A West Indies Test cricketer at the age of 20, Murray joined Nottinghamshire in July 1966, having captained Cambridge University during the first half of that summer. What however was rather a surprise was that, despite holding the world record for most wicket-keeping dismissals in a Test series, Murray was not asked to fill that position for the county. That place was occupied by the former Surrey and England keeper, Swetman. Notts clearly had faith in Murray purely as a batsman. That faith was quickly realised, when he finished the season top of the County's batting table. `His exciting batting helped to brighten a gloomy season for Notts', commented the end of year report.
In 1967, having left University, Murray was with the county on a full time basis and completed 1,000 runs, again he did not keep wicket. In the winter Swetman left Notts and this cleared the way for Murray to play as a batsman-keeper.
In the winter of 1967-68 he returned to his native Trinidad and having led the West Indian President's XI v MCC at the start of the winter, scoring 63, he then appeared in all five Tests in the series v England. It cannot be said that he had a particularly good Test season.
Keeping for Notts in 1968 the reverse was the case, Murray gained the wicket-keeping prize of the year with 76 dismissals. He again completed 1,000 runs, usually batting at no.5 or 6. A fourth season with Notts saw his batting being rather inconsistent, though he still averaged above 30. Behind the stumps he claimed 65 victims.
Murray played no first-class cricket in England during 1970 or 1971, whilst he was taking a course at Nottingham University. In 1972 he was signed by Warwickshire.
Deryck Lance Murray was born in Port of Spain on 20 May 1943. His father was the Trinidad vice-captain, Lance Murray and his uncle was Secretary of the Queen's Park Ground and Club in Port of Spain. Educated at Queen's Royal College, Murray made his first-class debut in 1960-61, whilst still at school. When he came to England with the 1963 West Indian touring team, he had appeared in only two major matches. Murray played for Warwickshire for four seasons to 1975. His Test career continued until 1980, his final matches being in England that summer. He played in the World Cups of 1975 and 1979 and was a major figure in the West Indian side that appeared in Packer's World Series Matches. He was the first Secretary of the West Indian Cricketers Association. He currently resides in Trinidad.
December 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 445