed England’s first wicket in the format.

“I just took it as another game. We got stick, which you expect when you’re out there, but we were the first team since Douglas Jardine’s in 1932 to win the Ashes in Australia,” Shuttleworth had recalled of his Test debut.

As the one-day game flourished in the 1970s, Shuttleworth’s short, incisive spells became a vital component of Lancashire’s success. He played a central role in the county’s hat-trick of Gillette Cup triumphs in 1970, 1971 and 1972, as well as their two Sunday League titles in 1969 and 1970. His standout performance came at Trent Bridge in 1972, when he produced remarkable figures of 5 for 13, a spell that included the prized wicket of Garry Sobers.

Following his move to Leicestershire in 1975, Shuttleworth later brought his professional career to a close in league cricket with Staffordshire. After a stint in business, he returned to the sport as a first-class umpire. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into Lancashire’s Hall of Fame in 2021. He is survived by his wife Barbara and daughters Sara and Hannah.