Emburey, born at Peckham, London, on August 20, 1952, ended his 25-year first-class career exactly ten years ago. It was his sheer love for cricket that kept him going, regardless of his increasing age, even when his days as an England bowler were long numbered. It was a measure of his class as a world-class off-spinner that he had been performing brilliantly, from time to time, in first-class cricket when well into his 40s.
He successfully carried forward the great tradition of off-spin bowling in England after Ray Illingworth faded away. He appeared on the English cricket scene when no quality 'offie' was in sight.
"John is one of the few genuine off-spinners to make the grade in the last few years, and I believe he is going to develop into one of the all-time greats," said Illingworth. These were prophetic words as Emburey began translating his undoubted potential into sterling performances.
Emburey had the ability to bowl both the genuine off-spinner, which comes back past the inside edge, or run it on towards slips. He could do this because his body position was so good; and he used to position his feet so well. He would bowl from close to the stumps. His height enabled him to get extra bounce.
Illingworth was most impressed by Emburey's sound temperament and capacity to bowl accurately and shrewdly in one-day cricket. In fact, he was forced to play much of his cricket in limited-overs matches in which he had a reputation of being a tight, mean off-spinner.
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