Mike Watkinson

Who is Mike Watkinson?

Mike Watkinson is a former English cricketer who played four Test matches and one One Day International in the mid-1990s. A right-handed batsman and a right-arm bowler of either medium-pace or off-spin, he was instrumental in Lancashire's successes in the 1990s, and is now the county's cricket manager.

He showed early promise as an all-round sportsman, excelling in both cricket and football, and achieving good standards in golf and basketball. He demonstrated that good hand, ball and eye co-ordination can be applied to many sports, and thus it is no surprise that he was able to make his living through sport.

Watkinson attended Westhoughton County Primary School, and then Rivington & Blackrod Grammar School. During this time he was a regular player at Westhoughton Cricket Club in the Bolton Cricket League, where he drew attention from Teddy Gerrard, a coach at the club. He started playing in local matches for the Astley Region Southern Explorers, this is where his bowling skills really developed. Under the expert tuition of coach Wayne Kerr, Watkinson developed a very accurate style of bowling inswingers and leg breaks, using pitch rather than pace to score wickets.