Jack Flavell
Encyclopedia
Jack Flavell was an English
cricket
er who played in four Tests
for England from 1961 to 1964. His county cricket
career was spent with Worcestershire
, with whom Flavell won two County Championship
titles. His new ball bowling partnership with Len Coldwell
was one of the most feared and respected in the 1960s.
, Staffordshire
. After turning down the offer of a contract at Warwickshire
, Flavell began his Worcestershire
career in 1949 as an out and out fast bowler, earning himself the nickname of 'Mad Jack'. After suffering a back injury, he cut his run and concentrated on accuracy and generating movement off the seam. Unusually for a fast bowler, he was more effective in his thirties than he had been in his twenties, and became one of the most prolific and feared opening bowlers in the County Championship
. He claimed 100 wickets or more in a season on eight occasions, and topped the averages in 1961, when he took 171 wickets at 17.79.
He took three hat-trick
s - against Kent
in 1951, Cambridge University
in 1953 and Lancashire
in 1963. In the Lancashire game, each batsman was dismissed LBW
, a testament to his unrelenting attack on middle stump. He bagged nine wickets in an innings on three occasions, with a best of 9 for 30 against Kent in 1955. Having taken 9 for 90 at Hastings
, he was denied a chance to take all ten when Sussex declared at tea. In all, appetite for long spells, and ability to shrug off a succession of hamstring and ankle injuries, earned him 1,529 wickets in 401 first-class appearances. From 1957 to 1961 he averaged 970 overs in a season, bowling 1,037 in 1960 and 1,245 in 1961.
In partnership with Len Coldwell, he spearheaded Worcestershire's two championship winning campaigns in 1964, when he took 101 wickets, and 1965 when he bagged 132 at 14.99. Coming back from injury in 1964, with Worcestershire's push for the title stalling, he took forth six wickets in five matches between 8 and 25 August at just 11.71, taking nine in an innings against Middlesex
, and clubbing two fours with the bat to secure a one wicket victory over Nottinghamshire
. He almost helped Worcestershire to a championship hat trick in 1966, bagging 135 at 14 at the age of 37, before retiring the following year. In 1968, John Arlott
wrote that "for a decade he [Coldwell] and Flavell have been as consistently hostile an opening pair as any in the country, not merely for the penetrative quality of their best bowling but because of their combination of persistent accuracy, stamina and edge, giving the batsmen nothing and harrying them, over after over, for long spells".
He represented his country in just four Test matches, against Australia in 1961 and 1964, and was unlucky to play in an era when England could call on Fred Trueman
, Brian Statham
and Frank Tyson
. As late as 1964, E.W. Swanton wrote that "Among first-class cricketers as many hold the view that Flavell is the best opening bowler in the country as do the same for Statham". His benefit in 1963 brought him a county record of £6,480 and he was one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year
in 1965.
He retired just as one day cricket was beginning to take root in county cricket, his accurate bowling earning him thirty three wickets at just 9.75. Although he had no pretentions as a left-handed batsman, he scored his only first-class fifty against arch rivals Warwickshire at Dudley
in 1959.
A talented all round sportsman, he played football for West Bromwich Albion
, with whom he signed professional terms at 17, and Walsall
. He was a successful amateur golfer and captained Stourbridge Golf Club. His cricket career almost ended before it began, due to his talent for football. In 1948 he played in the Army cup final at Aldershot
, when lightning killed two players and burned the hair from his head.
After retirement, with his wife Marie, he ran The Rafters Restaurant near Wolverhampton
, and then a guest house in Barmouth
, Gwynedd
, Wales
.
He died in his sleep in Barmouth in February 2004, at the age of 74.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played in four Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for England from 1961 to 1964. His county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
career was spent with Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
, with whom Flavell won two County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
titles. His new ball bowling partnership with Len Coldwell
Len Coldwell
Len Coldwell was an English cricketer, who played in seven Tests for England from 1962 to 1964. Coldwell was a right-arm fast-medium bowler who was, for a few years in the early to mid-1960s, half of a respected and feared new-ball partnership in English county cricket...
was one of the most feared and respected in the 1960s.
Life and career
John Alfred Flavell was born in Wall HeathWall Heath
-Geography:Wall Heath is a small village on the western fringe of the Black Country and the West Midlands conurbation in the United Kingdom. It is located on the A449 road, approximately seven miles south of Wolverhampton and 9 miles North of Kidderminster....
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. After turning down the offer of a contract at Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
, Flavell began his Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
career in 1949 as an out and out fast bowler, earning himself the nickname of 'Mad Jack'. After suffering a back injury, he cut his run and concentrated on accuracy and generating movement off the seam. Unusually for a fast bowler, he was more effective in his thirties than he had been in his twenties, and became one of the most prolific and feared opening bowlers in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
. He claimed 100 wickets or more in a season on eight occasions, and topped the averages in 1961, when he took 171 wickets at 17.79.
He took three hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
s - against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1951, Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
in 1953 and Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in 1963. In the Lancashire game, each batsman was dismissed LBW
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
, a testament to his unrelenting attack on middle stump. He bagged nine wickets in an innings on three occasions, with a best of 9 for 30 against Kent in 1955. Having taken 9 for 90 at Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, he was denied a chance to take all ten when Sussex declared at tea. In all, appetite for long spells, and ability to shrug off a succession of hamstring and ankle injuries, earned him 1,529 wickets in 401 first-class appearances. From 1957 to 1961 he averaged 970 overs in a season, bowling 1,037 in 1960 and 1,245 in 1961.
In partnership with Len Coldwell, he spearheaded Worcestershire's two championship winning campaigns in 1964, when he took 101 wickets, and 1965 when he bagged 132 at 14.99. Coming back from injury in 1964, with Worcestershire's push for the title stalling, he took forth six wickets in five matches between 8 and 25 August at just 11.71, taking nine in an innings against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
, and clubbing two fours with the bat to secure a one wicket victory over Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
. He almost helped Worcestershire to a championship hat trick in 1966, bagging 135 at 14 at the age of 37, before retiring the following year. In 1968, John Arlott
John Arlott
Leslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
wrote that "for a decade he [Coldwell] and Flavell have been as consistently hostile an opening pair as any in the country, not merely for the penetrative quality of their best bowling but because of their combination of persistent accuracy, stamina and edge, giving the batsmen nothing and harrying them, over after over, for long spells".
He represented his country in just four Test matches, against Australia in 1961 and 1964, and was unlucky to play in an era when England could call on Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
, Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
and Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
. As late as 1964, E.W. Swanton wrote that "Among first-class cricketers as many hold the view that Flavell is the best opening bowler in the country as do the same for Statham". His benefit in 1963 brought him a county record of £6,480 and he was one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
in 1965.
He retired just as one day cricket was beginning to take root in county cricket, his accurate bowling earning him thirty three wickets at just 9.75. Although he had no pretentions as a left-handed batsman, he scored his only first-class fifty against arch rivals Warwickshire at Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
in 1959.
A talented all round sportsman, he played football for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, with whom he signed professional terms at 17, and Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. He was a successful amateur golfer and captained Stourbridge Golf Club. His cricket career almost ended before it began, due to his talent for football. In 1948 he played in the Army cup final at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, when lightning killed two players and burned the hair from his head.
After retirement, with his wife Marie, he ran The Rafters Restaurant near Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, and then a guest house in Barmouth
Barmouth
Barmouth ; Y Bermo ) is a town in the county of Gwynedd, north-western Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Mawddach and Cardigan Bay.The town is served by Barmouth railway station.- History :...
, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
He died in his sleep in Barmouth in February 2004, at the age of 74.