John Michael Brearley (born in Harrow, Middlesex, on 28 April 1942) was a cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. He also played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Middlesex County Cricket Club, often opening the innings with Mike Smith and leading Middlesex to four County Championships between 1976 and 1982; and appeared in Free Foresters' very last first-class fixture, in 1968.
Brearley's record in Test cricket at a batsman was poor (he averaged 22.88 in 66 Test innings), but he was an outstanding captain. His excellent man-management skills drew the very best from the players in his team, although he was fortunate to be able to call on the services of Bob Willis and Ian Botham at their best. Brearley took over as captain of England in 1977 and passed the role on to Botham in 1980 (losing his Test place in the process). Brearley returned to the captaincy for the famous 1981 Test against Australia at Headingley after Botham resigned, famously going on to win the match and the remaining two matches of the series to win the Ashes.
Brearley went to the City of London School (where his father Horace was a Master) and then studied Classics at Cambridge University. He is now a psychoanalyst, psychotherapist, motivational speaker, and part-time cricket journalist for The Observer. He was awarded the OBE in 1978, and published The Art of Captaincy in 1985.
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