Ken Shuttleworth, Former England and Lancashire Fast Bowler, Dies Aged 80

Ken Shuttleworth, the former Lancashire and England fast bowler, has died at the age of 80.

Shuttleworth played five Test matches for England between 1970 and 1971, notably featuring in the Ashes-winning tour of Australia in 1970-71. He made a memorable Test debut in Brisbane, taking five wickets in the second innings and playing a key role in England’s success Down Under.

Born in St Helens, Shuttleworth joined Lancashire in 1964 and quickly became a vital part of the bowling attack. A tall, strongly built right-arm pacer, he bowled with a classic side-on action and generated genuine pace. He supported the experienced Brian Statham and Ken Higgs in the Lancashire line-up, later rotating as the third seamer alongside Peter Lever.

Reflecting on his early years, Shuttleworth once remarked in an interview with The St Helens Star in 2021: "I was bowling as quick as what you see the fast bowlers bowl now."

Shuttleworth's first-class career was marked by consistency and impressive statistics. He took 484 wickets at an average of 22.92 for Lancashire and later claimed another 99 wickets for Leicestershire, where he moved in the latter part of his playing career. His best bowling figures came in 1968 when he took 7 for 41 against Essex at Leyton. In 1970, he recorded his most successful season with 74 wickets at just over 21.

Injuries curtailed what could have been a longer international career, but Shuttleworth still enjoyed several notable moments on the global stage. Before his Test debut, he toured Pakistan with the Commonwealth XI in 1967-68 under Richie Benaud’s captaincy. In June 1970, he also played for England against the Rest of the World at Lord’s.

On the historic 1970-71 Ashes tour, captained by Ray Illingworth, Shuttleworth played in the first two drawn Tests. He also etched his name into the record books by claiming England’s first-ever wicket in One Day International cricket, during the inaugural ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in January 1971.

"I just took it as another game," Shuttleworth recalled of his Test debut. "We got stick, which you expect when you're out there, but we were the first team since Douglas Jardine's in 1932 to win the Ashes in Australia."

In the domestic one-day scene, Shuttleworth was a pivotal figure in Lancashire’s dominance during the early 1970s. He helped the county secure three consecutive Gillette Cup victories (1970, 1971, 1972) and two Sunday League titles (1969, 1970). One of his finest performances came in 1972 at Trent Bridge, where he took 5 for 13, including the prized wicket of Sir Garry Sobers.

Following his move to Leicestershire in 1975, he continued to play at league level in Staffordshire before retiring from the game. After a stint in business, he returned to cricket as a first-class umpire. In 2021, his contributions were formally recognised with induction into Lancashire’s Hall of Fame.

Ken Shuttleworth is survived by his wife Barbara and daughters Sara and Hannah.