darting up the wicket, leaving Randall stranded. Boycott was booed by the home crowd, and later wrote: "if the ground had opened and swallowed me at that moment it would have been a mercy". Fortunately England still won the match, and in the next Test at Headingley, Randall was involved in run-out action for the right reason. As Graham Holburn put it, Randall's "lightning run-out of Rick McCosker ... amazed all who witnessed it". In the same game Randall took the catch which clinched the Ashes, turning a cartwheel in celebration. Randall performed well against Australia again during the next Ashes series in 1978/79, which brought a 5–1 win for England, and two man of the match performances for Randall. His innings of 150 in a series dominated by fast bowlers was the highlight. Randall also scored centuries against New Zealand and India, and one from the position of opener against Pakistan, but he struggled against the West Indian attack of 1984, when he was asked to bat at number three in the first Test match of the summer, and was never to return to the Test team. In one-day internationals England stuck with him a little longer, his cover fielding bringing extra value, as was demonstrated when he helped England to their first Cricket World Cup final, though finishing on the losing side. He played the last of his 49 one-day internationals in March 1985. Randall was often the selectors' scapegoat for England's failings, and his Test batting positions ranged from number one to seven. Bateman commented about Randall, "he was always available, always loyal, and his Test average in no way flattered him". He played in more Tests than other Nottinghamshire alumni such as Reg Simpson, Harold Larwood, Bill Voce, Joe Hardstaff senior, Joe Hardstaff junior and Arthur Shrewsbury. Test centuries 174 v Australia at Melbourne (1977) 150 v Australia at Sydney (1979) 126 v India at Lord's (1982) 105 v Pakistan at Edgbaston (1982) 115 v Australia at Perth (1982) 164 v New Zealand at Wellington (1984) 104 v New Zealand at Auckland (1984) Retirement After retirement from first-class cricket Randall coached Cambridge University and Bedford School; when Alastair Cook came through the School's First XI, Randall recommended that the youngster be picked for the ECB National Academy. He also coached Bedfordshire in the Minor County Championship. The 'Derek Randall Suite' at Trent Bridge is named in