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Chris Benham

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Chris Benham
Colour photograph of a cricketer
Benham batting in 2009
Personal information
Full name
Christopher Charles Benham
Born (1983-03-24) 24 March 1983 (age 42)
Frimley, Surrey, England
NicknameBenny, Benoit, Benloy[1]
Height6 ft 2[1] in (1.88 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight arm off break
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2001Hampshire Cricket Board
2004Loughborough UCCE
2004–2010Hampshire (squad no. 20)
2011Unicorns
2011Wiltshire
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20
Matches 48 63 37
Runs scored 2,103 1,731 447
Batting average 27.31 35.32 15.96
100s/50s 2/10 4/9 0/1
Top score 111 158 59
Balls bowled 30 1 –
Wickets 0 0 –
Bowling average – – –
5 wickets in innings – – –
10 wickets in match – – –
Best bowling – – –
Catches/stumpings 51/– 26/– 20/–
Source: Cricinfo, 14 July 2019

Christopher Charles Benham (born 24 March 1983) is an English former professional cricketer who was mostly associated with Hampshire in first-class, one-day, and Twenty20 cricket, for whom he made 136 appearances across all formats of the game from 2004 to 2010. He also played first-class cricket for Loughborough MCCU when he was a student, and one-day cricket for both the Hampshire Cricket Board and the ad hoc Unicorns cricket team.

Cricket

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Early life and career

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Benham was born on 24 March 1983 in Firmley, Surrey. He was educated just across the county border in Hampshire at Yateley School.[2] A right-handed batsman, Benham began his association with Hampshire as a ten-year-old, when he joined Hampshire's academy system.[3] He played his early club cricket for Cove.[4] Benham made his debut in List A one-day cricket for the Hampshire Cricket Board against the Kent Cricket Board at Maidstone in the first round of the 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy,[5] with Benham opening the batting and being dismissed without scoring by Andy Tutt in a rain-affected match.[6] Alongside James Tomlinson, he was awarded a summer contract by Hampshire ahead of the 2002 season.[7] Three years later, while attending Loughborough University, Benham made his debut in first-class cricket for Loughborough UCCE against Somerset at County Cricket Ground, Taunton; he featured in two further first-class matches for Loughborough in 2004, against Gloucestershire and Sussex.[8] Later in the season, he debuted for Hampshire in the County Championship against Derbyshire,[8] impressing with 74 runs in Hampshire's first innings.[9] Following the 2004 season, he spent the winter in Australia on a scholarship, where he shared his accommodation with Alastair Cook and his Hampshire teammate Kevin Latouf.[10]

Establishing himself at Hampshire

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Having impressed in the Second Eleven at the beginning of the 2005 season, Benham was called up to replace the injured Simon Katich in Hampshire's Championship match against Warwickshire in May.[11] He made five appearances in the 2005 County Championship, scoring 117 runs at an average of 11.70.[12] He captained Hampshire in their opening first-class match of the 2006 season against Loughborough UCCE, and subsequently went onto make eight appearances in the County Championship,[8] scoring 504 runs at an average of 33.60.[12] He played his first one-day match for Hampshire in 2006, and would make eleven one-day appearances across the season.[5] He had notable success in one-day cricket during the season, recording two centuries; the first (122 runs) came against West Indies A in August,[13] while the second came in the promotion/relegation match against Glamorgan in September, when he hit an unbeaten 158 runs from 130 balls to guide Hampshire to promotion to Division One of the Pro40. It was the highest score by a Hampshire batsman in one-day cricket in over a decade, and drew praise from captain Shane Warne.[14] His one-day record in 2006 was 487 runs at an average of 54.11.[15] He also debuted in Twenty20 cricket during the season, making eight appearances in the Twenty20 Cup.[16] His form led to him being Hampshire's recipient of the NBC Denis Compton Award for 2006.[17] At the end of the season, he signed a two-year contract extension at Hampshire, despite interest from Nottinghamshire.[18]

Benham made nine appearances in the 2007 County Championship,[8] scoring 312 runs at an average of 22.28.[12] However, he was dropped midway through May to accommodate Michael Carberry, who was returning from injury.[19] In one-day cricket, he made twelve appearances in 2007, scoring 319 runs at an average of 26.58;[15] his sole century that season came in the Pro40 against Gloucestershire, with his 111 runs from 105 balls helping Hampshire to a narrow victory by 14 runs.[20] He also made seven appearances in the 2007 Twenty20 Cup.[16] In 2008, he made eight appearances in the County Championship,[8] scoring 374 runs at an average of 28.76.[12] He was more effective in one-day cricket in 2008, making thirteen appearances and scoring 338 runs at an average of 33.80;[15] though he did not make a century in one-day cricket, he made contributions at important juctures during the season. His unbeaten 54 against Gloucestershire in the Friends Provident Trophy in May guided Hampshire to their first win of the season,[21] whilst against Durham in the Pro40, he scored 69 runs from 45 balls, contributing to Hampshire's victory by 62 runs.[22] Benham featured in the 2008 Twenty20 Cup, but struggled for form in his eight matches, scoring just 40 runs.[23]

Decline and release

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Despite making a maiden first-class century (111 runs) against Loughborough UCCE early in the 2009 season,[24] he failed to break into the Hampshire middle order and having not played a County Championship match since June,[25] Benham was afforded an opportunity against Durham in September, when he replaced Dimitri Mascarenhas who was on international duty.[26] He recorded his maiden first-class century during the match, making exactly 100 runs.[27] In six first-class matches in 2009, Benham scored 316 runs at an average of 45.14.[12] He played a larger part in Hampshire's one-day team in 2009, making eighteen appearances in which he scored 420 runs at an average of exactly 35.[15] He made one century in one-day cricket in 2009, scoring an unbeaten 108 against Leicestershire.[28] He would later play in the Friends Provident Trophy final against Sussex at Lord's, where his unbeaten partnership of 67 runs with Nic Pothas was pivotal in taking Hampshire to victory.[29] In Twenty20 matches, Benham had less success than he found in one-day cricket in 2009, scoring 129 runs at an average of 18.42 from the eleven matches in which he featured.[23]

