Former England and Lancashire Bowler, Ken Shuttleworth, Passes Away at 80

Ken Shuttleworth, the former Lancashire and England fast bowler, has died at the age of 80. He leaves behind his wife Barbara, and daughters Sara and Hannah.

Shuttleworth played in five Test matches between 1970 and 1971. His debut occurred during the Ashes-winning tour of Australia in Brisbane, where he secured five wickets in the second innings.

Known for his height and strong build, the right-arm bowler possessed a long run-up, a side-on action, and impressive pace.

Born in St Helens, Shuttleworth joined Lancashire in 1964, bringing an aggressive element to the county’s bowling attack, which complemented the accuracy of Brian Statham.

In a 2021 interview, Shuttleworth spoke of the speed and competition within Lancashire’s bowling attack during his playing days.

Shuttleworth’s Words

“I was bowling as quick as what you see the fast bowlers bowl now,” Shuttleworth stated. “Brian and Ken Higgs were the two main bowlers, with Peter Lever and myself alternating as the third seamer.”

Shuttleworth claimed Geoff Boycott as his first-class wicket at Old Trafford. He went on to capture 484 wickets for Lancashire at an average of 22.92. Later, he added 99 wickets for Leicestershire before his professional career ended. His best performance came in 1968 against Essex at Leyton, where he took 7 for 41, ending the season with 73 wickets. Two years later, he improved upon this with 74 wickets at just over 21 each.

Injuries hampered Shuttleworth’s international career, even though many believed he was capable of greater achievements.

He toured Pakistan with the Commonwealth XI in 1967–68 under Richie Benaud and represented England against the Rest of the World at Lord’s in 1970.

During the 1970-71 Ashes series, he participated in the first two drawn Tests. In January 1971, he made history by taking England’s first wicket in one-day internationals during the inaugural ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Reflecting on his debut, Shuttleworth said:

“I just took it as another game. We got stick, as expected, but we were the first team since Douglas Jardine’s in 1932 to win the Ashes in Australia.”

Domestically, Shuttleworth was essential to Lancashire’s one-day success, contributing to three consecutive Gillette Cup wins from 1970 to 1972 and two Sunday League titles in 1969 and 1970. A notable performance occurred in 1972 at Trent Bridge, where he took 5 for 13, including the wicket of Sir Garry Sobers.

After joining Leicestershire in 1975, Shuttleworth transitioned to league cricket in Staffordshire before entering the business world. He later returned to cricket as a first-class umpire. In 2021, he was inducted into Lancashire’s Hall of Fame for his contributions to the county.