Jack Martin (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Jack Martin was an English
cricket
er, who played in one Test
in 1947, taking the single wicket of South African captain Alan Melville
. In a fifteen year career, Martin turned in a meagre forty four first-class appearances, largely when his holidays allowed. Nevertheless, one such match was of special significance.
, London
. Martin was notable for being one of the last strict amateurs to achieve any prominence in the first-class
game. Most of his time was taken up with business work, and most of his cricket was played at club
level for Catford Wanderers on Saturdays. When Martin did turn out for Kent
, however, his height and pace almost always made him valuable for a team almost wholly reliant on Frederick Ridgway for pace bowling. Martin was capped for Kent in 1946 and, as a result of taking four for 55 against the touring South Africans, followed by nine for 98 against Hampshire
the following year, was chosen for the first Test match
at Trent Bridge
.
Although by no means genuinely fast, Martin had sufficient speed to offer contrast to an English attack dominated by spin and medium paced seam bowlers. However, the selection of a man with no chance of being in full practice reflected how weak England were in pace bowling in the years after World War II
and the fact that the best man to open with Alec Bedser
, Harold Butler
, was regarded as extremely risky because of his vulnerability to injury.
Martin never had the time to gain further representative honours, but in 1950 he did take seven for 53 against Leicestershire
, and the following year against Essex
, nearly gained Kent a sensational victory when he and Ray Dovey took seven Essex wickets for thirteen runs.
Martin died in Woolwich
, London
, in January 1987, at the age of 69.
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 one Test
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...
in 1947, taking the single wicket of South African captain Alan Melville
Alan Melville
Alan Melville was a South African cricketer who played in 11 Tests from 1938 to 1949. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year ....
. In a fifteen year career, Martin turned in a meagre forty four first-class appearances, largely when his holidays allowed. Nevertheless, one such match was of special significance.
Life and career
John William Martin was born in CatfordCatford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Martin was notable for being one of the last strict amateurs to achieve any prominence in the first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
game. Most of his time was taken up with business work, and most of his cricket was played at club
Club cricket
Club cricket is a mainly amateur, but still formal, form of the sport of cricket, usually involving teams playing in competitions at weekends or in the evening. There is a great deal of variation in game format although the Laws of Cricket are always observed...
level for Catford Wanderers on Saturdays. When Martin did turn out for 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...
, however, his height and pace almost always made him valuable for a team almost wholly reliant on Frederick Ridgway for pace bowling. Martin was capped for Kent in 1946 and, as a result of taking four for 55 against the touring South Africans, followed by nine for 98 against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
the following year, was chosen for the first Test match
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...
at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
.
Although by no means genuinely fast, Martin had sufficient speed to offer contrast to an English attack dominated by spin and medium paced seam bowlers. However, the selection of a man with no chance of being in full practice reflected how weak England were in pace bowling in the years after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the fact that the best man to open with Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
, Harold Butler
Harold Butler (cricketer)
Harold Butler was an English fast-medium bowler, who was the best bowler for Nottinghamshire during the period on either side of World War II...
, was regarded as extremely risky because of his vulnerability to injury.
Martin never had the time to gain further representative honours, but in 1950 he did take seven for 53 against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
, and the following year against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
, nearly gained Kent a sensational victory when he and Ray Dovey took seven Essex wickets for thirteen runs.
Martin died in Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in January 1987, at the age of 69.
External links
- Statistical summary from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...