Full name Allan Joseph Lamb

Born June 20, 1954, Langebaanweg, Cape Province, South Africa

Current age 55 years 19 days

Major teams England, Northamptonshire, Orange Free State, Western Province

Nickname Legga, Lambie

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm medium

Height 5 ft 8 in

Education Wynberg Boys High School

Some England cricketers are born; there was no destiny in Allan Lamb's career. Signed from Western Province as an unknown by Northamptonshire as their overseas player in 1978, he was chugging along nicely when Ken Turner, their secretary, persuaded him that South Africa were years away from returning to Test cricket and that he should invoke his English-born parents to play for England. He never lost his accent nor his attitudes: there was always the hint of the colonial chancer about him -- but Lamb was to be a fixture of the England middle order for the next decade. Small, stocky, aggressive, he had a correct technique, power in his shots and a gift for needling the bowlers. Lamb captained England in three Tests, hopelessly, but in 1995 he came close to taking Northamptonshire to their first Championship, strutting round the county grounds like Napoleon.
Matthew Engel

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1981

Mar 25, 1992

Lamb gone, Lewis to follow: Wasim Akram is on fire

© Getty Images

Mar 8, 1992

© Getty Images

Mar 28, 1990

Allan Lamb steps between a rowing Alec Stewart and Desmond Haynes

© Wisden Cricket Monthly

View the full index of related photos »