| David Balcombe | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | David John Balcombe |
| Nickname: | Balcs[1] |
| Birth Date: | 24 December 1984 |
| Birth Place: | City of London, England |
| Heightft: | 6 |
| Heightinch: | 4 |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Club1: | Durham UCCE |
| Year1: | 2005–2007 |
| Club2: | Hampshire |
| Year2: | 2006–2014 |
| Clubnumber2: | 84 |
| Club3: | → Kent (loan) |
| Year3: | 2011 |
| Club4: | Berkshire |
| Year4: | 2011 |
| Columns: | 3 |
| Column1: | FC |
| Matches1: | 67 |
| Runs1: | 958 |
| Bat Avg1: | 15.20 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/3 |
| Top Score1: | 73 |
| Deliveries1: | 11,278 |
| Wickets1: | 196 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 32.83 |
| Fivefor1: | 9 |
| Tenfor1: | 2 |
| Best Bowling1: | 8/71 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 14/– |
| Column2: | LA |
| Matches2: | 14 |
| Runs2: | 10 |
| Bat Avg2: | 2.00 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/0 |
| Top Score2: | 6 |
| Deliveries2: | 519 |
| Wickets2: | 18 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 27.33 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 4/38 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 5/– |
| Column3: | T20 |
| Matches3: | 3 |
| Runs3: | 3 |
| Bat Avg3: | 3.00 |
| 100S/50S3: | 0/0 |
| Top Score3: | 3 |
| Deliveries3: | 30 |
| Wickets3: | 1 |
| Bowl Avg3: | 61.00 |
| Fivefor3: | 0 |
| Tenfor3: | 0 |
| Best Bowling3: | 1/23 |
| Catches/Stumpings3: | 0/– |
| Date: | 30 January |
| Year: | 2016 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10630.html CricInfo |
David John Balcombe (born 24 December 1984) is an English former cricketer who played primarily as a right-arm medium-fast bowler. Balcombe spent the majority of his professional career with Hampshire, but also played first-class cricket for Durham UCCE and Kent. In a career which spanned from 2005 to 2014, he took 196 wickets in first-class cricket.
Balcombe was born in the City of London in December 1984. He was educated at St. Johns School in Leatherhead,[1] before matriculating to Durham University. There, he played first-class cricket for Durham UCCE, making his debut against Somerset at Taunton in 2005. He played first-class cricket for the university until 2007, making nine appearances.[2] He took 17 wickets at an average of 60.41 for the university, including a maiden five wicket haul with figures of 5 for 112 against Durham.[3] While studying at Durham, Balcombe also made a single first-class appearance for a British Universities cricket team against the touring Sri Lankans at Fenner's in 2008.[2]
Although he had been a member of Surrey's cricket academy,[4] it was while playing for Durham UCCE that he was spotted by Hampshire's Giles White, who recommended him to the county.[1] Having joined Hampshire in 2006, he made his debut for the county in a Twenty20 match against Middlesex at Southgate in the Twenty20 Cup.[5] The following season, he made his first-class debut for Hampshire against Kent in the County Championship,[2] in addition to making his debut in List A one-day cricket against Lancashire at Old Trafford in the NatWest Pro40.[6] From 2008 to 2010, Balcombe struggled to establish himself in the Hampshire first team, playing seventeen first-class and eight one-day matches in that period.[2] [6] A back injury during the 2010 season ruled him out for the remainder of that season.[1]
During the following season, he was loaned to Kent on a one-month deal in July,[7] which was later extended by an additional month.[8] Balcombe headed their first-class bowling averages while at Kent, with 33 wickets at an average of 17.81 from five matches, which included four five wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul in a match;[3] while at Kent, he also made three one-day appearances, in addition to a single Twenty20 appearance against the touring Indians.[6] [5] On the back of his performances for Kent, there was speculation he would join the county permanently following his loan deal.[9] Ultimately, he returned to Hampshire,[10] who had been relegated in his absence. Balcombe also played minor counties cricket for Berkshire in 2011, making a single appearance apiece in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy.[11] [12]
Returning to Hampshire, he began the 2012 season by taking career best bowling figures in Hampshire's opening County Championship match against Gloucestershire, with figures of 8 for 71.[1] [13] In the 2012 season, he took 64 first-class wickets at an average of 26.10, with three five wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul in a match.[14] His performances in 2012 established him as the leader of Hampshire's attack.[1] Balcombe was a replacement for Danny Briggs in Hampshire's squad for the 2012 Champions League Twenty20, playing in one match against Sialkot Stallions.[5] [15] However, he was unable to repeat his form the following summer, where hot and dry weather was more favourable to batsman. In 2014, he played just four first-class matches in the 2014 season,[2] alongside a single one-day match against Sri Lanka A.[6] With opportunities limited at Hampshire, Balcombe opted to signed a two-year deal with Surrey at the end of the 2014 season.[16] In 52 first-class matches for Hampshire, he took 141 wickets at an average of 33.27.[3] As a tailend batsman, he scored 701 runs at a batting average of 15.57, with two half centuries and a high score of 73.[17]
Balcombe did not feature for the Surrey first team during his first year with the county, ultimately deciding to retire from professional cricket to take up a role with the Kevin Pietersen Foundation.[18] [19]