by Editor
JAMES DERMOTT MONTEITH who died on 6 December 2009 aged 66 was, unquestionably, one of the most outstanding cricketers ever to represent Ireland.
As a left arm spinner he was superb. Spinning the ball more sharply than most, he was a handful - even to the best batsmen - on the blandest of surfaces, while on a wicket that gave him the slightest help; he could be well nigh unplayable.
His long time friend and former team-mate, Roy Torrens, described him, to this writer, as, "Simply the best spin bowler Ireland has ever produced."
Some might wish to argue the claims of the great JC Boucher, but certainly "Monty" lost nothing in comparison with him. A fine natural cricketer, he was also a very good batsman who scored 1,712 runs for Ireland to go with his record breaking 326 wickets. He had first been selected as a batsman, scoring 54 on debut v MCC at Lord's. Had he never turned his arm over in anger, he would almost certainly have had a considerable career as a Number 4 or 5.
He was an outstanding all round sportsman at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst), though he did not gain a place in the XI until after he had, aged 14, made his senior debut for Lisburn in 1957.
However from the end of the school season of 1958, he was ever present in the side, being captain in his last two years, and also playing for Ulster and Irish Schools, though the latter were then restricted to an annual fixture with the Leprechauns.
He had come quite late to spin bowling, being converted from his desire to bowl at pace, by the perspicacious Raif Sperman, who ran the junior cricket at Inst.
Few schoolboy batsmen could counter him, the writer recalls him running through a fancied Columba's order one hot June afternoon in 1959. Fortunately, I was only scoring!
He also represented Inst at rugby and - more briefly - hockey. He had to adopt subterfuges to play the latter, as his father strongly disapproved of the game. Discovery led to Dermott having to lay down his stick.
He was a regular in the Lisburn side from 1961, a year in which he also turned down an approach from Sussex, taking 10 wickets in the NCU Cup Final, then a two innings match, against Woodvale. He was to have two further 10 wicket hauls in finals, though these were both in losing causes aginst the powerful Waringstown sides of the 1970s.
He was already an interprovincial and international player when the Guinness Cup started in 1966. He was to be, arguably, its domimnant force for much of the next 18 years, bringing Ulster Country six titles, by virtue of taking 226 wickets at 13.23 with 21 "5 fers."
His wickets usually included the top order Irish internationals, for example a 6/41 v South Leinster at Rathmines in 1973, included lan Lewis, Ginger O'Brien and Ken Hope.
Three years later, against North Leinster he had another six-wicket haul including Enda Mc Dermott, Stan Mitchell, Gerry O'Brien, David Ensor and Podge Hughes.
That summer, incidentally, at the same venue, bowling for Ireland, he had Viv Richards caught for 1!
Even in 1984, in what proved to be his last season, he had two further five wicket hauls, spanning the generations by including Alan Lewis among his victims.
Though he began for Ireland as a batsman, he could not be kept from the bowling crease for long. He was to mesmerise batsmen of all abilities and be spoken of far beyond Irish cricket fields.
His 27 "5 fers" included a best of 8/44 v MCC at Lord's in 1972, when he had three 10 in a match returns, and a near miss 9 against Denmark.
Probably his outstanding performance was against Scotland, when in an all round display highly praised by Wisden he performed the only match double of the first class season.
I, personally, will always remember his destruction of the Netherlands at Castle Avenue in 1971, when he seemed to turn the ball square and reduce the Dutch to impotence.
He once ranked himself the third best slow left armer in the world after Bishen Bedi and Dilip Doshi. He was said to have changed his mind after watching the latter bowl!
His batting for Ireland was certainly affected by his bowling, but included nine fifties.
He twice passed 90, the most memorable occasion being in what proved to be his final match - against Scotland in 1984. Joined by the last man, he was bowled for 95. He made light of the commiserations. Typically, he had decided to declare when he reached 99, thinking that this would be a more memorable innings.
Selected for the MCC tour of Bangladesh in 1981/82, he was the outstanding bowler of the tour, with the result that a telephone call from Mike Brearley which he first believed to be a leg pull, resulted in a Middlesex contract as cover for the expected Test call ups for John Emburey and Phil Edmonds.
He was to play eight Championship matches, taking 24 wickets at 24.83. He had two "5 fers", showing his ability to perform at this level. What would he have achieved if he had signed for Sussex aged 18?
After a successful MCC tour of East Africa, he was back with the county the following season but played only one match v Hampshire at Uxbridge. Here he showed his batting credentials, with three sumptuous cover drives off Malcolm Marshall as he raced to 36. He lived to tell the tale. He returned to captain Ireland for two further seasons.
His elevation to the Irish captaincy had not been a universally popular one. Some of the ICU top brass were appaerntly, none too happy. He felt that Boucher, no longer in a position of authority but still one who was listened to, disapproved of him.
Dermott also had somewhat low opinion of some of his predecessors though he rated Dougie Goodwin highly.
He proved to be an inspired choice. He was an astute tactician and, in order to win matches was prepared to take risks.
"He had one great attribute, "explained Roy Torrens, "he was not afraid to lose." This sometimes resulted in decisions which his team found hard to understand.
On the occasion of Ireland's first Gillette Cup match, he won the toss and chose to bat against Middlesex at Lord's which meant sending his openers out against the new ball shared by Wayne Daniel and Vincent van der Bijl. Yet if a crucial stumping had been made later on, Ireland would probably have won!
Those who knew him best saw that his great strength as a captain, his arrogance which enabled him to make that sort of decision, was also his weakness. Like many great players, he sometimes found it hard to appreciate that the less gifted could not do as well as he did. Nevertheless he was highly respected by his players and his opponents.
He was, as has been said, a fine all round sportsman. A good enough rugby player to have a number of matches with CIYMS Ist XV at out half and to have an Ulster trial, he was, though in his 40s, the leading light in Bangor's 6th XV or "Golden Oldies."
In February 1985, walking home after a convivial evening at the Rugby Club, he was struck by a car which failed to stop. The injuries almost proved fatal and led to a very difficult time.
His fighting spirit saw him survive and, of course, try to play cricket again. This proved impossible though he did become first an Irish selector and then in 1999, ICU President.
He also penned his autobiography Stones from the Glasshouse, which, in places controversial, is a very interesting read.
Recently his problems caused by his accident, had resurfaced and become worse.
He was for much of the time confined to a wheelchair or bed, though he remained keenly interested in all sports.
His wife, Pamela, died earlier this year.
Everyone's sympathies and thoughts will be with his family and we will remember with gratitude a magnificent and original cricketer, who truly deserves the accolade of greatness.
Edward Liddle
Copyright: Cover Point
