Andy Caddick, Caddy, Big Ears is my cricket idol. Being a Somerset fan myself it is slightly bias but he was a brilliant opening bowler for England, sadly when England weren't at there best.
I started playing cricket when i was 11 and Caddy was my inspiration, so much so my nickname at Calne when I play is Caddy. (I like to think its because im just as good, but i think the big ears have a part to play) His run up is also brilliant and his bowling action is extradionary! if you have never seen it, check it out, and have a go at copying it, its very hard!
I was watching the compliation of tributes put together by Sky and the one that caught my eye was a comment by David Lloyd. He said that on his day, he was unplayable. That is a big statement to make, but many people out there will know what he could do with a ball. His sheer pace and bounce at times did make him look impossible to play.
I remember watching him in his greatest moment for England when taking four wickets in an over against the West Indies in 2000. I was 10/11 years old in my front room watching it and it was incredible to see. West Indies collapsing to 69 all out. Caddy could change a game but was also prone to some wayward bowling but when you knew that magic was there you allowed him to not be perfect all the time!
His last test match was in Australia when taking seven wickets in the final ashes test match in the 2003 Ashes. It was fitting that he started his test career against the Aussies and finished that way.
In 2007, Caddy had a great season taking 72 first class wickets. He helped Somerset get back to where they belong, into division one of the county championship. His performances were that impressive, many spoke about a shock England return, which sadly didn't happen. Caddy though had ended on a high in 2003 and wouldn't have ever been able to reach that standard again at the age of 38. I think he thought the same too and was just glad to help Somerset out.
The numbers of wickets do the explaining for Caddy and clearly show why he is a cricket legend. In his test career he took 234 wickets at an average of just under 30, which for a test career of 10 years, is a good standard to maintain. He has taken over 1,000 first class wickets, and to be precise It's now 1170 first class wickets but with a month of the season still to go, he will be hoping for that 1200 mark. If he can do that, I would love it for his career to end with a county championship. I don't think there are many people that would begrudge him, in the cricket world, that honour. Unless your a Durham player/fan!
All i hope of now, is to make a trip down to Taunton to see the man bowl one more time.
My Grandad use to tell me about the great england fast bowlers he watched like Bob Willis and many others that I have forgotten but I'm pretty sure one day i will have the same conversation with my grandson about Andy Caddick and hopefully, he will care just as much as i do.
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