David John Balcombe (born 24 December 1984) is an English former cricketer who played primarily as a right-arm medium-fast bowler. Balcombe spent the majority of his professional career with Hampshire, but also played first-class cricket for Durham UCCE and Kent. In a career which spanned from 2005 to 2014, he took 196 wickets in first-class cricket.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | David John Balcombe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 December 1984 City of London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Balcs[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4[1] in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Durham UCCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2014 | Hampshire (squad no. 84) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | → Kent (loan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Berkshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 30 January 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early career
editBalcombe was born in the City of London in December 1984. He was educated at St. Johns School in Leatherhead,[1] before matriculating to Durham University. There, he played first-class cricket for Durham UCCE, making his debut against Somerset at Taunton in 2005. He played first-class cricket for the university until 2007, making nine appearances.[2] He took 17 wickets at an average of 60.41 for the university, including a maiden five wicket haul with figures of 5 for 112 against Durham.[3] While studying at Durham, Balcombe also made a single first-class appearance for a British Universities cricket team against the touring Sri Lankans at Fenner's in 2008.[2]
Although he had been a member of Surrey's cricket academy,[4] it was while playing for Durham UCCE that he was spotted by Hampshire's Giles White, who recommended him to the county.[1] Having joined Hampshire in 2006, he made his debut for the county in a Twenty20 match against Middlesex at Southgate in the Twenty20 Cup.[5] The following season, he made his first-class debut for Hampshire against Kent in the County Championship,[2] in addition to making his debut in List A one-day cricket against Lancashire at Old Trafford in the NatWest Pro40.[6] From 2008 to 2010, Balcombe struggled to establish himself in the Hampshire first team, playing seventeen first-class and eight one-day matches in that period.[2][6] A back injury during the 2010 season ruled him out for the remainder of that season.[1]
Loan to Kent and return to Hampshire
editDuring the following season, he was loaned to Kent on a one-month deal in July,[7] which was later extended by an additional month.[8] Balcombe headed their first-class bowling averages while at Kent, with 33 wickets at an average of 17.81 from five matches, which included four five wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul in a match;[3] while at Kent, he also made three one-day appearances, in addition to a single Twenty20 appearance against the touring Indians.[6][5] On the back of his performances for Kent, there was speculation he would join the county permanently following his loan deal.[9] Ultimately, he returned to Hampshire,[10] who had been relegated in his absence. Balcombe also played minor counties cricket for Berkshire in 2011, making a single appearance apiece in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy.[11][12]
Returning to Hampshire, he began the 2012 season by taking career best bowling figures in Hampshire's opening County Championship match against Gloucestershire, with figures of 8 for 71.[1][13] In the 2012 season, he took 64 first-class wickets at an average of 26.10, with three five wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul in a match.[14] His performances in 2012 established him as the leader of Hampshire's attack.[1] Balcombe was a replacement for Danny Briggs in Hampshire's squad for the 2012 Champions League Twenty20, playing in one match against Sialkot Stallions.[5][15] However, he was unable to repeat his form the following summer, where hot and dry weather was more favourable to batsman. In 2014, he played just four first-class matches in the 2014 season,[2] alongside a single one-day match against Sri Lanka A.[6] With opportunities limited at Hampshire, Balcombe opted to signed a two-year deal with Surrey at the end of the 2014 season.[16] In 52 first-class matches for Hampshire, he took 141 wickets at an average of 33.27.[3] As a tailend batsman, he scored 701 runs at a batting average of 15.57, with two half centuries and a high score of 73.[17]
Balcombe did not feature for the Surrey first team during his first year with the county, ultimately deciding to retire from professional cricket to take up a role with the Kevin Pietersen Foundation.[18][19]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Player profile: David Balcombe". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "First-Class Matches played by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "David Balcombe Announces Retirement from Professional Cricket". www.ageasbowl.com. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Twenty20 Matches played by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "List A Matches played by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Hampshire bowler David Balcombe joins Kent on one-month loan deal". www.kentonline.co.uk. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "Kent bowler David Balcombe extends loan spell from Hampshire by a further month". www.kentonline.co.uk. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Baldwin, Mark (1 September 2011). "David Balcombe makes good pitch for permanent move". The Times. London. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Wolfe, Steve (17 September 2011). "Balcombe set for Hampshire return". Kent Sports News. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Minor Counties Trophy Matches played by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Balcombe's fireworks stun Gloucestershire". Daily Echo. Southampton. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "First-Class Bowling in Each Season by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "CLT20: Titans, Hampshire allowed replacement for injured players". www.cricketcountry.com. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Surrey bring in Balcombe". ESPNcricinfo. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by David Balcombe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Seamer Balcombe announces retirement". BBC Sport. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "Balcombe retires to work for KP Foundation". ESPNcricinfo. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2024.