John Barclay

Who is John Barclay?

John Robert Troutbeck Barclay was an English cricketer, who played internationally once for Hong Kong.

John Barclay was born in Bonn, Germany. He was educated at Eton and was an acclaimed schoolboy cricketer. He was honoured by The Cricket Society and he made his first-class debut for Sussex, while still at school in 1970.

He was an opening batsman who never got quite as many runs as he should have, though having an excellent technique and eye. He also bowled off-spin, dismissing Ian Botham and Viv Richards several times. He succeeded Arnold Long as the County Captain of Sussex CCC in 1981 and led the team to second place in the County Championship. He was rated as one of the best county captains around and he was tipped for the Test captaincy. He was forced to retire in 1986, due to a finger injury.

After his playing career ended he became the Director of Cricket at the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club, which he continues to this day, in tandem with the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation. He has been a successful tour manager, as he took the England Under-19's, the England A's and also managed the England team for two tours.