With the passing of former Indian Club Professional, Rakesh Shukla, on the 29th June, 2019, Hartlepool Cricket Club has lost a favourite son. He was 71 years old. According to the BCCI Shukla passed away following a long illness.

“Roxy”, as he was affectionately known, arrived at Park Drive in 1982. He quickly made his mark on the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League. Like so many players from the sub-continent, Roxy batted with elegance, confidence and composure, all with seemingly minimum effort.

An excellent slip fielder, he also bowled quality leg-spin and googly variations, talents which helped the Hartlepool 1st XI to the A Division title in his first season in 1982. He also played for Stockton Cricket Club too, also helping them to the championship.

Roxy was born in Kanpur in 1948 and went on to represent Delhi, Bihar and Bengal in 121 first class games in the Ranji Trophy. Amassing 3,798 runs, (at an average of 31.91 runs), he made six centuries and 17 fifties, as well as taking 295 wickets at 24.53. One of his hundreds figured in a record second innings run chase of over 700 runs! His best first class bowling return was 7 for 83, with him taking a total of 71 catches.

On the 17th September, 1982 he made his one and only Test Match appearance for India against Sri Lanka, which was Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test. Roxy took two Sri Lankan wickets for 82 runs, but did not bat in either innings of the Test Match.

After ceasing to play cricket, Roxy became a cricket consultant, providing guidance and advice to professional cricketers. He became a member of the Delhi Selection Committee. He was a popular commentator on All India Radio.

In 2018 former Hartlepool players Brian and Steve Lamb, (father and son), made a trip to Bangalore in India where, some 30, or so years after last seeing Roxy, an emotional reunion took place. Brian captained Hartlepool during much of Roxy’s time at the Club and described him as “a model professional and a true gentleman”.

Anyone connected with Park Drive between 1982 and 1985 will surely agree that Roxy will be sadly missed by all those that knew him.

Many thanks to Andy Holland for helping to produce this article.