Terry Spencer

Charles Terence Spencer (18 August 1931 in Braunstone, Leicestershire) is a former English first class cricketer who played for Leicestershire. Only Ewart Astill and George Geary have taken more wickets for Leicestershire. His career best figures of 9-63 were made in 1954 against Yorkshire. He is the nephew of Leicestershire fast bowler Haydon Smith.

Early career

Terry Spencer made his debut against Cambridge University at Fenners in 1952, taking one wicket. He took as many as 80 wickets in his debut season, albeit at fairly high cost, and was selected for the 1953 Test Trial. Unusual in being able to play fairly regularly during his National Service, Spencer became a stalwart in a usually weak side. Claiming over 100 wickets once (119 in 1961), he passed 80 in a season a further six times. A useful hitter, he passed fifty seven times including an innings of 90 against Essex at Grace Road. He scored over 400 runs in a season eight times.

Comeback

Spencer retired in 1969 but was brought back by Ray Illingworth and after playing regularly for two seasons, he played intermittently in First Class and List A matches until a final championship appearance at the end of 1974 against Essex at Chelmsford. Spencer was part of Leicestershire´s 1972 Benson & Hedges cup-winning team. He played his final match for the county in a Benson and Hedges group match against Hampshire at Grace Road when several players were struck down with flu. He was 45 at the time.
He was on the First Class umpires list from 1979 until the end of 1983, and continued to Umpire Second Eleven matches until 1990.

External links

• Cricket Archive
  * Wisden 1978
  *A History of Leicestershire Cricket EE Snow Volumes 1 and 2 (1949 and 1980)