On the short side and chunkily built, Nigel Cowley was a middle-order batsman and tight offspinner who was a key one-day player. Initially seen as a batsman, his bowling became more important as his career evolved. In 1981 he was Hampshire's leading batsman and bowler in the Sunday League, and in 1982 he made his second hundred and took a career-best 6 for 48 against Leicestershire in the opening Championship match. In 1984 he passed 1000 runs for the only time - 1042 at 30.64 - and equalled his best season with the ball, taking 56 wickets. In his last seasons he was a one-day specialist with only rare Championship appearances, and in 1988 he finally won silverware, his 11-2-17-1 a key part in the Benson & Hedges Cup win over Derbyshire. He moved for a final hurrah with Glamorgan in 1990, and then moved on to become a first-class umpire.
Martin Williamson