he made his first-class cricket debut for cambridge university in his freshman year, 1964, taking 4 for 41 with "excellent leg-spin bowling" against northamptonshire. two games later he took 4 for 36 and 1 for 36 in an innings victory over combined services. he kept his place in the team for the rest of the season, playing in the annual match against oxford university at lord's. he finished the season with 18 wickets at 33.55.