Editing Mike Denness (section)

==Early life==
Denness was born in [[Bellshill]], [[North Lanarkshire]], Scotland.<ref name="Cap"/> His father was employed by [[W.D. & H.O. Wills]], a tobacco importer and cigarette manufacturer and part of [[Imperial Tobacco]].

After his family moved to Ayr, he was educated at [[Ayr Academy]], where he played rugby with [[Ian Ure]] and [[Ian McLauchlan]] and played for Ayr Cricket Club at [[Cambusdoon]], where he was coached by former Sussex player [[Charles Oakes (cricketer)|Charles Oakes]].   Denness was selected to play cricket for Scotland against [[Ireland national cricket team|Ireland]] in 1959 while still at school.  Former Kent bowler [[Jimmy Allan (cricketer)|Jimmy Allan]] was also in the Scotland team, and he suggested Denness's name to his former county.  [[E. W. Swanton]] also met Denness in Ayr and put in a good word, and [[Les Ames]] invited Denness to a trial in 1961.