Simon Dennis, a left-arm fast bowler, played for Glamorgan between 1989 and 1991 after a nine-year career with his native Yorkshire
The nephew of Sir Len Hutton had shown rich promise as a schoolboy fast bowler, playing for Scarborough CC and Yorkshire Colts, before winning places in the England Schools and Young England teams. August 1980 saw Simon make his first-class debut against Somerset at Weston-super-Mare, before the following week he also played in the List A match against Leicestershire.
Further hostile spells in 2nd XI cricket, as well as a stint with Orange Free State during 1982/83, furthered Simon’s development and he became a regular member of the Tykes attack in 1983 – a summer that saw Simon being awarded his Yorkshire cap in 1983, as well as taking 52 first-class wickets at 30 runs apiece and being an integral member of the Yorkshire squad which won the Sunday League title.
Various ailments and a loss of form meant that Simon only claimed 10 first-class wickets and none in List A cricket during 1987 and 1988 combined, and at the end of the latter season he was released from Yorkshire’s staff. With Steve Barwick having switched from seam to off-cutters, Simon duly joined Glamorgan and, when fit, became a useful foil to the likes of Steve Watkin and Mark Frost.
During his time in South Wales, Simon claimed 60 first-class wicket for the Welsh county before retiring from professional cricket at the end of 1991 season. His final appearance in a major match came in September 1991 for the Yorkshiremen against Yorkshire at Scarborough, fittingly at the North Marine Road ground where he had first played as a junior cricketer.
DENNIS, Simon John
Born – Scarborough, 18th October 1960.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 38 v Derbyshire at Derby, 1989; 5/76 v Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens, 1990.
In List A cricket – 50 v Hampshire at Southampton, 1991; 3/44 v Kent at Canterbury, 1989.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 32 | 29 | 2 | 213 | 7.89 | – | – | 6 | – |
| List A | 49 | 25 | 5 | 126 | 6.30 | – | 1 | 10 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 4662 | 180 | 2365 | 60 | 39.42 | 2 | – |
| List A | 2129 | 23 | 1636 | 24 | 68.16 | – | – |