IF ever one bowler epitomised accuracy it was Derek Shackleton, who died on September 27, aged 83.

Although his right-arm fast-medium pace, bowled in long spells from a 12-pace approach, gradually slowed to medium, there was no reduction in his effectiveness.

His high, easy action scarcely tired him and allowed him to swing the ball deceptively late either way. Such was his precision that batsmen counted themselves extremely fortunate if his annual total of half-volleys and long-hops entered double figures and, unlike most bowlers, his career average decreased as the years progressed.

Shortly before his retirement in 1967 (he was recalled for a final appearance the following summer), John Arlott invited me to join him and Shack' at the bar of the old Southampton pavilion.

I noticed something odd about the bowler's left eye and bravely asked about it. He amazed both of us by replying: I can't see out of it. But keep quiet about it until the end of this season.'' That extraordinary revelation made his astonishing consistency even more remarkable.

A little over average height (5ft 10ins) and carrying no surplus weight, he bowled for Hampshire throughout 21 summers to produce the eighth-highest aggregate of first-class wickets: 2,857 at 18.65 apiece.

He took 100 wickets in a season 20 times in succession (1949-68) and, in county championship matches alone, he notched 100 victims 18 times.

Both are world records never likely to be approached. He accounted for ten or more wickets in a match 38 times and five or more in an innings on 194 occasions.

His best analysis was 9 for 30 against Warwick-shire at Portsmouth in 1960, one of four nine-wicket hauls for Hampshire.

Other championship highlights included a return of 8 for 4 in 11.1 overs, a spell of five wickets in nine balls, and two instances of bowling unchanged with his opening partner throughout both innings of a match.

Born in Todmorden, on the Yorkshire side of the boundary with Lanc-ashire, he was parsimonious both on the field and off it. To avoid the expense of overnight accommodation following his wedding, he and his bride slept in a railway station waiting room en route to their honeymoon at Hamp-shire's match starting the following day.

He began his county career primarily as a batsman who bowled leg- breaks but was persuaded by a member of the Hampshire committee to revert to his quicker bowling style. His stylish batting took him to the fringe of a double and produced 20 first-class fifties, with a career-best of 87 not out. He was a reliable outfielder with a powerful throw.

When he decided to reprieve Hampshire's opponent batsmen he combined coaching at Canford School with appearances for Dorset, before spending three seasons (1979-81) on the first-class umpires' list.

His career coincided with Alec Bedser's and his seven Test matches spanned 14 summers. Solitary appearances against West Indies (1950), South Africa (1951) and India (1951-52), were followed by four in 1963.

The first of that final sequence, against the West Indies at Lord's, brought him seven scalps, including three in four balls. His being run out, in the dying minutes of that epic finish, compelled Colin Cowdrey to go to the wicket with his broken arm in plaster.

With the recent deaths of Tom Cartwright and Les Jackson, three English bowling legends, all masters of their art, have passed away.

Stalwarts of the county game, they snared a combined tally of 6,126 first-class wickets.

Astonishingly they were awarded a grand total of 14 England caps.