A tall fair-haired pace bowler, who batted in the lower middle order, Nigel John Bartle Illingworth played in 15 First-Class and 21 List-A matches for Nottinghamshire between 1981 and 1983. Born in Chesterfield on 23 November 1960, he attended Denstone College in Staffordshire and first appeared for Notts Second Eleven in 1980.
His first senior appearance came in June 1981 against Cambridge University at Fenner’s. He did not appear again in First-Class cricket that season but did start in seven List-A games and took five wickets, including 4-39 against Glamorgan at Trent Bridge.
Illingworth played more frequently in 1982 and produced several career-best performances. He played in the early season University match, hitting his top score of 49 against the Cambridge students. He then played in the Champion County match against the MCC at Lord’s, before his first Championship start against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Illingworth played in 11 First-Class matches that season and took 14 of his 16 career wickets, including 5-89 against Middlesex. In List-A cricket, Illingworth claimed 16 wickets in eight starts, including 4-15 in his eight overs against Leicestershire in the John Player League.
Illingworth’s last season at Trent Bridge was 1983. He played much of his cricket in the Second Eleven, taking an impressive 54 wickets in 18 matches, but only took one wicket in three First-Class opportunities. He started in six List-A matches, taking two wickets, and made his last appearance in August 1983 against Sussex in the Sunday League.
Nigel Illingworth later played for Lincolnshire and in 1990 was part of the side which reached the Lord’s final of the Holt Cup, the Minor Counties limited-overs Trophy competition.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 487