Richard Dawson (cricketer)
An off-spinner whose promising England call-up came too soon, leading to a respected second act as a shrewd county coach.
Born 1980 (age 46)·English cricketer and coach·Birthday: August 4·Generation X
Biography
Richard Dawson’s cricket story is a classic case of potential colliding with timing. A tall, thoughtful off-spinner for Yorkshire, he was thrust into the England Test side in 2001 during an Ashes tour, a baptism by fire against one of the greatest Australian teams ever assembled. He took a memorable five-wicket haul in his second Test, but the pressure of international cricket on a developing bowler was immense. After seven caps, his England career faded as quickly as it had begun. What defines Dawson, however, is his resilience. He enjoyed a long, dependable county career, first with Yorkshire and then with Gloucestershire, known for his control and cricket intelligence. That cricket brain became his true asset, leading him seamlessly into coaching. He has earned respect as a thoughtful, progressive leader, first with the England Lions and now as head coach of Glamorgan, where he is tasked with rebuilding a proud county.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Richard was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Richard Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Richard's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Took a five-wicket innings haul (5/78) in his second Test match for England against Australia in 2002.
- Played a key role in Yorkshire's County Championship campaigns in the early 2000s as a primary spinner.
- Appointed head coach of Glamorgan County Cricket Club in 2021.
- Previously served as a coach for the England Lions development squad.
Did You Know?
He made his Test debut in the formidable environment of the 2001-02 Ashes series in Australia.
He was part of the Yorkshire team that won the C&G Trophy in 2002.
After retiring as a player, he worked as a cricket professional at Marlborough College before returning to the professional game as a coach.
“You learn more from one over in Perth than ten games at home.”
