Ken Palmer, Somerset player who served as an international umpire

Cricketing Beginnings

Ken Palmer, who passed away at the age of 87, was a distinguished cricketer for Somerset and spent nearly five decades devoted to the sport. Though he was fortunate enough to earn only one Test cap for England—under rather unfortunate circumstances—he swiftly moved on from the disappointment. After his playing career wound down, he embarked on a successful umpiring journey, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the profession.

Palmer left an indelible mark on cricket history in May 1982, when he and his younger brother Roy, also an umpire, officiated together for the first time during Oxford University's early-season match against Hampshire. This event marked the first and only instance of two brothers umpiring together in a first-class match.

Born on April 22, 1937, in Winchester, but spending his formative years in Devizes, Wiltshire, Kenneth Ernest Palmer was the eldest son of Harry Palmer, a groundsman at the Roundway psychiatric hospital, where his mother, Cecilia (née Rhapps), worked as a nurse. Ken showed early promise as a versatile sportsman at Southbroom Secondary Modern. However, after unsuccessful trials with Surrey and Hampshire, he turned to work as a plumber. Somerset eventually signed him in 1954, initially as a right-handed middle-order batsman, and he quickly evolved into a reliable fast-medium opening bowler.

Rise to Prominence and Memorable Achievements

Palmer made an immediate impact on his first-class debut, claiming two wickets against Middlesex in 1955, and by 1958, he had earned his county cap. The 1961 season saw him surpass 1,000 runs and take over 100 wickets, making him the youngest Somerset player to achieve this feat.

In a memorable match against Northamptonshire that season, Palmer, alongside Bill Alley, set a county sixth-wicket record with a partnership of 265 runs. Alley scored 156, while Palmer contributed an unbeaten 125, the highest score of his career. His best bowling performance came in 1963, when he took 9 for 57 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. That year, he also won the Carling National Single Wicket Competition in Scarborough and served as England's 12th man for the fourth Test at Headingley.

During the winter of 1964, while playing and coaching in Johannesburg, Palmer was called up to join England's injury-hit team for the fifth Test in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. However, his Test debut did not have a fairy-tale ending; batting at No. 11, he was dismissed for 10, and on a placid pitch, he managed to take only one wicket for 189 runs.

Palmer's return to domestic cricket in 1965 was hampered by injuries, but his younger brother Roy joined Somerset's bowling staff that same year. The following season, Ken made a remarkable comeback, taking 107 wickets, marking the fourth time he had surpassed 100 wickets in a season. In 1967, the Palmer brothers played together in the Somerset team that lost to Kent in the Gillette Cup final. Ken enjoyed a successful benefit year in 1968 before retiring in 1969. By the end of his career, he had taken 837 wickets and scored 7,567 runs, including two centuries. He also played in 24 one-day matches, scoring 137 runs and taking 34 wickets, with 164 catches to his name as a slip fielder.

In 1972, Palmer transitioned to a career as a first-class umpire, earning a reputation for his calm authority and thoughtful, commonsense approach. His career spanned three decades, during which he officiated in 511 domestic matches, 22 Test matches, and 23 One Day Internationals (ODIs). His brother Roy joined the First-Class panel in 1979, and the two occasionally umpired together, most notably at Lord's in 2002 during Ken's final season.

Umpiring Career and Legacy

Palmer's umpiring career was not without controversy. During England's acrimonious tour of Pakistan in 1987, the hosts were displeased that they couldn't veto Palmer and David Constant as umpires. Five years later, during the closely contested 1992 Headingley Test, Palmer faced criticism from Pakistan for not declaring Graham Gooch run out, despite replays showing that Gooch was well short of his ground. Additionally, Palmer and his colleague John Hampshire made the contentious decision to change the ball during a subsequent ODI at Lord's after suspecting Pakistani ball-tampering.

In 1994, Palmer was one of four English umpires nominated for the international panel, further solidifying his legacy in the sport. He was honoured with an MBE in the 2003 New Year Honours.

Ken Palmer was married twice and is survived by his second wife, Jacqueline, and his son Gary from his first marriage. Gary followed in his father's footsteps, playing for Somerset before becoming a batting coach, ensuring that the Palmer legacy in cricket continues.