Michael Raymond George Huckle (born 6 August 1938) is a Rhodesian former cricketer who played a single first-class match for the Rhodesian national side in October 1966.

Mike Huckle
Personal information
Full name
Michael Raymond George Huckle
Born (1938-08-06) 6 August 1938 (age 86)
Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingSlow left-arm orthodox
RelationsAdam Huckle (son)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1966Rhodesia
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 18
Batting average 18.00
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 14*
Balls bowled 54
Wickets 1
Bowling average 44.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/44
Catches/stumpings 0/–
Source: CricketArchive, 7 February 2015

Born in Bulawayo, Huckle was a left-arm orthodox spinner and a right-handed lower-order batsman.[1] His only first-class appearance came against Transvaal during the 1966–67 Currie Cup, in a three-day match at the Police A Ground in Salisbury (now Harare).[2] In Rhodesia's first innings, Huckle came in eighth in the batting order, scoring 14 not out. Bowling in Transvaal's first innings, he had Ali Bacher, Transvaal's captain and a future captain of the South African national side, caught by Raymond Gripper for 54. He finished with 1/44 from nine overs, and played little further part in the match as Rhodesia lost by 10 wickets.[3]

Huckle had been selected for Rhodesia on the basis of good form for Matabeleland in the Logan Cup. However, competition from two other spinners, Dave Napier and Neville Deudney, meant he played only a single game for the national side.[4] Huckle later took up farming at Turk Mine, in present-day Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe. He stood as a Rhodesia Party candidate at the 1974 general election, but lost to the Rhodesian Front's Reginald Cowper in the Wankie constituency, getting only 13.9 percent of the vote. Huckle's son, Adam George Huckle, was raised in Turk Mine, and went on to play Test cricket for Zimbabwe in the 1990s.[5] Mike Huckle remained involved in local cricket, and in March 1991, aged 53, played a game for Matabeleland Country Districts against Ireland.[6] One of his teammates in that match was Denis Streak, another ex-Rhodesian player farming at Turk Mine whose son, Heath Streak, played Tests for Zimbabwe.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Michael Huckle – CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. ^ First-class matches played by Michael Huckle (1) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ^ Rhodesia v Transvaal, Currie Cup 1966/67 (Section A) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. ^ (22–24 October 1966). "Rhodesia v Transvaal, Police Ground, Salisbury" – cricinfozimbabwe. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  5. ^ John Ward (13 October 1999). "Adam Huckle - a short biography" – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  6. ^ Matabeleland Country Districts v Ireland, Ireland in Zimbabwe 1990/91 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  7. ^ Zimbabwe / Players / Denis Streak – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
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Mike Huckle at ESPNcricinfo