This month, we’re looking back on the careers of several black cricketers who made an enormous impact during their time at Middlesex. We continue our series today by shining the spotlight on Norman Cowans…
Norman George Cowans was born 17th April 1961 in Jamaica and moved to England 11 years later.
Having attended school in the Harrow borough, he convinced his teachers to run practice sessions for the first time.
From that moment, it was acknowledged that Cowans had a talent and from that moment, he never looked back…
Having worked hard on his game during his youth, which earned him a call-up to play for England’s Under-19s, Cowans found himself signing for Middlesex in the winter of 1979/80 after spending a year on the Lord’s groundstaff.
In September 1981, Cowans made his Middlesex debut in the County Championship clash against Leicestershire at Grace Road before featuring in List-A cricket for the first time later in the same week at Chelmsford in the John Player League.
A year later, he was named as the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Player of the Year after taking 33 wickets in the summer, impressing onlookers.
Cowans took 19 five-wicket hauls and a single 10-fer for the Seaxes – with best innings figures of 6/31 coming against Leicestershire in 1985.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, Middlesex dismissed their hosts for 158, with Cowans claiming the prize wicket of David Gower – who top-scored with 49 – as well as Chris Balderstone, Peter Willey, Nigel Briers, Paddy Clift and George Ferris.
Cowans claimed two further wickets in the second innings as Middlesex wrapped up a comfortable 10-wicket win.
In List-A cricket, Cowans’ best figures of 6/9 came against Lancashire.
His successful Middlesex career saw him go on to play 42 times for England, including 19 Tests and 23 ODIs. Cowans took Test-best figures of 6/77 against Australia in the fourth Test of the 1982/83 Ashes series.
Cowans was awarded his Middlesex cap in 1984 and had a benefit year in 1993 before leaving the club and joining Hampshire prior to the 1994 season.
During his time at the Club, Cowans won 10 trophies and took 532 first-class wickets as well as 212 in List-A cricket and remains Middlesex’s 26th-highest wicket taker of all time.
