John Hickson (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
John Arnold Einem Hickson (22 December 1864 - 2 January 1945) was an English first-class
cricket
er and who umpired
one Test match
in South Africa
in 1889.
Hickson was born in Hornsey
. He played for twice for Kimberley and one for Cape Colony against RG Warton's XI in 1889, the first cricket tour by an English representative team to South Africa. The tour was run as a private venture, organised by Robert Warton
.
Aged only 24, Hickson joined Warton to umpire the 2nd Test played between South Africa and England at Newlands
in Cape Town
on 25 and 26 March. This match between representative sides from England and South Africa was later accorded Test status, making it the second Test match played by South Africa. This was Hickson's only appearance as a Test umpire, and Warton's second and final match as a Test umpire, having umpired the 1st Test in Port Elizabeth two weeks earlier.
The 2nd Test was scheduled as a three-day match, played on a matting wicket. England dominated the match, and it was completed within 2 days. England won the toss and batted first. Due to the indisposition of Sir Aubrey Smith, 23-year-old Monty Bowden
became England's youngest Test captain, a record which still stands. Bobby Abel
opened the batting and was eventually out for 120, the first of his two Test centuries. England wicket-keeper Harry Wood
added 59, and England were eventually bowled out for 292. The first day closed with South Africa on 2 for 1. The second day became a debacle for South Africa. Although Bernard Tancred
became the first Test opening batsman to carry his bat, scoring 26 not out, none of the ten other players reached double figures, adding only added 17 runs between them (plus 4 extras), and South Africa were bowled out for 47. Johnny Briggs
took 7-17 (one lbw
and six bowled
). South Africa followed on but were again humiliated by Briggs in their second innings, and bowled out for 43. Briggs took 8-11 - a world record Test bowling analysis beaten by George Lohmann
in February 1896 - all eight of whom were bowled - a record for the number of batsmen bowled by one bowler in a Test innings that remains unbroken. Only South Africa wicket-keeper Fred Smith
managed double figures, bowled by Briggs for 11. England won by an innings and 202 runs. Briggs ended with match figures of 15-28, 14 of whom were bowled.
Hickson played one first-class match Transvaal cricket team
against Kimberley in the Currie Cup
in April 1890, and was wicket-keeper
for Middlesex
in three matches, two in 1894 and one in 1896. He also played tennis
in the gentlemen's doubles at Wimbledon
, and was a scratch golf
.
He died in Surbiton
.
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...
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 and who umpired
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
one 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...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1889.
Hickson was born in Hornsey
Hornsey
Hornsey is a district in London Borough of Haringey in north London in England. Whilst Hornsey was formerly the name of a parish and later a municipal borough of Middlesex, today, the name refers only to the London district. It is an inner-suburban area located north of Charing Cross.-Locale:The ...
. He played for twice for Kimberley and one for Cape Colony against RG Warton's XI in 1889, the first cricket tour by an English representative team to South Africa. The tour was run as a private venture, organised by Robert Warton
Robert Warton (umpire)
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Gardner Warton umpired two Test matches in South Africa in 1889.Warton was born in Islington. He served in the British Army in Japan and South Africa. He organised the first cricket tour by an English representative team to South Africa in 1888-89...
.
Aged only 24, Hickson joined Warton to umpire the 2nd Test played between South Africa and England at Newlands
Newlands Cricket Ground
Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is a South African cricket ground. It's the home of the Cape Cobras, who play in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Pro20 competitions. It is also a venue for Test matches. Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
on 25 and 26 March. This match between representative sides from England and South Africa was later accorded Test status, making it the second Test match played by South Africa. This was Hickson's only appearance as a Test umpire, and Warton's second and final match as a Test umpire, having umpired the 1st Test in Port Elizabeth two weeks earlier.
The 2nd Test was scheduled as a three-day match, played on a matting wicket. England dominated the match, and it was completed within 2 days. England won the toss and batted first. Due to the indisposition of Sir Aubrey Smith, 23-year-old Monty Bowden
Monty Bowden
Montague Parker Bowden was an English cricketer and wicket-keeper, who played two Test matches against South Africa in 1888/9....
became England's youngest Test captain, a record which still stands. Bobby Abel
Bobby Abel
Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship...
opened the batting and was eventually out for 120, the first of his two Test centuries. England wicket-keeper Harry Wood
Henry Wood (cricketer)
Henry Wood was an English cricketer, who played county cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and Surrey County Cricket Club. He was a right-handed batsman, who bowled part-time right-arm fast, but was mainly a wicketkeeper.He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1891.-External links:**...
added 59, and England were eventually bowled out for 292. The first day closed with South Africa on 2 for 1. The second day became a debacle for South Africa. Although Bernard Tancred
Bernard Tancred
Augustus Bernard Tancred was a leading 19th century South African Test cricketer.Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Tancred attended St...
became the first Test opening batsman to carry his bat, scoring 26 not out, none of the ten other players reached double figures, adding only added 17 runs between them (plus 4 extras), and South Africa were bowled out for 47. Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs (cricketer)
Johnny Briggs was a left arm spin bowler for Lancashire County Cricket Club between 1879 and 1900 who still stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in the county's history after Brian Statham...
took 7-17 (one 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...
and six bowled
Bowled
Bowled is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 30 of the Laws of cricket.A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler...
). South Africa followed on but were again humiliated by Briggs in their second innings, and bowled out for 43. Briggs took 8-11 - a world record Test bowling analysis beaten by George Lohmann
George Lohmann
George Alfred Lohmann is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time...
in February 1896 - all eight of whom were bowled - a record for the number of batsmen bowled by one bowler in a Test innings that remains unbroken. Only South Africa wicket-keeper Fred Smith
Fred Smith
-In literature:*Frederick Smith, 3rd Earl of Birkenhead , British peer and author*Frederick E. Smith , British author*Frederick M. Smith , American religious leader and author-In medicine:*Frederick W...
managed double figures, bowled by Briggs for 11. England won by an innings and 202 runs. Briggs ended with match figures of 15-28, 14 of whom were bowled.
Hickson played one first-class match Transvaal cricket team
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
against Kimberley in the Currie Cup
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
in April 1890, and was wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
for 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...
in three matches, two in 1894 and one in 1896. He also played tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
in the gentlemen's doubles at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, and was a scratch golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
He died in Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...
.