Old Basing have pulled off a pre-season coup by signing former Hampshire and England off-spinner Shaun Udal, who will play for them in County Division 2 this summer.
Now 47, Udal has played Surrey Championship cricket for home town club Camberley and Leatherhead in recent seasons. He will play for OB, principally as a batsman following neck surgery over the winter.
Udal played four Tests for England finally making his debut at the age of 36 in 1994 in Pakistan, writes Mike Vimpany.
He was then called up for the final match of the series in India in 2005 and produced a stunning 4-14 in the final afternoon which included the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar as England squared the series.
Udal also played 10 One-Day internationals in 1994-95, making his debut at the same time as Darren Gough.
He took over 1,800 wickets on the county circuit, skippering Hampshire to their G C & G Trophy triumph at Lord’s and later skippering Middlesex. He subsequently played Minor Counties Championship cricket for Berkshire.
Udal’s signing is a tremendous coup for Old Basing, whose ground is within walking distance of the former Hampshire cricketer’s home.
For much of last summer, Udal was forced to watch from the side-lines and spent time at Old Basing, for whom his daughter’s boyfriend Greg Donaldson is vice-captain. Darren Turner is the new club captain, with Dan Belcher having joined Basingstoke & North Hants.
Udal, who plans to get involved with the coaching at Old Basing, said: “The club has been really good to me and I can walk down to the ground, which is great and there is a playground at the ground for my son Jack.
“I really missed the banter of the dressing room, so it is great to be back and I am looking forward to passing on my knowledge to the younger players.
“I am really looking forward to what for me is a new challenge.”
Now 47, Udal has played Surrey Championship cricket for home town club Camberley and Leatherhead in recent seasons. He will play for OB, principally as a batsman following neck surgery over the winter.
Udal played four Tests for England finally making his debut at the age of 36 in 1994 in Pakistan, writes Mike Vimpany.
He was then called up for the final match of the series in India in 2005 and produced a stunning 4-14 in the final afternoon which included the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar as England squared the series.
Udal also played 10 One-Day internationals in 1994-95, making his debut at the same time as Darren Gough.
He took over 1,800 wickets on the county circuit, skippering Hampshire to their G C & G Trophy triumph at Lord’s and later skippering Middlesex. He subsequently played Minor Counties Championship cricket for Berkshire.
Udal’s signing is a tremendous coup for Old Basing, whose ground is within walking distance of the former Hampshire cricketer’s home.
For much of last summer, Udal was forced to watch from the side-lines and spent time at Old Basing, for whom his daughter’s boyfriend Greg Donaldson is vice-captain. Darren Turner is the new club captain, with Dan Belcher having joined Basingstoke & North Hants.
Udal, who plans to get involved with the coaching at Old Basing, said: “The club has been really good to me and I can walk down to the ground, which is great and there is a playground at the ground for my son Jack.
“I really missed the banter of the dressing room, so it is great to be back and I am looking forward to passing on my knowledge to the younger players.
“I am really looking forward to what for me is a new challenge.”
