Jim Watts
Encyclopedia
Patrick James 'Jim' Watts (born, 16 June 1940, Henlow
, Bedfordshire
) was a professional cricket
er who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire
.
, also played for Northamptonshire
between 1958 and 1966 and notched up 158 County appearances. As the 1978 season began, Watts' wife became seriously ill and, tragically, died. Cricket's importance diminished rapidly but he bravely returned to the side in July of that year.
, Brian Reynolds
and Albert Lightfoot
, and with Mushtaq Mohammad
expected to miss a good part of the following summer on tour with Pakistan. Watts, only back at Wantage Road for a season after three years out of the county game, was the committee's choice to take charge. The 1971 season was the first as captain and marked it with 1,311 runs, and the following August led Northamptonshire to a hugely satisfying seven-wicket victory over Ian Chappell
's Australians. 'The better side won' observed secretary Ken Turner. It was, for Watts, 'the greatest moment since I became captain.' Northamptonshire finished fourth, third and third again in the Championship before Watts handed over the baton to concentrate on his teaching career. Another highlight before he resigned was the 59-run John Player League triumph over one-day specialists Lancashire
in 1974, it was Watts' benefit match and he marked the occasion with 61 runs.
The captaincy was given back to him, briefly, in August 1975 when Roy Virgin
's reign ended after three months. Watts promptly broke a finger and Mushtaq inherited the job. But he received the call again at the end of 1977 with the club in turmoil as the committee crossed swords with several key players, including the outgoing captain. At the subsequent Extraordinary General meeting, held just before Christmas, Watts took his place on the platform to face the members, some of whom had formed themselves into an Action Group to demand, at the very least, a full explanation of all the behind-the-scenes machinations. The next two summers saw his Northamptonshire team reach the Gillette Cup final, win the Benson & Hedges Cup (with Watts' tactical acumen seen to best advantage in an absorbing semi-final struggle against Mike Brearley
's Middlesex
at Lord's
), and drag itself off the bottom of the Championship table.
Henlow
Henlow is a village and civil parish in the district of Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England.RAF Henlow, is located nearby, but is in fact nearer to the village of Stondon...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
) was a professional 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 spent his entire career at Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire 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 Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
.
Personal life
His brother, leg-spinner PeterPeter Watts (cricketer)
Peter Willett Watts is a former Malaysian born English cricketer. Watts batting style is unknown, although he was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. He was born at Padang, in the then Malayan Union....
, also played for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire 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 Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
between 1958 and 1966 and notched up 158 County appearances. As the 1978 season began, Watts' wife became seriously ill and, tragically, died. Cricket's importance diminished rapidly but he bravely returned to the side in July of that year.
Career
Watts made his Northamptonshire debut as an eighteen-year-old in 1959, and reached 1,000 runs in each of his first four seasons, receiving his county cap in 1962. He was a significant figure in the 1965 Championship challenge, heading the batting averages with 1,211 runs at 31.05 and picking up 44 wickets. Watts asked to be released in 1966; but he was fit enough to set a new Northants County League record two years later, claiming 10-10 for Rushden against Kettering. Twice he took on the captaincy in very difficult circumstances, and twice he left the side in a immeasurably better state than he found it. In the autumn of 1970, Northamptonshire faced the future without the services of Roger PrideauxRoger Prideaux
Roger Malcolm Prideaux is an English former cricketer, who played in three Tests for England from 1968 to 1969.-Life and career:...
, Brian Reynolds
Brian Reynolds (cricketer)
Brian Leonard Reynolds was a professional Cricketer who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire.-Biography:...
and Albert Lightfoot
Albert Lightfoot
Albert Lightfoot was a Cricketer for Northamptonshire.Lightfoot showed promise throughout his career, joining Northamptonshire in 1953, and was awarded a Cap for the county that he spent his entire career at in 1961...
, and with Mushtaq Mohammad
Mushtaq Mohammad
Mushtaq Mohammad is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 57 Tests and 10 ODIs from 1959 to 1979. A right-handed batsman and a leg-spinner, he is one of the most successful Pakistani all-rounders and went on to captain his country in nineteen Test matches...
expected to miss a good part of the following summer on tour with Pakistan. Watts, only back at Wantage Road for a season after three years out of the county game, was the committee's choice to take charge. The 1971 season was the first as captain and marked it with 1,311 runs, and the following August led Northamptonshire to a hugely satisfying seven-wicket victory over Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell
Ian Michael Chappell is a former cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. He captained Australia between 1971 and 1975 before taking a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation...
's Australians. 'The better side won' observed secretary Ken Turner. It was, for Watts, 'the greatest moment since I became captain.' Northamptonshire finished fourth, third and third again in the Championship before Watts handed over the baton to concentrate on his teaching career. Another highlight before he resigned was the 59-run John Player League triumph over one-day specialists 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 1974, it was Watts' benefit match and he marked the occasion with 61 runs.
The captaincy was given back to him, briefly, in August 1975 when Roy Virgin
Roy Virgin
Roy Thomas Virgin, born at Taunton, Somerset, on 26 August 1939, was a cricketer who played for Somerset and Northamptonshire.A right-handed opening batsman, Virgin had a mostly solid but unspectacular career in first-class cricket, except for two individual seasons, one for each of his two...
's reign ended after three months. Watts promptly broke a finger and Mushtaq inherited the job. But he received the call again at the end of 1977 with the club in turmoil as the committee crossed swords with several key players, including the outgoing captain. At the subsequent Extraordinary General meeting, held just before Christmas, Watts took his place on the platform to face the members, some of whom had formed themselves into an Action Group to demand, at the very least, a full explanation of all the behind-the-scenes machinations. The next two summers saw his Northamptonshire team reach the Gillette Cup final, win the Benson & Hedges Cup (with Watts' tactical acumen seen to best advantage in an absorbing semi-final struggle against Mike Brearley
Mike Brearley
John Michael Brearley OBE is a former cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. He was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2007–08.-Early life:...
's 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...
at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
), and drag itself off the bottom of the Championship table.