Giles Cheatle

Having played for the Sussex Second XI since 1972,[3] Cheatle made his first-class debut for Sussex against Surrey at The Oval in the 1974 County Championship, in what was his only appearance in that season.[4] In the 1975 County Championship he made two first-class appearances against Middlesex and Hampshire,[4] claiming his maiden wicket against Hampshire when he dismissed Barry Richards.[5] In the 1976 County Championship, he made three first-class appearances against Leicestershire, Essex and Kent.[4] It was against Kent that he took his maiden five wicket haul, taking figures of 6/54 in Kent's second-innings.[6]

In the following season, Cheatle became a regular in the Sussex first eleven, making eleven County Championship appearances,[4] taking 23 wickets at an average of 29.17,[7] which included best figures of 5/9 against Warwickshire, which helped Sussex to an innings victory.[8] It was in this same season that he made his List A debut against Somerset in the 1977 John Player League, with him making six further appearances during the tournament.[9] taking 8 wickets at an average of 15.25, with best figures of 4/33.[10] In the 1978 County Championship, he made fifteen first-class appearances, taking 24 wickets, though at a high average than in his previous season, with these wickets coming at an average of 40.33, with best figures of 4/89.[7] This season also saw Cheatle make what would be his highest score in first-class cricket the bat, with 49 against Kent.[11] He also gained an extended run in Sussex's one-day (List A) team, making 24 appearances in total across the Benson & Hedges Cup, John Player League and Gillette Cup,[9] taking 19 wickets at an average of 26.78, with best figures of 2/15.[7] He played in the final of the Gillette Cup at Lord's in that season against Somerset, with him taking the wickets of Brian Rose and Peter Roebuck, finishing with figures of 2/50 from his twelve overs. Sussex won the match by 5 wickets.[12][13]

The 1979 season was Cheatle's last with Sussex. He made eight first-class appearances in that season, with six appearances coming in the County Championship.[4] He took 21 wickets at an average of 22.23, with best figures of 6/32.[7] One of two five wicket hauls he took in that season, these figures came against Yorkshire.[14] He also made sixteen List A appearances in his final season, again spread over appearances in the Benson & Hedges Cup and John Player League, though he did not feature in the Gillette Cup.[9] He took 17 wickets in these sixteen matches, which came at an average of 26.82, with best figures of 3/28.[10] In total Cheatle made forty first-class appearances for Sussex, scoring 276 runs at a batting average of 12.54.[15] With the ball, he took 77 wickets at an average of 31.28, with best figures of 6/32, one of four five wickets hauls he would take for the county.[16] In List A cricket, he 183 runs at an average of 20.33, with a high score of 18 not out.[17] With the ball, he took 44 wickets at an average of 24.70, with best figures of 4/33.[18]

He joined Surrey for the 1980 season, making his first-class debut for the county against Hampshire at The Oval in that season's County Championship. He made thirteen further first-class appearances in 1980,[4] taking 23 wickets in his debut season at an average of 28.65, with best figures of 5/28.[7] He took two five wicket hauls in this season, with his best figures coming against his former county.[19] In List A cricket, his debut for the county in that format came against Kent in the Benson & Hedges Cup. He made fifteen List A appearances in his debut season with Surrey,[9] taking 22 wickets at an average of 20.81, with best figures of 4/34.[10] He made just one first-class appearance in 1982, against Cambridge University at Fenner's,[4] as well as making a single List A appearance against Leicestershire in the John Player League, which was to be his final appearance in List A cricket.[9] In 1982, he appeared four times in first-class cricket, appearing against Sussex, Lancashire, Middlesex and Kent in the County Championship. He made a single and final first-class appearance in the following season against Oxford University at The Oval.[4] In total, he made twenty first-class appearances for the county, scoring 62 runs at an average of 15.50, with a high score of 27 not out.[15] With the ball, he took 27 wickets at an average of 33.11, with best figures of 5/28, one of two five wicket hauls he took.[16]

• Giles Cheatle at ESPNcricinfo
• Giles Cheatle at CricketArchive