James Southerton
Encyclopedia
James Southerton was a professional cricket
er who played first-class cricket
between 1854 and 1879.
In 1876/7 he toured Australia
as part of James Lillywhite
's side. This led to him playing in the two first-ever Test match
es. Southerton was 49 years 119 days old when he made his Test debut, making him the oldest ever Test debutant, a record unlikely to ever be beaten. In 1880, he also became the first Test cricketer to die. However, as the games were not designated as official Test matches till much later, Southerton never knew about any of his records.
Southerton played much of his first-class cricket
for Surrey County Cricket Club
, though he did also turn out for other county teams. In 1867 he managed to turn out for three of them, Surrey, Sussex
and Hampshire
.
In 1861, Southerton was engaged at Southampton
and resided at the Antelope Ground
. He remained there until 1867.
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 first-class cricket
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...
between 1854 and 1879.
In 1876/7 he toured Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
as part of James Lillywhite
James Lillywhite
James Lillywhite was a first-class and Test cricketer and umpire. He was the first ever captain of the English cricket team in a Test match, captaining 2 Tests against Australia in 1876-77, losing the first, but winning the second.Lillywhite was born in Westhampnett in Sussex, the son of a...
's side. This led to him playing in the two first-ever 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...
es. Southerton was 49 years 119 days old when he made his Test debut, making him the oldest ever Test debutant, a record unlikely to ever be beaten. In 1880, he also became the first Test cricketer to die. However, as the games were not designated as official Test matches till much later, Southerton never knew about any of his records.
Southerton played much of his first-class cricket
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...
for Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
, though he did also turn out for other county teams. In 1867 he managed to turn out for three of them, Surrey, Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
and 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...
.
In 1861, Southerton was engaged at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and resided at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
. He remained there until 1867.