Justin Benson (cricketer)

Justin David Ramsay Benson (born 1 March 1967) is a former Irish cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler as well as an occasional wicket-keeper.^[1]

Justin Benson

Personal information
Full name	Justin David Ramsay Benson
Born	(1967-03-01) 1 March 1967 (age 58) Dublin, Ireland
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm medium
Role	Batsman
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1986	Cambridgeshire
1988–1993	Leicestershire
1994–1997	Ireland
FC debut	28 April 1988 Leicestershire v Northamptonshire
Last FC	11 August 1997 Ireland v Scotland
LA debut	25 June 1986 Cambridgeshire v Yorkshire
Last LA	24 June 1997 Ireland v Yorkshire
Career statistics
Competition FC LA ICC T Matches 57 101 17 Runs scored 2,158 1,556 459 Batting average 28.39 19.45 32.78 100s/50s 4/6 0/3 0/2 Top score 153 85 74* Balls bowled 824 1,645 18 Wickets 11 53 1 Bowling average 48.36 28.81 22.00 5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 Best bowling 2/24 4/27 1/22 Catches/stumpings 66/– 41/0 8/–
Source: CricketArchive, 30 September 2008

Benson attended St Faith's School in Cambridge, England.^[2] Though born in Ireland, he spent the early part of his cricket career playing solely in England, starting by playing minor counties cricket with Cambridgeshire before moving on to play first-class cricket with Leicestershire. A highlight of his time at Leicestershire came in helping them to the final of the 1992 NatWest Trophy, Benson being at the wicket at the tight conclusion to a semi-final victory over then County Champions Essex.^[3]

He spent five years with Leicestershire from 1988 to 1993 and as his career with them was winding down, he began to play for the country of his birth shortly after they gained associate membership of the International Cricket Council in 1993. He made his debut for Ireland against Australia in 1993 and was then selected for the 1994 ICC Trophy.

He carried on playing for Ireland whilst also again playing minor counties cricket for Cambridgeshire, playing in one more ICC Trophy in 1997 as well as the inaugural European Championship in 1996. His last match came against the MCC at Lord's in August 1997 at which point he had represented Ireland 59 times. He was captain in all his games in 1996 and 1997.