Testimonials
“Should have played more matches for England – would have if I had been a selector…always gives his best without complaint, ever ready to lead by example and the young cricketers of Hampshire have no finer man to give them advice. A typical Lancashire man, proud of his adopted county Hampshire he is much admired by cricket lovers all over the world…tremendous service… the backbone of the county"
Dickie Bird MBE
“Certainly John is one of the best players of spin I have ever seen. The way he played Murali and Shane Warne throughout his career was as good as anybody and I will never forget that classic big hundred John scored against Murali at the Oval in 1998 on a pitch made for the Sri Lankan… and he has been integral to the progress made by Hants as a county…. A top quality player who served his country well when he played for them and has served Lancashire and Hampshire even better"
Nasser Hussain
BSKYB
“It wasn’t long after I joined Hampshire from Notts that my suspicions about John Crawley were confirmed; he is one of those players that is the heart and soul of any cricket club and someone you want to play alongside for as long as possible…. ‘Creepy’ is an invaluable team man and this benefit year goes some way to recognising the glittering international and county career he has enjoyed over many years. No matter how long he’s been in the game Creepy is always willing to offer support and takes time out for everyone involved with the club - needless to say his popularity at Hampshire is second to none…. If there is a cricketer that is more deserving of a benefit year than John Crawley then I’d like to meet him"
Kevin Pietersen
“Should have played more matches for England - would have if I had been a selector…always gives his best - like a right handed David Gower with composure, exquisite timing and a concern for the welfare of his teammates….still now the fresh faced 15 year old epitomising the Bunbury spirit…copes with passion, emotion, excitement and tension, skill, determination, friendship, successes and disappointments, toughness, kindness and a commitment to a challenge"
David English MBE
Chief Bunbury
“The great thing about being an umpire is that you really do have the best seat in the house….and I can say from my time umpiring Hampshire, it’s great to see an in form John Crawley making batting look so easy .. John you have been a tremendous ambassador to your country"
Neil Mallender
Umpire
“But for me it has been the approach and the style of his batting that I will always remember him for. The record is fantastic but for sheer elegance of play there have not been many better. What you don’t see from a stat is the elegance of a stroke, the sheer sublime timing of a shot. …. Creeps you have been very supportive in the last few years of all things Hampshire and you now thoroughly deserve this benefit. I know you will get tremendous support from the players due to the respect you have in the dressing room and from the supporters for the great entertainment you have given them and hopefully will continue to give them for a few more years yet"
Paul Terry Hampshire
1st XI Manager
“I decided to get John involved in a weekly tennis evening I organise. He’d only played a handful of times before, but he was keen to give it a go and see how it went. Suffice it to say, he picked it up pretty quickly. John is blessed with the natural sportsman’s gift of timing. You can tell, without even seeing the shot, that the ball has just come off the sweetest of sweet spots. You can tell because of the sound it makes. He’s good fun to play with, too. Competitive, but without the unpleasantness that sometimes entails. He’ll leave you groping at space as a yellow blur flashes past, and then in the next breath praise you for a shot you played earlier in the rally. I don’t think you’ll find his name in any handbook on sledging….His is a style based not on power, but on balance and economy of movement.
Charlie Thomas
BSKYB
“So when you see one of those delicate late cuts or flicks through mid wicket for four remember you are watching a man with the touch of a surgeon."
Ian Ward
BSKYB
“As down-to-earth as you’re likely to meet and that the changing room was going to benefit immensely from his presence…He’s been brilliant for the younger guys coming through and is alway to be a sounding board for all the dressing room. Creeps, it is a pleasure to play along side you and I wish you and the family all the best for the coming year"
Jimmy Adams
Hampshire Cricket
“However I tried to ruin his chances by having him caught and bowled in the first innings for not very many and wondering what all the fuss was about to be honest, he’s not good enough to play for England was my comment to the lads as he trudged back to the pavilion, a cocky statement that was bound to come back and haunt me in the second innings and sure enough it did as Creepy went on to smash 235! Maybe he is good enough to play for England I conceded to the lads…. I’m going to miss watching a superb player scoring lots of runs and ALWAYS giving his all for Hampshire, work hard, play hard should definitely be your epitaph."
Shaun Udal
“To John, I hope you have a cracker down there on the south coast. Lancashire’s loss has been Hampshire’s gain. Time really does fly and before you know it you are an elder statesman of the game! I always like to challenge a beneficiary in his year. A tenner from me if you score 5 centuries this summer! Go well."
David Lloyd
BSKYB
“It was a tough time as a young batsman, too, with pitches and bowlers making life more difficult than now. Some of us, very occasionally, look wistfully on today as batsmen gorge themselves in much more friendly conditions… Hampshire, no doubt, have come to appreciate not just John’s skilful batting but his commitment to the cause- occasionally captaining, fielding at short leg and no doubt making the tea as well…. As an old friend and someone who has admired your batting and attitude over many years I am happy to act as a patron for your benefit year and hope it is a successful one for you and your family."
Mike Atherton
“I was highly delighted when such a talented cricketer joined my native Hampshire…. In latter seasons I have got to know John better both as a player and as a man and I could not fault either. John’s contributions to Hampshire Cricket have been considerable and his benefit is well deserved; I for one hope it is a roaring success and wish him well”
Tony Weld Scorer
Hampshire Cricket
