James Saunders (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
James Saunders was an English cricket
er in the 19th century. He was a noted left-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper. According to Scores and Biographies, he was a "showy" batsman whose favourite shot was the square cut: S&B says that Saunders was "renowned" for this shot and that he "fetches runs very fast".
He played for numerous first-class teams but he was mainly attached to Sussex (1823 - 1825), Kent
(1827) and Surrey
(1828 - 1830). He also played for MCC
.
Saunders was about 5'11" tall and weighed about 12 stones. He lived his whole life in Haslemere where he was a butcher. He died very young of consumption
and S&B records that he was not fit to play during his last two years, though he still would not abandon the game. S&B concludes that he was a "great batsman" who had scarcely reached his prime.
He belonged to a cricketing family. His cousins were Richard Searle (born October 1789 at Lurgashall in Sussex), who played three matches for Sussex between 1823 and 1825; and his better known brother William Searle
.
In the 1824 season
, Saunders was the leading runscorer with 267 @ 24.27. In 1827, although Yorkshire's Tom Marsden
was the leading runscorer with 308 runs @ 25.66, he was just ahead of Saunders, then with Kent, who had 299 @ 24.91 including the season's only first-class century. This score of exactly 100 was his career high. Given the prevailing conditions, a century in those times was the statistical equivalent of a triple century today. In 1830, Saunders was the third highest scorer behind the great Fuller Pilch
and his own cousin William Searle
.
James Saunders made his known debut in the 1822 season
and had 54 known appearances in major matches to the 1831 season
. He scored 2180 runs @ 24.22 with a highest score of 100, which is an outstanding record given the prevailing pitch conditions of his time. His record as a fielder and wicket-keeper is also very good with 43 catches and 31 stumpings. He rarely bowled.
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 in the 19th century. He was a noted left-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper. According to Scores and Biographies, he was a "showy" batsman whose favourite shot was the square cut: S&B says that Saunders was "renowned" for this shot and that he "fetches runs very fast".
He played for numerous first-class teams but he was mainly attached to Sussex (1823 - 1825), Kent
Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...
(1827) and Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
(1828 - 1830). He also played for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
.
Saunders was about 5'11" tall and weighed about 12 stones. He lived his whole life in Haslemere where he was a butcher. He died very young of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and S&B records that he was not fit to play during his last two years, though he still would not abandon the game. S&B concludes that he was a "great batsman" who had scarcely reached his prime.
He belonged to a cricketing family. His cousins were Richard Searle (born October 1789 at Lurgashall in Sussex), who played three matches for Sussex between 1823 and 1825; and his better known brother William Searle
William Searle
William Searle was an English cricketer in the 19th century. He was right-handed as a bowler and a fielder but he batted left-handed. Searle played mainly for Surrey...
.
In the 1824 season
1824 English cricket season
In the 1824 English cricket season, the Gentlemen v Players was an odds game with 14 on the Gentlemen team, but the Players still won by 103 runs.-Honours:* Most runs – James Saunders 267 * Most wickets – Thomas Flavel 31 -Events:...
, Saunders was the leading runscorer with 267 @ 24.27. In 1827, although Yorkshire's Tom Marsden
Tom Marsden
Thomas Marsden was a famous English cricketer whose career spanned the 1826 to 1841 seasons....
was the leading runscorer with 308 runs @ 25.66, he was just ahead of Saunders, then with Kent, who had 299 @ 24.91 including the season's only first-class century. This score of exactly 100 was his career high. Given the prevailing conditions, a century in those times was the statistical equivalent of a triple century today. In 1830, Saunders was the third highest scorer behind the great Fuller Pilch
Fuller Pilch
Fuller Pilch was an English cricketer. Described as "the greatest batsman ever known until the appearance of W. G. Grace", the right-hand batting Pilch played 229 first class cricket matches between 1820 and 1854 for an assortment of counties, including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Surrey, as well...
and his own cousin William Searle
William Searle
William Searle was an English cricketer in the 19th century. He was right-handed as a bowler and a fielder but he batted left-handed. Searle played mainly for Surrey...
.
James Saunders made his known debut in the 1822 season
1822 English cricket season
In the 1822 English cricket season, John Willes brought the roundarm issue to a head and sacrificed his own career in the process; the outstanding batsman James Saunders made his debut in first-class cricket.-Honours:* Most runs – EH Budd 354...
and had 54 known appearances in major matches to the 1831 season
1831 English cricket season
The 1831 English cricket season saw Ned Wenman come to prominence. He was basically an all-rounder but he became best known as the wicket keeper in the great Kent team of the 1840s.-First-class matches:-Leading batsmen:...
. He scored 2180 runs @ 24.22 with a highest score of 100, which is an outstanding record given the prevailing pitch conditions of his time. His record as a fielder and wicket-keeper is also very good with 43 catches and 31 stumpings. He rarely bowled.