Barry Wood, born on December 26, 1942, in England, is an English former cricketer who excelled both in his home country and on the international stage. Wood began his professional cricket career playing for the Yorkshire Club when he made his first-class debut and history in the world of English cricket. He then moved to the Lancashire Cricket Club when he began competing with England’s international team. He switched clubs two more times and played for the Derbyshire Club at the time of his retirement from professional cricket. Help us celebrate the iconic cricketer’s birthday here today!
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Barry Wood
Nickname:
Wood, Sawdust
Birth date:
December 26, 1942
Age:
81
Zodiac Sign:
Capricorn
Height:
5' 6"
Net Worth:
$2.4 million
Background
Barry Wood was born on December 26, 1942, in Ossett, West Yorkshire, England. He was a former domestic and international English cricket batsman. There are no known details about his family or childhood. It is known that Wood made his cricket first-class debut for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1964 when he was 22. Because of limited opportunities for career advancement within the Yorkshire Club, Wood moved teams two years later and joined the Lancashire County Cricket Club, for which he played for 14 years.
During his time with the Lancashire Club, he was considered one of the most valuable players in its history, especially in one-day matches. The Lancashire Club won a total of six one-day cricket league trophies over six years between 1969 and 1975 when Wood was a member of the team. In 1972, Wood played his first international game, a three-day test match against the Australian men’s cricket team. He was selected to play for England in the first Cricket World Cup in 1975.
As a result of his stellar performance in the 1972 test, he was selected as part of England’s team for their tests against Pakistan and India. His final test match was against Pakistan in 1978. In 1980, he switched domestic clubs again — this time joining the Derbyshire County Cricket Club. After one year with the club, he was elected as the team’s captain. He played for the club for three years, leaving the club in 1983. In 1986, he began playing for the Cheshire County Cricket Club, for which he played for three years before finally retiring.
Career timeline
The batsman joins the Yorkshire Club as a professional athlete.
Wood becomes an international cricketer when he competes against the Australian cricket team.
The cricketer participates in the first-ever Cricket World Cup.
Wood plays his last three-day game against Pakistan.
Wood is elected as team captain in the Derbyshire Club.
The cricketer makes his last cross-club switch to the Cheshire Club.
Why We Love Barry Wood
He inspired young cricketers
Wood was such an excellent batsman that he inspired future cricket players. This was evident when his son Nathan followed in his footsteps.
He kept politics out of cricket
Many professional athletes find themselves embroiled in club and team drama but Wood wasn’t interested in that. As captain for the Derbyshire club, he made sure the team focused on the sport and not interpersonal relationships. Fellow cricketer John Hampshire once said he joined the Derbyshire Club when Wood was captain because “it wasn’t a political club.”
He didn’t badmouth teammates or competitors
Wood was never one to disparage either members of his team or members of competing teams, unlike many athletes. Wood has always spoken highly of other cricketers, even saying that several opposition bowlers were part of “an era of stupendous pace-men” and reminiscing about his Lancashire team being “great.”
5 Surprising Facts
Wood made Roses history
Wood was the first Yorkshire Club cricketer to score two Roses (named after the Yorkshire and Lancashire Club emblems) hundreds.
He made history in English cricket
Wood won more Man of the Match gold awards during the 1970s than any other cricket player in English cricket history.
He played football too
In addition to cricket, Wood was a successful football (soccer) player.
He scored almost 13,000 runs
He managed 63 runs for Yorkshire and scored nearly 13,000 runs for it and Lancashire.
Like father, like son
Wood’s son Nathan likewise became a cricketer and played for Lancashire.
Barry Wood FAQs
Is Barry Wood related to Reginald Wood?
No, they are not blood relatives.
What was Barry Wood’s position in cricket?
His position was right-hand bat and right-arm medium.
What happened to Barry Wood’s teeth?
The cricketer was born with his trademark gap.
Barry Wood’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | December 26 | Thursday |
| 2025 | December 26 | Friday |
| 2026 | December 26 | Saturday |
| 2027 | December 26 | Sunday |
| 2028 | December 26 | Tuesday |
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