Name:

Pocock, Patrick Ian

Date of Birth:

24 Sep 1946

Gender:

Men

Place of Birth:

Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales

Career:

Test: 1968 - 1985
ODI: 1985 - 1985

Teams:

England (Country)
Surrey (Regional)

1984 2nd Test: Robinson guts India, England win away after 2 years (Delhi)

Patrick Ian “Pat” Pocock (born 24 September 1946) served as a mainstay right-arm off-spinner for Surrey and represented England over an international career spanning seventeen years. Standing 6 ft 1 in tall, Pocock played 25 Test matches and one One-Day International between 1968 and 1985, leaving behind a reputation as one of the most resilient and craft-focused slow bowlers of his era.

Early Career & International Debut

Pocock made his first-class debut for Surrey in 1964, quickly establishing himself within the county setup through his classical action and sharp drift. He earned his England Test debut against the West Indies at Barbados in March 1968. In his next appearance—the iconic 1968 Ashes Test at Old Trafford—he took 6 for 79 in Australia's first innings, demonstrating his capacity to break top orders. Despite this early success, the rise of left-arm spinner Derek Underwood and changing team balances frequently restricted his international opportunities, marking the start of a career defined by periods of exile and notable recalls.

Career Highlights & County Stature

At the county level, Pocock was a cornerstone of the Surrey attack for over two decades. His finest individual feat arrived in August 1972 against Sussex at Eastbourne, where he produced a world-record spell of bowling, capturing 7 wickets in 11 balls (including 5 wickets in 6 balls)—an extraordinary display of rapid destruction that remains a celebrated milestone in county cricket history.

Known for his lofty, textbook action and generous flight, Pocock relied on subtle variations in trajectory, pace, and wrist position rather than brute turn. When batsmen took the offensive, he was renowned for his willingness to experiment with angles and flight to outmaneuver them.

Return to England Duty & Later Years

After an eight-year absence from the Test arena following the 1976 season, Pocock was recalled to the England side in 1984 at the age of 37. He went on to play a pivotal role during England’s 1984–85 tour of India, forming a highly effective, complementary spin partnership alongside left-armer Phil Edmonds to secure a memorable 2–1 series victory.

Pocock assumed the Surrey captaincy in 1986, retiring at the end of that season. Across his first-class career, he took 1,607 wickets at an average of 26.53, including 66 five-wicket hauls. In Test cricket, he finished with 67 wickets at 44.41, featuring three five-wicket hauls.

Following his playing days, he remained a popular, insightful, and witty contributor to cricket broadcasting and the county circuit.