Post by hhsussex on Sept 6, 2018 11:38:26 GMT
One of the most famous names of the Sussex teams of the 50s and 60s, linking the eras of Sheppard and Dexter, has died aged 88. Alan Oakman was a true all-rounder, scoring over 20, 000 first class runs for Sussex and taking more than 700 wickets. In addition he was one of the finest close fielders in the history of the game, taking nearly 600 catches, many at short leg. In a brief Test career he made few runs but held 5 catches in a memorable match, Jim Laker's 19 wickets at Manchester in 1956. Though his batting declined a little after that time his off spin bowling returned - he had taken 99 wickets in 1954 - and he was an invaluable member of the early Gillette cup winning sides. After finishing with Sussex in 1968 he went to Warwickshire as coach and then as an Administrator. He continued to play for Old England and club sides right up to the end of the century.