Wisden overview
The most costly mistake of Mike Hendrick's career wasn't one of his own of his making: he was born 20 years too early. Hendrick found himself competing for an England place against similar fast-medium seamers such as Geoff Arnold, Chris Old and Robin Jackman, and he had to be content with 30 Test caps. If he'd been born in 1968, instead of 1948, his high bounce (he was 6ft 3ins tall), lively pace and extraordinary accuracy would have been priceless assets to the England of the 1990s. Blessed with a high-armed side-on flowing action, Hendrick's one shortcoming seemed to be a mental one – an apparent preference for taking 3 for 45 than 5 for 80. If his habitual length had been three feet fuller, he would probably have played an extra 20 Tests, however strong the competition. John Thicknesse

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