Dusty Rhodes

Albert Ennion Groucott Rhodes popularly known as Dusty Rhodes was a former cricket umpire. He was born on 10th October 1916 in Tintwistle, England. Rhodes was regarded as one of the greatest umpires in the pre third-umpire era. He passed away on 17th October 1983, a week after his 68th-birthday, in Barlow, Derbyshire.

Early Career

Rhodes was an exceptional first-class cricketer. Representing Derbyshire, Rhodes used to bowl right-handed medium-fast and leg-break while he was a right-handed batsman. His first-class debut came against Surrey in 1937.

But his cricket-career was immensely hampered by the Second World War as he lost six seasons for the war.

Emerging as the replacement for Tommy Mitchell, Rhodes scored four centuries in his first-class career. His best bowling performance of 8 for 162 came against Yorkshire in 1946. Two seasons later, Rhodes acquired his highest score of 127 against Somerset. Rhodes took a hat-trick five times, four of them for Derbyshire.

The talented cricketer retired from the professional cricket after playing a match against Middlesex in August 1954. In his illustrated first-class career, Rhodes scalped 661 wickets at 28.22 and scored 7363 runs at 18.97 in 275 matches.

Umpire Career

Rhode's umpiring career begun in the fifth test between England and West Indies at the Oval in August 1963.

He officiated the second ODI match in the history of the game which was played between England and Australia at Manchester in June 1972. His all officiated matches were at home.

Rhodes officiated eight Tests and three ODI matches in his 11-year term as the cricket umpire.

Retirement

Rhodes stood for the final time in the test cricket when England took on New Zealand in the first test at Nottingham in June 1973. Three months later, Rhodes bid farewell to his umpire career after officiating the second ODI between England and West Indies at London in September 1973.