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Adrian Nigel Aymes (born 4 June 1964), known as Adi Aymes, was a first-class for Hampshire County Cricket Club, where he was a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper for fifteen years, winning the Natwest Trophy in 1991. His interest in both football and cricket saw him play the former in his youth, making appearances for Bristol Rovers reserves and becoming assistant-manager of Lymington Town before becoming a full-time cricketer aged 24." Adi Aymes player profile", Havant and Waterlooville. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
On retiring from first-class cricket, he returned to football, becoming joint manager of Fleet Town. He is the fitness coach and general manager of Havant and Waterlooville.
Aymes' first-class debut was against Surrey in June 1987, deputising for Bobby Parks. He scored 58 runs in the first innings and took one catch. He also made his debut in the List A game against Derbyshire, played on a rest day during a first-class fixture, taking two catches and effecting one stumping. He deputised for two matches in the 1988 season, and one in the 1989 before finally displacing Parks in August 1990.
He is considered by the Hampshire Cricket Society to be the best wicket-keeper to wear the gloves regularly." Adi Aymes – Hampshire's best Wicketkeeper/Batsman? ", cricketarchive. Retrieved 2 December 2007. Although Bobby Parks made the most dismissals (700), and Neil McCorkell (between 1932 and 1951) scored the most runs (15,834, including the five highest scores by a Hampshire 'keeper), Aymes is considered to combine the two skills to the greatest effect. McCorkell passed the benchmark '1000 runs in a season' 9 times, a feat Aymes failed to match. This is in part due to Aymes only averaging 27 innings per season compared with McCorkell's 46. First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season: Neil McCorkhill, cricketarchive. Retrieved 2 December 2007. Only 12 players have a higher Hampshire batting average than Aymes' 31.22, undoubtedly helped by Aymes remaining not out in 25% of his visits to the crease.
Aymes was a technically correct batsman who prided himself on not giving his wicket away, and was often required to shore up batting inadequacies in the side. Hampshire struggled in their two seasons in Division 1 (in 2000 and 2000); this unfortunately coincided with Aymes' hand and knee injuries. Aymes was regarded as the best wicket-keeper in the County Championship, being equally adept at standing back to the West Indies Seam bowling bowler Malcolm Marshall and standing up to the leg spin of Shane Warne. It was in standing up to his medium pace bowlers that brought the downfall of David Ward in the 1991 Natwest Trophy Final, which turned the fate of the match. Aymes was also unlucky not to participate in the 1998–99 tour of Australia after a slight dip of form towards the end of the season.
His benefit year in 2000 raised £174,995,Isaacs, Vic, " Adi Aymes declares £174,995", 2001-03-26, Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 November 2007. and included the first cricket match of the new millennium in Hambledon, the site of Hambledon Club. Throughout 2002 he suffered with a knee injury, which only allowed him to play 5 matches. With the up-and-coming Nic Pothas taking his place, he ended his Hampshire contract with one year still to serve," Aymes quits Hants", 2002-11-28, Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 11 November 2007. and retired from professional cricket.
As a favour to chairman Martin Griffiths (who was in charge of Aymes' benefit committee in 2000), he became joint manager of football side Fleet Town in 2002–03 alongside Mark Dennis,Kunicki, Ben, Fleet's curious couple", 2002-11-04, BBC Sport. Retrieved 2007-11-11. steering them away from near-certain relegation, and winning the Russell Cotes Cup." Now it's Aymes who quits Fleet", 2003-06-11, Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 2007-11-11. It was even necessary for Aymes to put on his boots and play in goal for Fleet. When goalkeeper Tyrone King fell awkwardly and went to hospital, Aymes played in goal for the second half. He let in two goals as Fleet lost to Sittingbourne 3–0.Pitts, Peter, " Brickies coast to victory over Fleet Town ", 2002-12-14, BBC News. Retrieved 2007-11-11. After Dennis left the club to become Director of Football at Eastleigh Town in June 2003, Aymes followed him out of Fleet saying it was "geographically not possible" to stay on in charge at Calthorpe Park for another season. On joining Havant & Waterlooville as fitness coach during the 2005–06 season he had a "tremendous impact on the stamina of the players", and took on the responsibilities of the club manager the following year.
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