Dudley Cockle

Cockle was born in August 1907 at Wilton, Wiltshire. He was educated at Bishop Wordsworth's School, before attending the Royal Air Force College Cranwell.[1] After graduating he entered into the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a non-commissioned officer. While serving in British India made a single first-class appearance for the British Indian Army cricket team against Northern India in the 1934–35 Ranji Trophy at Lahore.[2] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed for 12 runs in the Army first-innings by Amir Elahi, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 25 runs by the same bowler. He took two wickets Northern India first-innings, dismissing Ahmed Raza to break a 304-run partnership between Raza and George Abell, with his second wicket of the innings being Charles Kindersley, leaving Cockle with innings figures of 2 for 99.[3] Returning to England, he made his debut in minor counties cricket for Wiltshire in the 1937 Minor Counties Championship, with Cockle appearing fourteen times before the Second World War.[4]

Serving in the war, Cockle held the rank of flight sergeant by its conclusion. He was decorated with the British Empire Medal in the 1946 New Year Honours.[5] He resumed playing minor counties cricket for Wiltshire after the war, making a further eighteen appearances up to 1949.[4] Besides playing cricket, Cockle also played football, rugby union and field hockey for the RAF.[1] After retiring from the RAF in 1949, he went on to coach cricket at King Edward's School, Birmingham between 1949–72.[1] He died at Ludlow in March 1986.

• Dudley Cockle at ESPNcricinfo