Benham was unable to establish himself in the Hampshire team during the 2010 season, in part due to the emergence of batsman James Vince.[1] He would make six appearances in the County Championship, scoring 268 runs at an average of 24.36.[3] He did not feature for Hampshire in one-day cricket in 2010,[5] whilst in the Friends Provident T20 he made just three appearances.[16] In July, he was charged by the England and Wales Cricket Board for showing dissent over an umpire's decision.[30] Benham was released by Hampshire following the 2010 season,[31][32] but declared his intention to still play cricket at the highest level.[3] In 45 first-class matches for Hampshire, he scored 1,975 runs at an average of 27.05.[33] In one-day cricket, his 54 matches for Hampshire yielded him 1,564 runs at an average of 36.37,[34] whilst in 37 Twenty20 matches he scored 447 runs at an average of 15.96.[35]

Career after Hampshire

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Benham was selected in the Unicorns squad to take part in the 2011 Clydesdale Bank 40.[36] The Unicorns was an ad hoc team made up of players without contracts with one of the eighteen first-class counties.[37] Benham made three appearances in the competition,[5] with his top-score for the Unicorns (58 runs) being made in a defeat to Essex.[38] In May 2011, he was offered a trial by injury–hit Nottinghamshire,[39][40] and later in the season he played minor counties cricket for Wiltshire, making four appearances in the Minor Counties Championship and one appearance in the MCCA Knockout Trophy.[41][42] He later played club cricket for Wimbledon in the Surrey Championship in 2013, with Benham being appointed their captain in 2014.[43] Following his cricket career, Benham began a career as a financial planner at St James's Place Wealth Management.[44]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Player Profile: Chris Benham". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Yateley School, Hampshire". www.teachweb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Chris Benham Released by Hampshire". ESPNcricinfo. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  4. ^ Vimpany, Mike (15 September 2001). "Clubs Uncertain by Hampshire Academy Proposal". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "List A Matches Played by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Kent Cricket Board v Hampshire Cricket Board, 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  7. ^ Vimpany, Mike (15 October 2001). "Tomlinson and Benham Awarded Hampshire Summer Contracts". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e "First-Class Matches Played by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Udal Hails His Hants Heroes After Ninth Win". Daily Echo. Southampton. 20 September 2004. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  10. ^ Cook, Alastair (2009). Alastair Cook: Starting Out - My Story So Far. London: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 47. ISBN 9781848948686.
  11. ^ "Benham Gets Chance to Impress". Daily Echo. Southampton. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e "First-Class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Benham's Ton Consigns West Indies A to Defeat". ESPNcricinfo. 20 August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2006.
  14. ^ "Benham Century Fires Hawks to Pro40 Promotion". Daily Echo. Southampton. 24 September 2006. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d "List A Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "Twenty20 Matches Played by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  17. ^ "The NBC Denis Compton Awards". ESPNcricinfo. 18 May 2005. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  18. ^ Walter, Simon (21 November 2006). "Benham Signs New Hampshire Deal". Daily Echo. Southampton. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Benham Dropped as Carberry Returns". Daily Echo. Southampton. 22 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  20. ^ McLoughlin, Brendan (10 September 2007). "Benham's Century Keeps Hampshire in the Hunt". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  21. ^ "Benham Fires Hampshire to First Win". ESPNcricinfo. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Durham Lose to Hampshire in Pro40 Clash". www.durhamcricket.co.uk. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Twenty20 Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Hampshire v Loughborough UCCE, 2009". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  25. ^ "Benham Century Holds up Champions". BBC Sport. 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  26. ^ "Van Jaarsveld Hits the Decisive Run as Kent Complete Their Title Success". The Times. No. 69744. London. 18 September 2009. p. 89. Retrieved 14 April 2025 – via Gale.
  27. ^ Gibson, Pat (18 September 2009). "Chris Benham's Maiden Century Rescues Hampshire". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  28. ^ Laven, Kate (3 May 2009). "Chris Benham's Unbeaten Century Guides Hampshire to Victory in FP Trophy". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  29. ^ "Dominic Cork Stars as Hampshire Romp to Lord's Victory". The Guardian. London. 25 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Craig Kieswetter Disciplined by ECB for Serious Dissent". The Guardian. London. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Hampshire Release Batsman Chris Benham". BBC Sport. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  32. ^ "Benham Deemed Surplus to Requirements". The News. Portsmouth. 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  33. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  34. ^ "List A Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  35. ^ "Twenty20 Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  36. ^ "Benham and Thornely in Unicorns Squad". ESPNcricinfo. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  37. ^ "Parsons to Skipper Unicorns". Sky Sports. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  38. ^ "Phillips Takes Five as Essex Ease Home". ESPNcricinfo. 8 May 2011. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  39. ^ "Nottinghamshire Hand Trial to Batsman Chris Benham". BBC Sport. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  40. ^ "Second Eleven Trial for Chris Benham". www.trentbridge.co.uk. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches Played by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  42. ^ "Minor Counties Trophy Matches Played by Chris Benham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  43. ^ Ashton, Tim (9 May 2014). "Wimbledon CC Skipper Demands Dons Dominance". Sutton & Croydon Guardian. Croydon. Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  44. ^ "Recognising a Wealth of Opportunity" (PDF). Beyond the Boundaries. No. 17. Birmingham: PCA. July 2018. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
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