HD tribute

Date: Monday 24 August 2009

Leicestershire County Cricket Club paid tribute to outstanding batsman HD Ackerman during the interval of the Pro40 win against Lancashire Lightning yesterday.

Ackerman, who scored more than 5,500 first-class runs and made sixteen first class centuries for the club whilst averaging 47.5 in the process, was presented with a plaque from Chairman Neil Davidson on the field at the break in recognition of his achievements with Leicestershire.

His team mates and the coaching staff came out to form a nice scene on a lovely day, while supporters also gathered round as everyone applauded Ackerman's achievements.

Ackerman will always be in the record books for his brilliant unbeaten 309 against Glamorgan at Cardiff in 2006. That innings surpassed Brad Hodge in becoming the highest score ever made by a Leicestershire batsman, and will take some beating in the future.

It was part of an incredible year, where Ackerman almost became the first Leicestershire batsman to pass 2,000 first-class runs since Nigel Briers achieved the feat.

2008 was also prolific and he scooped most of the awards at the players’ do at the end of the season. Humble as ever, Ackemran stated on that occasion that he would have swapped them all for a piece of team silverware.

The prolific batsman also scored more than 3,000 one-day runs with four hundreds for County, as well as playing in the Twenty20 trophy winning team of 2006. Indeed, he is the County's all-time leading runscorer in the Twenty20 Cup; one of only three batters to pass 1,000 runs in that format of the game.

One of the best pictures taken that day was Ackerman holding on to the trophy carefully; an image that formed the front of the Club’s Yearbook in 2007.

Ackerman, who also captained the team upon his arrival in the country, also received a plaque from The Friends of Grace Road, The Leicestershire Cricket Society and Members Forum as a thank-you for his efforts over the years.

The batsman, who has been the team’s talisman over the last few years, was given the awards after stepping down to allow youngsters to continue their development at the club.

Ackerman has always been supportive of the young players at the club, so his stepping down was a continuation of his previous backing given to them.

The batter at the crease when Tom New, Matthew Boyce and Josh Cobb made their maiden first-class centuries last season – and that was no coincedence. His influence at the wicket was noted by each of them during interview afterwards, and Ackerman has also played well alongside James Taylor at the crease this season.

The partnership with Cobb at Lord’s must go down as one of his best moments for Leicestershire. His 190 that day was pure brilliance, and he was a reassuring figure at the other end while Cobb went about his business.

One particular innings always stands out as an example of Ackerman’s class. He once made a century against Somerset at Oakham School of the highest calibre; patiently leaving anything wide, driving superbly through the off-side and tucking away anything on his pads with consumate ease.

HD was quite simply a master of his craft; a pleasure to watch. He will be missed at the club and everyone at Grace Road wishes both he and wife Kerryn all the very best for the future.