Nigel Popplewell

Nigel Francis Mark Popplewell (born 8 August 1957) is an English solicitor and former first-class cricketer who made over 200 appearances for Somerset between 1979 and 1985. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, Popplewell also occasionally played as wicket-keeper.[1]

Nigel Popplewell
Personal information
Full nameNigel Francis Mark Popplewell
Born (1957-08-08) 8 August 1957
Chislehurst, Kent, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleAll-rounder
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1979–1985Somerset
1977–1979Cambridge University
First-class debut23 April 1977 Cambridge University v Leicestershire
Last First-class3 August 1985 Somerset v Hampshire
List A debut7 May 1977 Combined Universities v Kent
Last List A1 September 1985 Somerset v Sussex
Career statistics
Competition FC LA
Matches 143 123
Runs scored 5070 2077
Batting average 27.11 23.33
100s/50s 4/22 0/8
Top score 172 84
Balls bowled 8290 2158
Wickets 103 49
Bowling average 43.11 32.63
5 wickets in innings 1 0
10 wickets in match 0 n/a
Best bowling 5/33 3/34
Catches/stumpings 110/– 42/2
Source: , 13 February 2010

Early career

Popplewell's father, Oliver Popplewell, was a barrister and High Court judge. His brother Andrew Popplewell is also a High Court judge.

Nigel Popplewell was educated at Radley College, where he captained the First XI in 1975, scoring 720 runs at an average of 45.00 and taking 60 wickets at 10.13.[2] He went up to Selwyn College, Cambridge,[3] and played in the Cambridge University team from 1977 to 1979. He began playing for Hampshire Second XI in 1976.[4]

In 1976–77, aged 19 and before he had played first-class cricket, he took part in the first cricket tour of Bangladesh with Marylebone Cricket Club.[5] In 1978 he played two matches for Northamptonshire Second XI, and in 1979 he joined Somerset.[4]

Career with Somerset

A few weeks after playing his last match for Cambridge he made his Somerset debut against the touring Indian team, scoring 37 and 32 at number eight to help Somerset avoid defeat.[6] He was a regular member of the Somerset team from 1980 to 1985, scoring over 1000 first-class runs in a season in 1984 and 1985.[7]

He was a member of Somerset's title-winning List A teams of the period: the 1979 John Player League; the 1981 Benson & Hedges Cup, after he had won the Man of the match award in the semi-final;[8] the 1982 Benson & Hedges Cup; and the 1983 NatWest Bank Trophy, when he made a valuable 35 at number six after going to the wicket with the score at 95 for 4.[9]

In August 1985, after scoring 1064 runs at an average of 38.00 in 18 first-class matches, and a few weeks after making his highest score, 172 against Essex in an opening partnership of 243 with Peter Roebuck,[10] Popplewell retired from cricket to resume his legal studies.[11]

Career after cricket

Popplewell taught school science during the winter recesses from cricket during his cricket years. He re-qualified as a solicitor in 1987, practising in Taunton, where he specialised first in litigation, then company law and subsequently tax.[12] He is now the joint head of Burges Salmon's corporate tax team, and chairman of the Law Society's Stamp Taxes Working Group.[13]

References
  1. "Player profile: Nigel Popplewell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  2. Wisden 1976, p. 902.
  3. Wisden 1980, p. 646.
  4. "Second Eleven Championship Matches played by Nigel Popplewell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  5. J.G. Lofting, "Bangladesh back on the map", The Cricketer, April 1977, p. 29.
  6. Wisden 1980, pp. 342–43.
  7. "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Nigel Popplewell". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. "Somerset v Kent 1981". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. Wisden 1984, p. 668.
  10. "Essex v Somerset 1985". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  11. Wisden 1986, p. 517.
  12. "Mr Nigel Popplewell MA, CTA(Fellow), Solicitor". ClerksRoom. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  13. "Nigel Popplewell, Partner". Burges Salmon. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
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