Bob Cottam was a tall, right-arm medium-fast bowler who relied on limitless stamina and unerring accuracy. He took over 1000 first-class wickets for Hampshire and Northamptonshire, passing 100 wickets in a season three times. In 1965 he took 9 for 25 for Hampshire against Lancashire, but in 1971 moved to Northants, cut down his pace, and made a second career for himself as a naggingly-accurate seamer. He toured Pakistan in 1968-69 and India and Pakistan in 1972-73, and his four Test caps all came on those two trips. Although the pitches did not favour him, his 14 wickets cost only 23.35. After retiring he coached Warwickshire and Somerset before becoming England's bowling coach from 1998 to 2001. In Cottam's time Darren Gough and Andy Caddick developed into England's best new-ball pair since Willis and Botham, while Craig White went from county trundler to a man capable of bowling Brian Lara round his legs first-up. And he got Dominic Cork swinging the ball again - for a while, anyway.
Martin Williamson