Middlesex Cricket is saddened to announce the death of Martin Olley, one of its former players. Martin passed on 28 June 2025 at the age of 61 and the love and thoughts of everyone connected to Middlesex are extended to his wife, Linda, and the entire Olley family.
Martin was born in Romford, Essex in 1963. He attended Felsted School in Essex, yet it was Northamptonshire who first identified his talent as a wicket-keeper. In 1983 he made his 1st Class debut for Northants against Cambridge University and played a couple of full seasons in the 2nd XI.
Martin began playing for Hertfordshire in 1984 and played a 2nd XI game for Middlesex in 1985. It was in 1988 that he made his Middlesex debut, standing in for Paul Downton when he was away on England duty. This role, and eventually that of Middlesex’s first choice keeper, then became Keith Brown’s. In the four games he played for Middlesex he scored 69 runs and took 9 catches.
Martin continued to play for Hertfordshire, before joining Cambridgeshire, who he played for between 1991 and 1994.