Ian Folley

Who was Ian Folley?

Ian Folley was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a left-arm bowler, initially a medium-pacer and later a spinner.

Folley started his career as a seamer in 1982, playing for Lancashire. 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 suffered an injury to his left arm, and quit the game, after tours to Jamaica and Zimbabwe.

In 1991 he was given a second chance, playing for Derbyshire, but his first-team performances did not live up to his earlier performances.

Two years later, Folley was hit underneath the eye in a freak accident while batting, and was taken to local hospital. There, while under anaesthesia, he suffered a heart attack and died. He was thirty years old.