Martin Vernon

Martin Vernon (4 July 1951 – 2024) was an English cricketer. He played for Middlesex between 1974 and 1976 and for Gloucestershire in 1977.^[1]

Martin Vernon

Personal information
Full name	Martin Jeffery Vernon
Born	(1951-07-04)4 July 1951 Marylebone, London, England
Died	2024 (aged 73)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1974–1976	Middlesex
1977	Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition FC List A Matches 22 31 Runs scored 146 75 Batting average 6.63 7.50 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 Top score 27 15* Balls bowled 1847 1399 Wickets 31 26 Bowling average 38.64 40.15 5 wickets in innings 2 0 10 wickets in match 1 n/a Best bowling 6/58 3/13 Catches/stumpings 5/0 3/0
Source: Cricinfo, 30 July 2013

Vernon played irregularly for Middlesex Second XI from 1970,^[2] and made his first-team debut in 1974 as an opening bowler. In July 1974, in his third County Championship match, he took 6 for 58 and 5 for 54 against Somerset, twice dismissing Viv Richards leg-before, and dismissing Brian Close for a pair, the first in Close's long career. Vernon took four wickets in seven balls in the second innings.^[3][4] With his pace he was regarded as a possible long-term replacement for John Price in the Middlesex team,^[5] but he was unable to maintain his form, and his appearances in first-class cricket were irregular. His best List A cricket figures came in his first match, when he took 3 for 13 off eight overs against Yorkshire in June 1974.^[6] He toured Bangladesh with MCC in 1976-77. An ankle injury forced him to retire from professional cricket after the 1977 season.^[7]

Vernon had a career in newspaper and magazine advertising, including two positions as a managing director.^[7]

Vernon died in 2024 at the age of 73.^[8]