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Phil Tufnell | Cricket

Phil Tufnell’s love for cricket started young, and he was appointed captain of the Junior School’s First XI before reaching the top year at Highgate School. On leaving Highgate, he played for Southgate school.

After training in quantity surveying, he had to decide whether to continue and become a quantity surveyor or to pursue cricket professionally – he chose to do the latter, and the rest is history.

Known for his skill as a spin bowler, Phil played for Middlesex for 16 years where he played for 316 first-class matches, and took over 1,000 wickets. His career also included 42 Test Matches and 20 One Day internationals for England.

In 1997, he was awarded Man of the Match; he was part of the English team who finished runners-up at the 1992 Cricket World Cup; and his cheerful personality and behaviour have made him a popular sports personality.

He announced his retirement from cricket in 2003.

 

Phil Tufnell | Media

Since retiring from cricket, Phil has become a popular face on our television screens. Crowned the winner of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here the year he retired, he was thrown into the limelight, becoming popular with non-cricket fans.

Phil spent 12 years as a captain of A Question of Sport alongside rugby player Matt Dawson and presenter Sue Barker. He has also appeared on The One Show, Blankety Blank, Simply the Best, Family Affairs, They Think It’s All Over, All Star Mr and Mrs, Hole in the Wall, Would I Lie to You, The Chase, Strictly Come Dancing, and on BBC Radio.

Phil is the author of several cricket-related books, including:

– Postcards From the Beach: Phil Tufnell’s Alternative West Indies Tour Diary (1998)

– Phil Tufnell: What Now?: The Autobiography (1999)

– Phil Tufnell’s A to Z of Cricket: The Ultimate Cricket Gossip Book (2003)

– You’re Havin’ a Laugh: England, the Ashes, and All That (2007)

– Tuffers’ Cricket Tales: Stories to Get You Excited for the Ashes (2012)

– Tuffers’ Alternative Guide to the Ashes (2013)

– Where Am I?: My Autobiography (2015)

– Tuffers’ Cricket Hall of Fame: My Willow-Wilding Idols, Ball-Twirling Legends…and Other Random Icons (2017)

– How Not to be a Cricketer (2021): shortlisted for the Best Sports Entertainment Book of the Year

– The Tourist: What Happens on Tour Stays on Tour…Until Now (2023): named Entertainment Sports Book of the Year 2024

– Tuffers’ Ashes Heroes: Legends and Characters From Both Sides of Cricket’s Divide (2025): named on Amazon’s Cricket Biography bestseller list

 

Phil Tufnell | Other Work

He is a proud ambassador and supporter of a range of charities, including The Children’s Trust, Brain Tumour UK, and The Change Foundation. He is also a supporter of the Ruth Strauss Foundation in support of his former teammate Andrew Strauss’ late wife.

Phil is now a popular and accomplished keynote speaker, particularly sought-after for his sporting knowledge. He shares compelling stories from his cricket and media career, seamlessly connecting with any audience.

 

Phil Tufnell | Clients

Boots, Tombola, Jaguar, Esso, Aviva, Novartis, Lilly, Cinch, Visit Malta, William Hill, Innovatus Drinks, DHI Global

 

Contact Great Sports Speakers today to check Phil’s availability and fees for personal appearances and speaking engagements.