No cricketer was more devastating on rain-affected pitches than Derek Underwood, who has died aged 78. “Deadly”, as he was known both to friend and foe, took more Test wickets – 297 – than any other English spin bowler, and stands sixth on the all-time list of England wicket takers.
Playing for much of his career when pitches were left uncovered outside play, he became expert at exploiting “sticky dog” surfaces. For Kent and England he took five wickets or more in an innings 153 times, 17 of them in Test matches.
