Chris Tavaré

Everything about Chris Tavaré annoyed the Australians in the early 1980s, right down to his acute accent: he was the antithesis of their idea of a cricketer. An Oxford graduate, rather silent, effete-seeming, he simply refused to get out of their way and batted for hours, even days. The energy other players put into their strokes Tavaré expended by walking halfway to square-leg after every delivery. He could play shots and was particularly effective at smashing off-spinners over the top. But he didn't like to let on and rarely got the opportunity in Test cricket: though he much preferred to bat No. 3, England forced him to open because there was no one else. He was deposed as Kent captain, unpleasantly, and then moved to Somerset.
Matthew Engel